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Posted in Home Educating
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--If you're visitng for the first time...this post picks up from the previous post--
On to London... We arrived to the "Mother Country" in summer time with three children in tow (ages 3-1). Upon enternig social circles, I quickly gained and was puzzled by much attention. The Brits and American Ex-Pats alike looked at me like I had five heads, even though I'd donned my all-black outfit to a ladies' dinner..."Oh YOU'RE the one with all those children. I've heard about you!!" someone exclaimed in her most spot-on English accent. I'm lookin' behind me thinking "Is she talking to me?" Having three children in London blew everyone I met away. I guess I was something of a spectacle as I pushed one toddler in the stroller, one standing on the back of the stroller and a baby in the backpack. Well, everyone in London had had their kids signed up for preschool since they'd conceived it seemed. You had to have had them on waiting lists that long or they'd never get in. Now I was panicking...I'll never get my kids into school here! All my American friends had their little babes as young as 2 enrolled in the various learning centers. And I could see why in most ways. Living in a 3rd floor flat in Marylebone (downtown near the Embassy) with three wee ones or any wee ones, I imagine, was no cakewalk. Taking buses with strollers and toddlers was stressful! Getting groceries on foot with them and only carrying enough to fit in the bottom of the stroller was trying enough to make me drop. After enjoying/struggling through downtown city life for two months, we moved to the Western outskirts of town into a precious little house, where we could actually have a "garden" or yard--and our car! I figured that would be key to my sanity. I decided to just relax for the time being about school and ignore what everyone else was doing with their four year olds--putting them in "nursery" (their kindergarten.) I quickly realized that there were absolutely no children home in our neighborhood to be seen at any hour of the day. I felt like we were in that scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when they go into the Bavarian town with no children. You know? Where are all the children?? A Christian friend had told me about Dr. Raymond Moore's book, Better Late than Early before we left the States. I looked up this author and ordered the book Home Grown Kids. I felt so put at ease the minute I read it. This book validated my gut feeling I hadn't even put into words yet: that strong ties at home, good mothering, order and routine, hands on learning, family discipleship were developmentally best for young children. I was hungry for more. Finally it was time for kindergarten. I felt like D-day had arrived. We had two options. The DOD (Department of Defense) school on base or the local British schools. Now I have to concede the initial thought of my kids coming home with the local accent tickled me. But I had to check out the schools. We visited the #1 school in the area. The walls were a bleak gray. No cheerful hallways like our typical American schools. The class he'd be entering as a new 5 year old was a full day 9-3 sit-at-tables classroom with 30 children to one teacher and a break for lunch and PE. They all wore tidy little uniforms that blended in with the gray walls. As I walked through I saw one little boy asleep on his arm. It seemed a sad place. Small crowded classrooms. Due to not getting on a waiting list at conception, Connor was offered a place in the lowest ranked public school in our vicinity. We didn't even get into that "top" school I described above! Next we visited the DOD American school. Ahhh...a tee-pee in the classroom, centers, art easels, murals on the walls. Bright windows and big rooms. This was more like it. The 50-something bespectacled teacher was a veteran pro and exuded warmth and assurance. I scooped up registration papers. What could be the harm here, I thought? Still, I didn't feel at peace. I soon discovered that 80% of the class was coming straight over from the day care center. Was all my teaching Connor right from wrong to be eroded away on the playground? Even the 16 to one ratio that seemed so appealing couldn't fix that. Who would wield more influence over my impressionable son? The sweet teacher or the 14 other boys whose older siblings ran the streets on base? And on the academic side: Connor was already reading three letter words and beyond from the naturally teachable moments we'd shared up till now, and at this Kindergarten he'd be learning....the alphabet? God seemed to have put me between a rock and a hard place...and on purpose! I truly wanted what was best for my son, and there didn't seem to be a best out there! I reluctantly logged onto the internet and typed in homeschooling. It seemed my strong arm was weakening. What honestly was my reluctance. My "me" time? I had to sit and think, am I willing to sacrifice myself...my me time...for what is best for my son? But, I argued with myself, how could I be what's best for him? I only ever taught high school students. I really have no clue how to teach little children! I'm not a cutesy, craftsy person! I'd be depriving him, wouldn't I? I had bought into the world's mentality on education...but as I looked back, what had proved the most significant help in learning to teach in the classroom? Was it learning Piaget's theories? No! It was actually teaching...being with students that had equipped me the most. No educational theories or textbook information had much bearing on being a great teacher in the classroom. I learned most how to be a good classroom teacher by being with the kids, learning what turned them on, responding to them and drawing them out. The same must be true for teaching my own children. Once on line, it was as if I saw a huge army fortifying the homeschool position. I was outgunned. All the resources and articles and support seemed overwhelming. Suddenly I found myself getting interested and excited. The more I read, the more it made sense. I saw the wisdom God had been slowly revealing bit by bit. I saw the curricula. I contacted my old friend from college who'd been homeschooled and asked him where to start. He said he'd heard of Sonlight. It was my first lead, and a wonderful first place to start. Their good-books approach felt to me like putting on my most comfy shoes. My husband and I prayed about it. He encouraged me and wholeheartedly affirmed that direction for us. I had another line of reasoning that made sense: why should we strap ourselves to the school system when we have this opportunity to travel around Europe? What better launching for education could we give him? My fallback quote: "I can't ruin him in a year, right?" One afternoon prior to starting, I took myself to the closest Starbucks and sat reading Ruth Beechick's The Three R's. The information therein made me feel like I could do this. I had been reading my Bible and praying. I struggled with intimidation, and a sense of loneliness. I love community...and didn't know a soul in the vicinity who was homeschooling. "Lord, " I prayed, "I've made this decision. I'm just going to trust that you'll fill in the rest of the blanks here." Suddenly a woman approached me and said with a warm smile and an American accent, "Are you homeschooling?" "Well, just about to, er...yes." I replied. She introduced herself and I discovered she and her husband were American missionaries to the Middle East based here in London and homeschooling also with Sonlight. What a God appointed moment. We became friends quickly and our kids loved each other. She informed me that there was a support group that met out in at a small church in Seer Green every other week with activities, tea, and special topics and gym time for the kids. It was the very thing. The British and American homeschoolers I met there were wonderful, warm, and encouraging. The teaching styles represented ranged all across the board. Mums had tea and chatted, took turns setting up interactive learning tables in one room had a book sharing table. We had an occasional special speaker. The kids played ball games. We took nature walks. So not only did God turn my heart in his direction. He affirmed our obedience by providing a friend, and support very quickly. It's so good to know that TOS staff is heading over there to encourage these folks. HSing was growing, but had nowhere near the momentum that we have in the States. It was as "radical" there six years ago as it was here in the 80's. All of my elderly neighbors had to be chatted-up about it extensively by me if I were to be friends with them. It was the foremost topic on their minds always! But I think many of their arguements faded when a precocious and articulate little six year old came to visit them with all eagerness and made them his very own personal friend. After being "born" into homeschooling in the UK and then returning to the US to continue our journey, I felt completely blown away by the bigness of it here. Moving to Virginia Beach, VA, the number of support groups in the area filled a 15 page list. Co-ops abounded, home school sports leagues were available and there were entire stores stocking curriculum, materials, and every latest new hot item. Attending my first convention in Richmond I felt like pauper walking into Harrod's. Wide-eyed. I couldn't even stay put in one seminar I was so afraid of missing what was in the next room or vendor hall. I was truly amazed. Taking things one year at a time, God has led us. I've been inspired by those who've gone before on this road. Holding their hand out behind to encourage others along as many do here at HSB means so much. And my own story is unfolding like a bright tapestry woven in our transient military lives. I cherish homeschooling even more because it is the one element of our circumstances that will remain steady. After having attended 9 different schools myself as a military "brat," as we're affectionately called, I want my children to enjoy the continuity of a home life that reflects God's love and the adventure called learning.
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