Kat's Arbitrary Thought Processes

So…  I’ve been feeling overwhelmed again.  This happened last year just before we started homeschool, and it’s happening again this year.  There is always that fear that I will screw up my kids, although DS6 reading and doing math at a grade level above where he should be is ample proof I didn’t screw up last year.

Last year, it was one kid.  and DH was around to occupy the other two while DS6 and worked on his school work.  This year, it’s 2 kids, and DH won’t be around as often to occupy the little guy, so I’ve got to find ways to include him in the school time. Throw in a DD4, who is bent on screwing with my mind…  yea.  She is.  She is a little bit slower then the boys to grasp concepts, but then she will give me the wrong answer on purpose.  And it’s not always easy to tell when she’s doing that!  Unfortunately for me, she is a great actress.  Ugh.

But.  and there is always a but.  I’ve been focusing on my reasons for doing this again.  I find that is always the best way to conquer my fear and jump in the water.

Reason number 1 – I strongly believe public school is wrong.  There is so much crap that goes on there that I simply don’t want my kids exposed to.  There is so much wrong with our education system today, that I could not in good conscience send my child to any of their institutions.  Which leads me to number two.

Reason #2 – It is not the government’s job to teach my child.  These children are a gift from God, not to the public school system, not to the government, but to me and my husband.  (Psalm 127:3)  We are the ones responsible for taking care of these precious gifts.  Deuteronomy 6:7, a wonderful verse sandwiched right in the middle of the Israeli Shema, tells us that we are to teach our children “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  If that’s not homeschooling, I don’t know what is.  It even sounds a bit like unschooling.  And just in case you missed it the first time, it’s repeated, almost word for word a few chapters later, in Deut. 11:19.  And of course, there is good old Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Reason #3 – My kids are too smart for regular classes.  I’m not just saying that either.  I know, every mother thinks they have the next Einstein.  My oldest, who should be just entering first grade, is doing second grade work.  My four year old daughter is doing k5 work! (which is why I’m not so worried about the “slower to grasp things then the boys” thing)  My baby, the two year old, is already saying his alphabet and counting to 10.  He speaks so clearly, my dad used to say my two year old spoke better than most high schoolers dad knew.  They are all geeks, and would most likely run rings around any teacher on the computer.  Even the two year old knows how to use “DeDuck” (FireFox) to get to Nick Jr and play around.

Reason #4 – They would frustrate anyone else who was assigned to be their teacher.  They frustrate me often enough.  DD4 especially loves to give the wrong answer (gets that from my sister), but DS6 has been known to get in on the act too.  They would get bored way to fast in a typical classroom setting, and be the ones who were always on detention or whatever for disrupting class.   They would never get the specialized, individualized attention they need to flourish, from a teacher struggling with an overcrowded room.  Instead of being encouraged, they would be discouraged, held back until everyone else could catch up.  Why would I do that to them?
But oh! oh!  The socialization! That dreaded “S” word…  You know, last time I checked, school was not supposed to be about socializing.  It was supposed to be about learning.  But aside from that, how much socializing can one truly do when told to sit quietly in your chair for hours on end?  As AngieHH from one of my support groups pointed out,

As for social opportunities, public school (in my opinion) is the most stifling.  I mean, the only social opportunities offered through the school involve more of being around other kids the same age, socioeconomic status, etc. (just like school) when you consider sports, band, and the like.

Homeschoolers have a much wider horizon for socializing—people of all ages and backgrounds; traveling is common (since you don’t have to follow the school’s schedule), field trips galore.  What better way to learn history than to visit places like Monticello, Jamestown, etc.?

And I can tell from experience, my family is genetically pre-disposed to be the nerd everyone picks on.  Why in the world would I send my kids into a situation when I know the vultures are going to rip them apart and destroy their spirit?

And this myth that homeschoolers hole up in their homes and never again see the light of day…  Well, it’s just that, a myth!  There are so many co-ops and leagues and teams and events out there for homeschoolers to participate in, it’s actually a bit dizzying.  How will I pick?  Which group will best fit our needs?

I do feel this tremendous peace when I think about our decision to homeschool.   I know it is what is best for our kids.  But I still get a bit nervous at the beginning of each new “school” year.