Plugging along...
We have 6 weeks of school under our belt. Now that Leah's older-she is constantly asked "What grade are you in? What school do you go to?" by well meaning strangers or "kind-of-know's" like our doctors, hairdresser, etc. I'm not sure if I'm the only homeschool mom who experiences anxiety when these questions are asked-mainly because my daughter has no idea what grade she's in. And as far as the school question-she tells them she's homeschooled. Now that we will become an offical private school this year-I'm thinking I need to teach her the name of our school :)
However, usually once Leah's answered that she is homeschooled, the adult will ask me "Do you like homeschooling?"
What do I say to that? I mean-sure-sometime's it's hard not having 5-8 hours to myself during the day like "normal" public school mom's. I can only dream of all the things I could accomplish in a day if Leah was in public school. But I'd still have Nolan at home and to be honest-my kids entertain each other. Nolan would be bored without Leah...or more likely I'd have even less time than I do now trying to entertain Nolan. I could put him in preschool-and then I would have 4-5 hours to myself either 2 days a week, 3 days a week, or even Monday through Friday...hallelujah!
But if Leah was in school, I'd be in a rush each morning trying to get everyone out the door on time. I'd miss our leisurely mornings with long snuggles in bed, staying in our PJ's on cold mornings until we warmed up, and brother and sister cuddling on the couch under blankets with a pile of books. I'd miss our school time couch cuddles as both kids learn and recite their bible verses, the memory verse of the week (currently all 4 stanzas of our National Anthem) and the reading...and reading...and more reading we do curled up together on our "school couch". I'd miss seeing brother and sister work together at a project, play together cooperatively (most of the time), and solve a problem together through trial and error. I'd miss their excited little eyes when they finally understand something. And I'd even miss their little pouts and scowls when they just can't comprehend the concept. It gives me insight into what their struggles are and what I need to work on to help them understand. I'd miss the freedom to travel with Scott for work (with and without the kids). I certainly would not put the burden on the grandparent's to shuttle Leah to school everyday. I'd miss the impromptu field trips that we get to take while we are on these trips and the field trips we take that are closer to home. I'd miss the service opportunities I get to expose the kids to as I help out with community projects that seem to only fall on week days.
But most of all I'd miss my little girl who is growing up so fast. "That's too kiddish for me mom" is a common response to some of the pastimes, movies and toys she once enjoyed a short time ago. When she explained to me the other day she didn't care for Tinkerbell or the Disney Princess coloring books I'd selected for her for my "teacher store", I had the same feeling I had when I had to move from the Toddler clothes section in the store to the Girls clothing section. A little melancholy.
Grandparents and people whose children are grown are always telling you "Enjoy it. It goes so fast." And I get that...I truely do. I see it first hand and respond to them to them that I am enjoying it. I know it won't last forevere, the current stage my kids are at. But sometimes, life happens and you have a moment of relapse back into just getting through the day and forgetting that you'll wake up tomorrow and your house will be empty. No kids giggling next to your bed as they try to "spy" on you sleeping. No little one yelling from the bathroom they need help wiping their bum. And in the moments that I am reminded that it IS going fast...I slow down. I take some time to relish whatever season we are in as a family. And I feel so thankful that God gave me these beautfiful red-headed children and called me to school them at home so I could spend as much of the short time I have with them.
So the answer to the original question "Do you like homeschooling?" is a resounding "Yes! I love it!"
However, usually once Leah's answered that she is homeschooled, the adult will ask me "Do you like homeschooling?"
What do I say to that? I mean-sure-sometime's it's hard not having 5-8 hours to myself during the day like "normal" public school mom's. I can only dream of all the things I could accomplish in a day if Leah was in public school. But I'd still have Nolan at home and to be honest-my kids entertain each other. Nolan would be bored without Leah...or more likely I'd have even less time than I do now trying to entertain Nolan. I could put him in preschool-and then I would have 4-5 hours to myself either 2 days a week, 3 days a week, or even Monday through Friday...hallelujah!
But if Leah was in school, I'd be in a rush each morning trying to get everyone out the door on time. I'd miss our leisurely mornings with long snuggles in bed, staying in our PJ's on cold mornings until we warmed up, and brother and sister cuddling on the couch under blankets with a pile of books. I'd miss our school time couch cuddles as both kids learn and recite their bible verses, the memory verse of the week (currently all 4 stanzas of our National Anthem) and the reading...and reading...and more reading we do curled up together on our "school couch". I'd miss seeing brother and sister work together at a project, play together cooperatively (most of the time), and solve a problem together through trial and error. I'd miss their excited little eyes when they finally understand something. And I'd even miss their little pouts and scowls when they just can't comprehend the concept. It gives me insight into what their struggles are and what I need to work on to help them understand. I'd miss the freedom to travel with Scott for work (with and without the kids). I certainly would not put the burden on the grandparent's to shuttle Leah to school everyday. I'd miss the impromptu field trips that we get to take while we are on these trips and the field trips we take that are closer to home. I'd miss the service opportunities I get to expose the kids to as I help out with community projects that seem to only fall on week days.
But most of all I'd miss my little girl who is growing up so fast. "That's too kiddish for me mom" is a common response to some of the pastimes, movies and toys she once enjoyed a short time ago. When she explained to me the other day she didn't care for Tinkerbell or the Disney Princess coloring books I'd selected for her for my "teacher store", I had the same feeling I had when I had to move from the Toddler clothes section in the store to the Girls clothing section. A little melancholy.
Grandparents and people whose children are grown are always telling you "Enjoy it. It goes so fast." And I get that...I truely do. I see it first hand and respond to them to them that I am enjoying it. I know it won't last forevere, the current stage my kids are at. But sometimes, life happens and you have a moment of relapse back into just getting through the day and forgetting that you'll wake up tomorrow and your house will be empty. No kids giggling next to your bed as they try to "spy" on you sleeping. No little one yelling from the bathroom they need help wiping their bum. And in the moments that I am reminded that it IS going fast...I slow down. I take some time to relish whatever season we are in as a family. And I feel so thankful that God gave me these beautfiful red-headed children and called me to school them at home so I could spend as much of the short time I have with them.
So the answer to the original question "Do you like homeschooling?" is a resounding "Yes! I love it!"
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