Did you ever want to do something REALLY different? We’re talking totally outside the box. Were you afraid? Did you talk yourself out of it? It…being whatever it was that you wanted to do?
Please arrange an intervention if you see me wearing this....
The Mommies, Esquire are on the verge.
The verge of doing something radical.
Says Kim:
Julie and I have talked about getting back to the “simple life.” Read previous blog posts to get an idea of these lofty ideas that we discuss ad nauseum. Well, leave it to me to take it one step further. I’ve upped the ante.
It all started a couple of weeks ago when I realized that my oldest son was wearing size eight jeans at age six. He’s tall and muscular for a Kindergartener. He can throw a football like Peyton Manning and I don’t even know that much about football, but I’m assuming that he’s a great football player because my boys like the Manning brothers and we see them on Oreo commercials, so there you go. I also noticed that my middle son was asking me what happened during the Civil War and where could we find a cannon…that shoots real cannon balls. He is only four years old and very smart in that kind of way that freaks you out because you don’t notice it until he has repeated everything you said last night when he overheard you and your husband talk about whether or not you should really have a baby at age forty or that you would love to have a tummy tuck and boob job because you get sick of seeing younger versions of yourself at the gym…and he has repeated every…and I mean every word you said….much to your embarrassment as you sit across from him at Chick-fil-A and stare at him with wonder. My youngest son was recognizing letters of the alphabet and could make the appropriate phonetic sound. He is two years old. I kept thinking to myself that my children could probably learn more, but where would I find the time to supplement what they learn at school? I help my oldest with his reading homework, but I don’t really know what he does in school every day…even though I am very involved in his education. I chauffeur children to and fro from school to church to home to playdates to home to school to church…round and round and round. It seems like we don’t have the time in the day to take piano lessons and play various sports. I don’t even think that my boys engage in unstructured play as much as I’d like them to. Wasn’t it just last year that I wanted to take the boys to the Grand Canyon while my husband was in Arizona on business and we couldn’t go because of the school calendar? Don’t we have two private school tuitions to pay this year? The middle child is going half day, but if we pay an extra two or three thousand…he can nap at school and play outside. Is this really necessary? It’s also time to sign up for swim lessons, guitar lessons, piano lessons, karate lessons, t-ball, and tennis lessons. Now, how can we fit that into the hours between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.? Hmmmmmm. Maybe if we cut out playing all together we can pack in lessons on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday night is children’s choir at church and we don’t want to miss that. Let’s see if we can rearrange Thursday’s schedule….again.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((scream))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I am in sensory overload.
My kids are way too busy.
I am taking myself and my kids off this ride.
What am I talking about? (drum roll, please)I have decided to homeschool for the upcoming school year.
There. I’ve come clean. So, am I nervous? Afraid? Freaking out? Oh, yeah! I wonder about all of the following:
1. Am I qualified to teach my own children?
Answer: I have a degree in Early Childhood Education, two classes short of a Masters of Education, and a law degree. So, why am I nervous? I think it’s because I realize that this will be the most important “job” I’ve ever had.
2. Will my kids be socialized?
Answer: There are so many homeschool groups, co-ops, part time schools, play groups, interest groups, etc., that I am overwhelmed with the number of opportunities for my children to be in the company of other children. Whoa!!! Where did all this stuff come from? It seems like there has been a “homeschool explosion” since I last read up on this movement ten years ago, mainly out of curiosity. Now, it seems like everyone and their brother..and sister…and cousin…and neighbor…and friend…homeschools. Incredible.
3. Am I prepared for the time commitment?
Answer: I went to law school. I would have to read over 400+ pages in one night on some occasions. ‘Nuff said. Did I happen to mention that I was a teacher before law school? Well, I was.
4. Am I prepared to defend my choice of education?
Answer: Yes. I’ve had to defend sending my children to a religious private school for over two years. This should be a similar ball of wax. Plus, I’ve got three kids. To some people, having three children puts me in the same league as the Duggar family. Tater tot casserole, here we come.
5. What else should I expect?
Answer: I have no freakin’ idea, people. I have to admit that before I really got to know some fellow homeschooling moms, I was guilty of lumping all homeschooling families in the same category. I thought to homeschool, I had to wear denim jumpers and have twelve kids….all birthed at home. Can you listen to the Kings of Leon and the Allman Brothers and still homeschool? Do you have to get rid of all of your televisions to homeschool? Do I have to be freakishly happy all the time to homeschool? I think the short answer is that I can be whatever it is that I want to be and homeschool. At least, I’ll try. I’ve met some really cool moms who homeschool and they are fun, neat, highly educated and motivated to provide the best education possible for their children. I think meeting other fun people is a very good omen.
6. Is this forever?
Answer: Nope. It’s a “try and see” kind of thing. If we don’t like it….then back to traditional school you go. Plus, the youngest doesn’t know that he’s still going to preschool for two more years. He’s two. Give me a break. I’m starting slow. Gotta learn to crawl before you take off running is my philosophy.
7. Do I think everyone should homeschool?
Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT. Heck, I don’t even know what it will be like for me. I don’t even know if the boys will like it. Just like I don’t think a religious school is for everyone, I don’t think public school is either. Nor is a big school for kids who need smaller class size, etc. I don’t have the “one size fits all” mentality. Hopefully, it will work. The boys will flourish. Momma will be happy. We’ll see how it goes.
Bottom line: I’m going to give this the ol’ college try. I’ve long since given up on whether I will measure my success by whether or not I’ve made partner in some law firm or whether I’ll ever try a case before the Supreme Court. I realize that my name may never be in my law school’s alumni magazine announcing that I’ve won some landmark case or I’ve been named the managing partner of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe. Instead, I’ve realized that my success in life will be measured in ways that may go largely unnoticed by the world. However, I do feel like I’m not wasting a moment of the precious time that I have with my family. It all goes by too fast. So, here’s to doing something drastic, different, and out of my “comfort zone.”
Now, let’s see about selling this house and moving out to the country. I’d like to experiment with organic farming.
2010 should be interesting….
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Kudos to you! Best of luck. I hope it works. I never have thought of myself as one that would be successful at homeschooling. I’m not so sure I’d make a good teacher (my degree & background is in finance), but the more I hear about public & private schools, the more I dread when my child goes to K in 2011. In between the overcrowded classes (27 kindergartners and one teacher), insane amounts of homework (our 5th grade neighbor had 4+ hours of home work one night last week…over 4 HOURS…when does he have time to be a kid?!), and being disciplined (by way of detention) for such things as forgetting your lunch box, I just really dread my child going to school. Those issues are happening at public schools, but I’m sure private schools are not immune to problems. After I get over the shock that we may have to live in a cardboard box to afford a good private school, I have concerns about my child feeling like she needs the “right” clothes, etc. to fit in whens he gets older. So, with that in mind, homeschooling is looking better all the time. We had 3 sets of neighbors previously that homeschooled, and one of the teenage girls asked me (when my daughter wasn’t even 2) if I would homeschool. I told her I wasn’t sure, but Tiffany made it sound like it was a piece of cake – she was in fact doing alot of the teaching to her younger brother & sister. They participated in a co-op, were very active in their church, swam on a community swim team year-round and some of the older children were allowed to play on sports teams with a local private schools. The kids were all well adjusted and happy!
But I hope you have a good ‘go’ of it next year, and I’ll stay tuned, interested in your progress.
BTW, as for the time commitment, from what I hear from parents with kids in school that assist with hours of homework every night (teaching their child things the teacher didn’t get time to teach), your time commitment may be less
.
If I had it to do all over again, I would homeschool. The opportunities are endless.
Good for you! My husband and I are each public school teachers but send our child to a private religious school… I’ve always believed it needs to fit each family. It’s something I’ve learned to respect and not take personally. Afterall usually the parent knows the child best and what will work for their child overall. Enjoy every moment!
I saw this post title on my Blog Her ad and had to come check it out. Hilarious! I’m in my 3rd year of homeschooling. I have 3 kids. I do not own a denim jumper. We have T.V. My kids’ favorite band is Coldplay….and I had {still have} every single fear and worry you mentioned.
Glad to have you in my club. : )
Congrats! I know this was a difficult decision to make and you should be proud of yourself for making it. If you don’t do what you feel is right for your famiy and try to provide your kids with the tools they need to function as adults you just may find yourself being discussed at those law school alumni meetings – -because your kid is on trial at Juvenile Hall for being in a fight club and posting it on YouTube or because you are the youngest grandma in the group!
This homeschool thing may not work out, but it might. Either way, you are doing what you think is best for your kids and that is what moms are supposed to do!