A Big Leap: Homeschooling

We’re going to homeschool the boys next year.

Here is a short list of probable reactions some of you just had:

— “How exciting! I can’t wait to hear all about it!”

— “That’s nice, but what about your career?”

— “Are you ON CRACK? Why in the WORLD WOULD YOU DO THAT?”

— “Considering your patient and calm disposition, I give it one month.”

In reply, I agree with everything you just said. Trust me, I’m concerned too! But here’s the gist – a) both boys need something extra (in different ways) that traditional school cannot provide, b) I’m done with the school schedule running our life, and c) when your seven year old comes home asking what “boobs” and “balls” are, you too would start looking at other options.

We’ve committed to one year. I don’t know how this year is going to look, and I don’t know how I’ll feel in the beginning, middle or end of it, but I know I’ve got to try. It wouldn’t have been laid so heavy on my heart if I wasn’t at least supposed to try.

As for my career, it will remain in the freelance capacity until the boys are much older or until it can no longer be sustained. Like opportunities prior, I have to believe something will come my way either on my own accord or as a gift. Everything that happened in Amarillo career-wise was a gift, so why shouldn’t I believe it can happen in Knoxville? There are avenues I need to pursue, so I will, and we’ll see what happens.

I am now accepting advice from other homeschooling families regarding curriculum, umbrella schools, and other out-of-the-box ideas. Ready? Go.

(P.S. I found this article very helpful in solidifying the decision.)

4 Comments

  1. My advice would be don’t stress too much… They are young and they will pick up alot working one on one with you (or 2 on one. lol) At that age, I keep it simple… For Jesse this year we did math, handwriting, saxon phonics, one more thing I can’t remember right now lol, and mostly used library books or books I had to read aloud for science and history. Next year will be very similar but I’m adding in the first Easy Grammar book that I’ll be reading to him to answer.
    And I know that Jeremy was diagnosed with CAPD, how was in he doing in school? Was he keeping up, is he reading at grade level, that kind of thing. Right now all of mine struggle in some way due to learning issues, that I’m just now trying to get diagnoses and my oldest is 15! But Jesse, who’s already been getting speech therapy, etc. is fairing better. He’s still “behind” in reading, but not drastically and I’ve been told by his therapist not to worry and just keep up what we’re doing–as he continues working on his speech, etc. it’ll eventually all click and work itself out.

  2. Call me and we can talk:) Make plans to come to Chattanooga July 22 or 23 for the curriculum fair. We will have almost 100 different vendors available for you to touch and feel what different curriculums look like and see what will work for your boys. They are so young yet. No need to stress just do the next thing and keep on keeping on. G is just finishing 2nd grade and we do reading and phonics with literature also, math, a fun hands on science, history and geography, latin, music and PE. We have a co-op we attend once a week which is where we do science and PE and the geography part of our history. Latin is just an intro to root words right now and will expand as he grows older. I find that requiring music of some sort helps in other subjects as rhythm is so integral in learning. I use www,amblesideonline.com as my curriculum – I have used this since Beth was in 1st grade and she will be graduated this weekend! Check with Jenn. She is getting ready to home school for the first time also and has been doing plenty of research.

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