I'm so grateful that I homeschool because....

[RiverSky]

There are oh so many reasons, but here are a few:

I'm so grateful that I homeschool because...

...my children will not be vaccinated against my will just because they are in school.

...I can keep them home due to illness as long as I feel fit without having to get permission or take them into a bacteria/virus laden doctor's office just to get a note.

...I can give my daughter cuddles and kisses any time she scrapes her knee or bangs her arm and she won't have to stifle her tears.

...I get to be there every time my children have a fun moment or learn a new thing or want to talk a mile a minute to me for an hour when they have some huge ideas for inventions to save the future world.

What are some of your reasons?

[Fujiko]

Well, we don't homeschool yet, but it will be the FREEDOM. To do anything, anytime, without the tut-tutting of teachers and principals. To not have to submit to someone else's authority on my children.

[CariOfOz]

OH I need this thread... I've had more than a few 'difficult' days with my 2 hs'ers lately, so I NEED to remember all the reasons I appreciate homeschooling!

* FREEDOM! We aren't tied to dragging ourselves out of bed at an absurd hour to get out the door & to school by 845 (and the only school I would CONSIDER sending them to is 45mins away! So it would be ridiculously early) And not being tied to a school year schedule just rawks

* health... despite MY having pneumonia twice this year lol (that's my own stress induced immune system issue though!). My 7yo was sick CONSTANTLY when he was in K, at least once a week he was home throwing up, or I was called to the school to get him because he was sick!

* Time... My kids can take all the time they need to learn something.. if they aren't getting it we can just keep working on it.. instead of keeping on track with the 'lesson plan' for the class. And if they got it after a single go, well then we don't waste time before moving on!

[aran]

All that PPs said above, plus...

We can travel whenever we please without worrying about missing any learning.

We have "field trips" 2-3 times a week, during which we spend as long as we like looking at the things that interest us, and usually we can avoid the crowds, too.

We spend lots and lots of time outdoors.

When we get on a roll with "schooly" work, we just keep going. Other days when we can't get into the swing of "schooly" work, we just skip it. (Which, by the way, is how I have worked at my for-pay jobs, because I do project-based consulting work. So it *is* possible to live/work like that most of your life, and I don't worry about keeping to a stodgy routine... it would suck the life out of us)

[completebeginnings]

When the weather is nice (spring and fall) my kids can play out side all day and we can do "school" when it is too hot or too cold to play.

I can teach my kids what I want to learn about.

I never have to rush home to meet the bus.

My kids have 7 outfits that are functional and play oriented and that is it. No mini skirts or trendy clothes and tonz of cost or laundry to deal with.

We can spend 6 hours at the park or 3 hours cleaning a sick neighbors house and not stress about "getting things done" just because we want to.

I can have a baby (come out little baby I'm 39 plus weeks : ) and know that my kids will acclimate well because their siblings are their best friends.

I can not worry that my dd is gifted or that my ds is behind based on what other people say.

My kids can talk to and play with anyone from age 0 to age 100.


oh I could go on forever....

[jazzharmony]

I am truly and deeply learning about, and experiencing, my children and who they are.

I have the opportunity to learn *with* my children.

Our learning is not limited by space and time of day. The world is our "classroom" and we are learning in it 24/7

My bond with my children is only getting stronger.

There are so many wonderful things we are discovering about homeschooling and I only wish I had made the change sooner.

[greenthumb3]

Oh, such a great thread so far!

Here are a few of mine, just some of the reasons this week:

--Being big and pregnant, I do NOT have to get up, get everyone dressed and out the door every day at an insane hour. (What is with school everyday??) And then drive them to school. I hated doing this every morning as a kid/teen, why would I possibly choose to continue this schedule as an adult if I don't have to??

Can I say how much I love this?? I can SLEEP in while they get their morning snacks and watch a DVD or play games. (This will be even more appreciated with a new, nursing baby in the house. No playing the "when to feed and dress baby" game before heading out the door with three other kids in tow...)

--I don't have to risk embarrassment allowing my kids to choose what they wear, cause mostly we are at home or can take the time to choose appropriate clothing if we do happen to go somewhere where something besides a home tie dyed shirt and sweats are needed If they were at school I would have so many more battles on this! (That, or odd looks from other parents/teachers )

--Less chances of getting sick. And having as much time in the world to recover when needed.

--Less stress about comparisons. Less competition. (We can be ourselves, unapologetically !!) Less fights with other kids/bullies--only need to referee my own!

--I don't "have" to volunteer in a classroom (times three when they'd all be in school), or bring in cupcakes on their birthday or try to invite the whole class to a birthday party.

Love the other ideas everyone shared!!

[wendybird]

-We can go to fun places during the day when it is not crowded and take our time instead of doing the crowd shuffle every exhibit.
-My husband sees the children. If they were in a govt.school he would literally only see them on Sunday.As it is we do not do schoolwork until he leaves for the day so they get some good daddy time in.
-When interests change we can switch our focus while staying on the same subject. We are not bound by any conventional way of anything. We learn because we love to learn!
- It is a conversation starter, usually a fun one .

[Mama~Love]

[jlpumkin]

many of those already listed.. but the one I've most appreciated lately is -

..more quiet moments. When things are really quiet I end up hearing, "Hey Mom..." followed by some idea, thought or feeling that they've had up there waiting for a quiet moment to let out. Those ideas, thoughts that are really who they are and they want to share with me. I feel so honored. We just didn't have this sort of time the last couple of years.

..following our interests.

..learning the same things together as a family. We truly are one unit.

[meetoo]

........I get to watch my kids learn how to read

.....we get to have so much fun!

.......we can take midweek field trips when places aren't crowded.

......we can cook yummy food and count it for science and math!

......we get to make tons of memories

........the kids are forming such close bonds

.........we can start our school day by having a treasure hunt in our PJ's

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by jazzharmony

I am truly and deeply learning about, and experiencing, my children and who they are.

I have the opportunity to learn *with* my children.

Our learning is not limited by space and time of day. The world is our "classroom" and we are learning in it 24/7

My bond with my children is only getting stronger.

i agree with everything posted so far, but this especially resonated with me.

i love homeschooling so much, and the bond forming between my children and i is amazing. i learn alongside them both every.single.day. i love that if they are struggling with something, we can either back off and revisit it later...or i can change the*what* and *how* of what we're studying to better suit them. i love that we can cover so much in a fraction of time. i love that we can follow our own interests & not be bound to a time-table or curriculum.

i also love that my children can sleep in! it sounds trivial, but knowing that their bodies can rest most days until they are ready to wake up is awesome. when i'm awake at 7:00 drinking coffee and the bus goes by...i'm so glad my kiddos are still warm in bed!

[oneotamama]

Originally Posted by elizawill

i also love that my children can sleep in! it sounds trivial, but knowing that their bodies can rest most days until they are ready to wake up is awesome. when i'm awake at 7:00 drinking coffee and the bus goes by...i'm so glad my kiddos are still warm in bed!

That's our house too!!!


I love that we can instill our values in our children w/out the peer pressure experienced in public school.

My 7 yo ds and 5 yo dd are best friends and no one will ever break that bond.

[umbrella]

I regularly appreciate the freedom we have. There are so many things we're able to take advantage of, and then I hear some other families say they can't do that because their kids would miss school.

[AAK]

I am happy that my dd was able to spend over 4? hours figuring out how to create a perfect, hollow, sphere out of legos. She did use a book, written for adults, got frustrated, tried again and had success! They wouldn't have had the time for that at a public school. And, she still did her math, spelling, and read from a novel before her sister got home from the public school burnt out.

Amy

[Savoir Faire]

...my 5-year-old is a reluctant reader. Instead of getting sent into "reading groups" at school, she got to practice reading by reading her BOB books to a trained therapy dog at the library.

She got to do it at her own pace without worrying about messing up in front of others!!! And? She got to snuggle a doggy the entire time!

[Savoir Faire]

...oh and I love that when we take our kids to Disneyland (for my 30th bday), it will be the week BEFORE Thanksgiving break, when there won't be any long lines.

That and we're heading to Germany in the Spring to see the real Sleeping Beauty's castle!!!

[Chloe'sMama]

Thank you for this from all the future HS parents out there. DD is 16 months and each time I read something like this I am more and more excited to HS when she is ready.

Thank you!

[akwifeandmomma]

YES to all of the above, and I'll just add that I love that my 6 y/o can stay up reading to his heart's content - no need for him to get to sleep in order to get up by a certain time only to rush to get him out the door...

[oceanbaby]

I'm grateful we're homeschooling because all too soon my kids are going to be more interested in spending time with friends and doing things on their own, and I get to spend almost every waking hour with them until then!