Welcome to my blog!! I haven’t been very active this year and it’s for a really important reason!
I am officially homeschooling my children. I’ve been fighting this for over 10 years and circumstances has brought us to the very important choice to home school our children.
I am very appreciative of the teachers that helped make learning fun and I am quite grateful for the experiences (good and bad) that help make my decision easier. But it was very hard to remove my comfort zone… public education.
After obtaining my degree in Education, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to change lives and mold great citizens. For over a year and a half, I’ve been hearing “Be the Change” and I was certain I knew what that entails. Not until recently, I was faced with situations that can easily be taken care of at home or for that matter would have never occurred. As a mom, my first reaction is to protect my children from outside influences, to guard their “gates”. I became offended by the remarks and excuses educators gave when it came to my children. Comments like, “Your child has become very distracted and uninterested in class. Their grades are amazing but I’m feeling that their lack of interest would do more harm than good.” This comment I have been hearing all year!! I would hate that my A students would be labeled as interested and possibly an issue for future educators.
We are big on education and to know that this simple comment can make or break my children in the future wasn’t a risk I wanted to take.
Although I kept receiving calls and emails and my uninterested children, my parenting and home life was questioned but I still tried to pursue teaching. Twice I’ve attempted to pass my certification and both times was unsuccessful. I truly believe this was my way out. My husband sat down with me and he made things clear for me. He said, obviously teaching in the public school isn’t for you, this is our chance to home school our own children. Then, it clicked, to be the change, it must start at home! I cried! To make things even more emotional, the first day home after I resigned from co-teaching at a public school, my youngest walked up to me (not knowing what I was thinking about) said, “I’m important too. I need you too!”
I dropped my insecurities about failing the certification (and to me failing at life) and started my research in home schooling again.
Then… the questions began to fill in my head….
“Will I have the patience for this?! I mean that 5 kids at all different levels in education!!”
“Am I being selfish for wanting my time alone during the day?”
“Can I do this?!”
“I think I will give up easily! Public education will eventually become my backup plan!”
Then it dawned on me… Patience for MY kids?! Are you serious!? I was willing to teaching 24 kids at a time with different learning styles and levels but I can’t teach my own FIVE children?!
There’s always time for myself if I’m willing to make time! YES I can do this and I will!!! I became my biggest discouragement! I refuse to fail!
My children need me and I will do this!! So the decision was made! So my kids will be home schooled!
BEST DECISION EVER!!
I’m a month in at home schooling and NO it is not easy and YES it will get better!! I am constantly changing my lesson planning and even trying out higher grade levels for my children. I know how easily bored children can become so the great outdoors and trips to the library make teaching and learning fun for all of us. Right now, I’m home schooling my youngest three. The oldest girls will begin this summer!
Home schooling is convenient and we can get a lot done in a short time. Vacations can be whenever we feel like it and no one will ever be absent! I am grateful for the opportunity to teach my children and I look forward to all they will do!
Be the change starts at home! I am the change my family needed and it begins with a “yes”. Yes I am willing to do what it takes to make my children successful. Yes I am willing to give them opportunity to explore and be kids! They deserve that much!
Stay tuned for more home schooling updates and curriculum suggestions!!
Thanks!!
TeacherMom
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