I feel a long post coming on! I have some news to share. We are entering into yet another new experience in our family. Our decision to adopt was the first major life change (one in which we are still in the midst of) and we are just about to enter another area of “new territory”. We have decided to try homeschooling. This choice is a long time coming and something I have wrestled with for quite a while. It finally got to the point where I was tired of thinking about it, and knew I had to just do it. Over the summer I went on what you might call a “homeschool odyssey” to explore options, find out if it would really benefit the boys, discover if it was feasible with my schedule, and if I had the endurance to see it through. I felt a tug to homeschool in part, based on experiences at the radio station. From exceptional youths we come in contact with, to guests we interview touting the the benefits of homeschooling, there is a lot of compelling evidence for it’s strengths.
The good thing about homeschooling is that it has grown exponentially and there are a myriad of options available. For me that was a good thing… and a bad thing. It was daunting to sift through all of it. It involved me taking the entire summer and reading books about different curricula and styles, and talking to other homeschool moms. After all of that, we still opted for traditional school. I just couldn’t pull the trigger. I was petrified that I would crash and burn and my children would be complete failures because of me. That is a lot of pressure! Lol. Anyway, we loved their school so in the end it was kind of a “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” type thing. Still, once school started, it seemed to come back up frequently. Gabe has wanted to be homeschooled from the word go, and we even have childcare covered and all the logistics mapped out. Plus, at some point in the next 9 months or so (God willing) we will be in Poland for 6 weeks. That would be incredibly tough for the boys to play catch-up. So, in a nutshell, that is my heart and how we came to the decision.
I could probably write a book because there is so much more to share, but that is the nut of it. I am going forth with the understanding that I might fail, become completely overwhelmed, or realize homeschooling is not the best fit for the boys. But you know what? I am not afraid! I NEVER thought I would be a homeschooling mom, but the more I read, the more the fears fell away. After finally stepping out in faith, I feel exhilarated and determined. If it doesn’t work, we have the blessing of putting them back into a school that is already amazing. It it succeeds, it means my children will have reached their highest potential in an environment where they were able to soar in every way . Either way, my children will know that I am not afraid to try and take a chance on something we believe in. We will start soon. I will be posting updates along the way. Ready or not, homeschooling here we come!
Thats wonderful!! My husband and a few of his siblings were home schooled and he loved it! He really wants to home school our kids but we'll see!
I tottaly support ya!
I was homeschooled for a couple years, and my brother and sister were for their whole school life..
The sad part of it was.. we all HATED it!.. But really , its because it was ovewhelming for my mom, and us.. plus it was way back in the day when it wasnt popular!
I said all that to say.. Homeschooling CAN be a rewarding experience, unlike mine.. just make sure you get a great support team around ya for those days when you feel like giving up!
My mom, never had mom groups to turn to for help:-(.. I so wish she would have way back then!
I have several friends who homeschool, and they are thriving!
I know you will do great at it, and God will help you every step of the way!!!
I look forward to hearing all the exciting adventures you all will embark on!!
Hugs!
Mitzy
I just made the decision to homeschool my newly adopted daughter. You will find that your decision to homeschool your sons will benefit your newest family member who may not understand why the boys would be leaving home for hours a day. Many adopted child have problems attaching and by keeping the family unit together as much as possible, you promote that attachment.
Thank you for posting this, it is the encouragement I needed to stay strong in my new decision.
I'm homeschooled and have been my entire life. There are things I'm missing as a teenager: school clubs, homecoming, pep rally's etc. But I feel like I'm getting the best education I can and I'm still normal. I have friends and I socialize (always one of the primary arguments against homeschooling is that we aren't socialized enough. My answer is that I do bible study, youth group, 4H, dance (used to do soccer), a homeschool co-op and college classes. Is that socialized enough for them?) And, there's even a homeschool prom where I live (which I know your boys do not care about now and probably never will, but it's a big deal for me) Anyway, good for you for trying it out!