home-grown schooling

Everyone has their own reasons for parenting the way they do.  Who can decide what is best for another's child?  All I know is that we are about to begin our homeschool journey with my oldest child ~ with excitement, with enthusiasm...and with a smidgen of trepidation.

 
There was no clear, defining moment to deciding to homeschool our children.  No lights blinked brighter, no chorus of angels sang sweetly in the background.  Rather, it was a gradual knowledge that, of course, this is what will work best for us.  It kind of seems to flow rather naturally with our simple, home-grown lifestyle.  Educating our own children is just another piece of the sustainable-minded puzzle that we are peicing together as our life.

 
So, here we are with just a few weeks to go before we begin.  I've bought a curriculum, I've read countless books, I've grilled seasoned homeschooling parents (and children), I've read the Brother's Grimm fairytales...all of them, I've crafted everything from puppets to crayon holders to library bags!  I'm even a certified teacher.  You might say I'm ready.

 
But it's so much more than that.  It's the atmosphere of our home, it's the knowledge of when to sit back and let wonder take control, it's the humble recognition that I can only do so much.  Am I really ready?

 
I think so.  Besides, the biggest reason we are choosing to homeschool, is frankly, I'm so darned loving every minute with these three little ones, I couldn't imagine not having them around all day long!  It won't be long before they are taller than me and busy making plans with friends.  For now, I'll take all I can get.

What are your ideas and reasons for homeschooling? 

Comments

[Mina]

In our country we don´t have homeschooling ( which I would LOVE to do here at my home!) so I am as excited as you are and so interested on how it will work with your kids! Please keep sharing with us your projects, your plans and maybe some crafting projects so I can do it with my children on weekends.Thank you!! and Good luck!! xoxo Mina ( from Brazil)

[Melanie]

Oh Jules, I am glad you did the homeschool post! And I might have to start calling it home-grown schooling. . .
Your home school hutch is awesome, and of course I love that color! It is like my sewing desk!
Oh we have so many reasons for choosing home school- all of the ones you mention. There is not enough room or time for me to write it all out, as I would go on forever and ever.
I've learned as a homeschooler that rhythm is crucial (isn't it always?) but also flexibility as well (oh, letting go again). There have been times when we as a family have gone full throttle with homeschool, and then a week or so or more where we don't do much other than read and do handwork- which by itself is a lot. There might be sick little ones, or life might just be so busy at the time we need to step back.
I am so excited for you!
<3

[Citysister]

It looks so nice and organized...I wish I could be that type of homeschooler...I am hitting my stride and getting my own rhythm...it seems essential to get it going the right way, but I love the time to do things for and with my children guiding them along the path.

[Kate]

I am so in awe of mums who decide to homeschool My girls are all in their twenties (oops, no one just turned 30) I didn't know it was even possible when my girls were young, or that I would have been in the right space for it then. But now that I'm older I often think that we pass over our children to someone elses care far to easily for far too great an amount of time, and like you I am a teacher by trade.And I like the term Melanie uses above- Homegrown Schooling.Congratulations!

[Jenny]

Well, we decided to homeschool much for the same reasons you did. I'm jealous of my kids time and I want it for myself! :) I don't want another person to get the most hours out of the day with them, the victory of a concept achieved with them, the celebration of hard work done....I want to be that person for them. I want to share those moments with them where the lightbulb explodes in their head and you can see it on their face before they can even excitedly get it out of their mouth. I want to BE with them. We also have the reason of wanting to incorporate our beliefs. Also, we don't love what the public schools in our area are doing, or NOT doing. Kindergarten with 35 kids!? No thanks!
So those are our reasons. I don't have much advice since we only have one official year behind us. I will say though, in that year I learned that this homeschooling experience is as much about yourself learning as it is for the kids. I too am a certified teacher and I find that actually hinders me a lot. I start to worry about standards and how long we've schooled on a particular day. Or I worry about not being "documented" (a.k.a bookworks)enough. Last year I did a one shot curriculum. Meaning I spent one lump sum and got one all inclusive curriculum. I felt very tied into that. I felt that if we took a break from it, we REALLY lost our footing. We also both started to get bored with it as it was the same thing over and over. This year we've pieced together our own plan. Math from one company, literature from another, going a more unschooled direction with science and art, etc. I'm excited to see how this works for us and am hoping it meets my fears in that some will be honestly documented, and some will be unschooled. Its a good compromise for the fight I have inside me between myself and the teacher in me. :)

[Jenny]

P.S., can I borrow the "homegrown schooling" title? I love it much more than homeschool. :)

[a little crafty nest]

Mina...Thank you for your words. I look forward to seeing what you have to say, it means a lot! I will keep posting about it, hopefully it won't bore anyone :)
Mel...I so appreciate all your sage advice! I tend to be immerse myself (and those along with me), only to step back for awhile, too. The homeschool hutch was a recent addition after a visit to my folks' place. It was sitting unused, and we claimed it for our own. I know, lucky lucky us! Thank you.
Citysister...Hahaha...It looks so nice and organized because we haven't begun yet! Just wait a few weeks:)
Kate...I'm certain there will be things I'll look back on when my children are in their twenties, and wonder, oh! if only I had known that then!
Jenny...Please use it ~ I think it is so true and speaks for many of us! Homegrown schooling indeed! Thanks for sharing so much here. I am so curious what curriculum you did buy?! Happy year ahead to you, friend!
xo Jules

[Diana]

Oh the hutch (I just learned the word now =)) is awesome. BUt I really would love to know: what is this thing on the third picture - a calendar or something for doing maths? I am curious.

I would love to homeschool but it is not possible in Germany, yuck. But we are doing at least Kindergarten at home.

[PlainandJoyfulLiving]

As my oldest child approached school age, 11 years ago, sending him away just felt so wrong....
That is what told me that homeschooling was right for our family.
What curriculum are you using?
Your hutch is gorgeous! With so many beautiful books and goodies.

[angie]

We started homeschooling last year after waldorf preschool and kindergarten and then a couple years in public school. One of the things I love most about it is in fact hanging with my littles! What an amazing time we have together, it feels so right!

[shayray]

Just curious what curriculum you chose. I don't homeschool my son is only 3, but I am a homeschool coordinator which means I work with familes who homeschool. I have met some parents who call homeschooling life schooling. I love all teh fun ideas parents come up with and it is so wonderful to be around parents who really care about education. Next year I am going 1/2 time teaching in the classroom and 1/2 time homeschool coordinator. I think that is an interesting mix.

[Heather]

I would also be very interested in the curriculum you chose. I would assume it is Waldorf based, but can you tell us more?

[Taisa]

Oh, I almost could have written this post myself! We are just starting our journey this year too, and for many of the same reasons. I am a certified teacher as well, and have been busy getting ready and worrying that I am not yet ready enough. I look forward to hearing how things go for you. You are ahead of me in getting the space ready though- yours looks great! That is my plan for the next few days with my husband (who is also a teacher and who has to head back soon,)taking the kiddos out on adventures while I tear the space apart and put it back together again!