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Sep. 20, 2006 - Top 10 Reasons Why the Field Family Homeschools

1. To celebrate and nurture the uniqueness of each child.  We have many learning styles and personalities in our family, including a child with learning disabilities and a very bouncy little boy.  Homeschooling allows us to help them learn in ways that make sense for them.
2. To keep our family close.  With so many parents working outside the home, it’s hard for families to stay connected.  We spend lots of quantity time, which results in greater quality time.  Although the kids still fight, they are close on a deep level that I don’t think would have been achieved if they were scattered in different directions all day.  It was important enough for me (mom) to give up practicing law (I laid down the law!) to nurture that family closeness.
3. To ensure that our values are taught.  We have wide ranging discussions with our kids – discussing and analyzing many of the issues of the day.  But we always bring the discussion back to this:  What does God have to say about this issue?  In the process of doing this, we find that our kids have formed strong values, but are remarkably tolerant and loving toward others who are not like us because we have taught them to try to listen and understand first, and not judge.
4. To seek academic excellence.  To us, that means making sure a topic is understood and digested before the next topic is pursued.  For example, rather than plowing through something because it’s in the curriculum, we have the luxury to linger over it if it is something we find fascinating, or to deal with it efficiently if it is uninteresting.  While our kids aren’t Rhodes Scholars, they have some pretty deep understanding about life, people and many subjects.
5. To preserve social sanity.  Kids go through predictable phases of craziness.  Who survives puberty without some insanity?  In schools, they tend to take some of this nuttiness out on one another in terms of cruel social games, or, in its worst manifestation, school violence.  While our kids have perpetuated their share of social silliness in their fairly expansive social networks (church, arts groups, sports, etc.) they are still basically kind, compassionate people.
6. To encourage independent learning and thinking.  In the early years, homeschooling is very hands-on.  Reading and beginning math are mom-intensive subjects.  Once they learn to read, they really teach themselves.  This is a trait we want to encourage, rather than having them rely on someone else to force feed them knowledge.
7. Because it’s our parental responsibility.  Schools are a rather new idea in our history.  In the past, children were educated by their parents or in the church.  It was not assumed that the government would be available to provide everything.  We feel it is primarily our responsibility to raise and educate our kids.
8. Because of the creativity factor.  This is related to Number One above, but we can take creative approaches to learning that would not be possible in a crowd of school kids.  Also, if a child has a particular creative gift (music, art, acting) we can allow them to use their gifts and earn “academic credits” in the school setting, as we have done with several of our children’s pursuits.
9. Because we love them more than anyone could be paid to love them.  We truly seek their best, rather than a high test score or an academic quota.  Our goal is to help them turn into the best human beings they are capable of being.
10. The intangibles.  For me as a mom, raising, loving and training my kids has been the most important, rewarding thing I have ever been allowed to do.  On most days, it’s fun.  Even on the hard days, it’s good.

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Comments

Sep. 23, 2006 - I Have.....

Posted by TRINITYPREPSCHOOL

I have to say, this is a GREAT list and reflects much of my own original list from 10 years ago! Since then I've added one other nice "benefit" which has become a reason to keep homeschooling, even when we hit a few bumps. We've learned to take advantage of the wonderful travel opportunities when resorts locations are begging for business. We get awesome accomodations to ourselves at off-season rates, making family travel much more affordable and enjoyable all around.

Thanks for posting your list. I think it is a great idea to put a list of reasons in writing and go back to it as needed.....like on those days you want to pull your hair out! : )

Maureen

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Sep. 30, 2006 - Your New Website

Posted by BarbaraS

Hi Chris,

I just checked out your new website. It's wonderful to see your new book, co-published with Mark. How wonderful! I especially liked your Seasonal Savors link. Looking forward to your further additions there.

Barbara

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Oct. 21, 2006 - #9 - Brilliant!

Posted by InkTraveler

Hi Christine,

I thought I'd check out your blog while I had a minute on the computer this morning. Your top ten list is great, but I think #9 is just brilliant. In fact, I think I'm going to say those very words the next time someone asks, "So what made you decide to homeschool?"

"Well," I'll say slowly and thoughtfully, "another homeschool mom wrote something that sums it up best. 'Because we love our kids more than anyone could be paid to love them!'"

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blogs are pretty cool, eh? Now if I could just figure out to use mine... :)

Be blessed!
Jenni

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