Oct. 16, 2007 - Capable of Homeschooling
I love homeschooling. I love teaching.
But I've been wondering if all homeschooling moms love homeschooling? Do all homeschooling moms love teaching? I wonder this because I have heard more than once, "I could never homeschool. I wish I could but I just don't have the patience".
Do any of you homeschool even though you don't think you are "good at it"? Do any of you homeschool even though you don't really enjoy it? Or would it be true to say that if you don't think you can do it then don't?
I would really love to hear from you about this! What do you think?
Comments
Oct. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
IT was my son's public school teacher who suggested that he should be homeschooled. I listened to her and was shocked and scared to death. I thought there was no way I would be good at it and that my only child (at the time) would not respond to me. He was very learning disabled and in special ed classes with a one on one and was making no progress. If they couldn't do it why could I.
We/he needed a change so we gave it a go. Within a month there was no turning back. We were hooked and totaly in love with homeschooling. FYI- I was able to do what the school could not. Nine years later he is thriving in homeschool and although he is very learning "challenged" he learns everyday! We adopted two special needs kids after him and have a total of 4 little blessings. THe younger 3 have always been homeschooled.
Blessings,
4sweetums
Oct. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by floridasunsets
Interesting question. We began homeschooling out of desperation. The public schools my children were in were, to be blunt, a disaster. I have a wayward child who had skipped twenty days straight of school, and the school never noticed. I also have a very bright child who was already losing her love of learning in 1st grade. Homeschooling was never even a thought before this time. I was nervous and obsessed with learnng everything I could about homeschooling. Our first year was rough, but now, seven years later, homeschooling is just a part of who we are. We woudn't trade it for anything.
Betty
Proverbs 22;6
Oct. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jenn4him
I love the idea of homeschooling more than the process. It would be more of a joy if all my kids would cooperate perfectly! There are some great days we have learning together. There are some that I loose my temper. But in general, I love this lifestyle and am thankful I get to stay home one more year. Good question.
Jenn
Oct. 16, 2007 - homeschooling
Posted by brooke
I do love homeschooling. I never thought I would be doing it. I feel 90% of the time I am under qualified! But, I know that it is the best thing for us right now. Also, you shouldn't ignore God! :) He called me to this. I do love being with my kids. Are our days perfect? Hardly! They are more times than not, fighting to take a day off, uncooperative, I am not always the best teacher. We tried Noah in preschool a few years ago and it was really bad. Frankly, they didn't know what to do with him and he got out of the school building running in the parking lot. I soon realized that he needed to be home. We've been homeschooling ever since.
Oct. 16, 2007 - Great Question!
Posted by 40winkzzz
Like Jenn4Him, I have often said in answer to this question that I "enjoy the IDEA of homeschooling". (Or maybe that should be, the IDEAL of homeschooling!) As for the actual execution, well, you know, many days I'd just as soon execute the kids. :-) I am on my 16th yr of hs'ing, and I have felt burnout off & on for many of those years. Sometimes I do not enjoy homeschooling at all, and other times I do. Sometimes I stress out over it more than I need to, and that of course lessens the enjoyment-- as do things like not getting enough sleep, not planning well, & not being disciplined. One major factor for me is that my 12-y/o is a very difficult child to deal with. If I were homeschooling only my youngest, I have no doubt that I would be having a blast, and I mean that.
I once remarked to a friend, yrs ago during a time of much stress & burnout in my life, that I wondered whether it was time to stop hs'ing b/c I didn't enjoy it anymore. She commented that she never felt like she needed to enjoy it; it was just what she was called to do. Food for thought.
I think hs'ing is like parenting in general-- it is meant to be an enjoyable experience overall, but there are many rough times, sometimes for weeks on end, when you wish you could throw in the towel. At those times, you have to look beyond the "enjoyment" factor and look at the reasons why you homeschool, so that you can keep on keeping on!
Gosh, I just wrote a whole post. Been meaning to write this on my own blog one of these days.
Oct. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mykidsmatter2
I never saw myself as a homeschool mom... Until I went to the "Kindergarten Roundup" at the local school.. and when I asked the teacher what about children that didn't know their ABC's or numbers or the list of things they were supposed to know before K... and she said to me, "They start out behind and they stay behind"...Not we try and help them get caught up or we spend time to help them... and I decided right then that my child was going to be at home, because at least I cared about his and others progress... And I haven't regretted it at all... My son even talks (at 7yo) about how much he likes being home with me and his sister... I love it and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to see he and his sister learn and grow daily!!!
Have a great week..
Oct. 17, 2007 - Like you need MORE comments from me...
Posted by 40winkzzz
More food for thought...
A teacher friend once told me that there are three types of teachers-- those whose greatest passion is teaching, those whose greatest passion is their subject, and those whose greatest passion is their students. I found this very interesting and have been thinking about it for years. I think it is relevant to your question as well. Some of us as homeschool moms may really enjoy the process of teaching, some may get very excited over certain subjects, and others don't really enjoy either of those, but simply enjoy their kids. More fodder for my own blog, if I ever get around to it!
Oct. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by hsmomof2
Hmm... I don't think I truly feel capable all the time. I have confidence that I am doing the right thing, but I don't always feel as if I am doing everything right.
And while I do love having my children home with me, there are times when I simply don't want to do it. I don't love the "table work" aspect of it - math, grammar, etc. If only I could fully educate my kids by reading aloud great literature, taking them to museums and letting them play and explore! All the time! :-)
Oct. 17, 2007 - Hmmm...
Posted by SongOfTheSagebrush
I hear the patience comment with regard to number of children. Sometimes, I think it's more of a way to deal with the defensiveness that may come when someone perhaps feels they should be doing that particular thing (homeschooling or whatever else), or feels the person they are speaking with might look critically at their decision not to homeschool (or whatever else). For what it's worth. ; )
Blessings,
Anne-Marie
Oct. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MamaDuke
Howdy, stranger! I must say that I hear the same thing from other moms quite often. I always respond that it may not be easy at times, but neither is being a mother!! Patience is not a virtue of mine (but I hope it will be some day!).
I love homeschooling. It's empowering to know that my children are learning from me or my husband. We know what's best for them and what works (or doesn't!). I enjoy learning new things with my children as well. For example, we're all learning about new artists. There are things that I just don't know and now I get the chance to sit back, ponder and learn with my munchkins. What could be more awesome than that?
Patience or not ... homeschooling is the only choice for us.
Oct. 22, 2007 - I get that question all the time....
Posted by Jaimers
For the first couple of years, I didn't think I was good at it. It wasn't organized (is unschooling ever organized?) and I was afraid I was doing more damage to my kids than good. But I made the commitment to stick with it and I'm glad. We are in our fourth year and things are much smoother. There are days I don't like it and wish I didn't have to do it. We just call those "Independent Topic Study Days". But other days I look around at all my friends who are disgusted with their public school and with the fact that their kids are sick all the time and then I know we are doing the right thing by worrying more about making sure they are learning rather than complaining because they are home. Everyday others are faced with the demands that God be removed from their schools.
Everyday we wake up Thanking God for giving us the courage to home school and to praise him everyday.
Nov. 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by angiejmq
I tell people that being a homeschooling mom has helped me learn patience--it didn't just come naturally. The "reason we don't homeschool" excuse that bothers me the most is "My child wouldn't listen to me." Usually they tell me this when their child is still quite young. I think some parents think it's just easier to let someone else deal with their disobedient, undisciplined child. They don't realize that it will catch up with them when their child is older--when they're much more difficult to handle and change.
