Nice little conversation with my stepsister and niece.

[bandgeek]

My stepsister and her kids were over for my son's b-day and we were talking about me hs'ing DS.  I was telling her that what we are doing is working for us (pretty much no curriculum, just working on what interests us and the basics for K/1st grade), but that I was tempted to enroll in one of those on-line schools just for the stuff, since they give you books, art supplies, ect.  But I know that would never work since we just wouldn't be able to keep up on their curriculum.

She was very interested and asked how much it was and I told her it was completely free, they give you everything, even a computer and printer AND help out a little with the internet bill.  Her 10 year old DD jumped up and said "Mom, mom, PLEASE homeschool me next year!"  So my SS looked at me and explained her DD had been struggling quite a bit.  She's intelligent but struggles in some subjects.  She's good at math, but the particular curriculum her school uses just doesn't mesh with her and now she feels dumb in math.  And she's entering the age where the girls get very catty and so socially things are getting a little iffy.  I could tell my SS was seriously churning this around in her head.

Now, when I was a kid, we all used to envy hs'd kids because we all assumed it was a walk in the park, we could sleep in, not ever have homework, and do whatever we wanted when we wanted.  We didn't realize you still have to work and be motivated, along with the extra free time.  We just wanted a chance to be lazy. LOL

So it was a pleasant surprise when DN started telling me all the stuff she would do with her free time.  "Ooh, I could work on my sewing...I just got a sewing machine for my birthday and I want to be a fashion designer.  Oh and I could volunteer at a stable!  And work on music more!"  She is a very highly motivated child. :)

I talked to her a little about the problems I had when I was her age....she told me all about what they are "learning" in history....just memorizing dates, dates, and more dates.  They aren't learning the REAL history.  I remember feeling EXACTLY how she felt doing that EXACT unit in 5th grade.  History can be very exciting, but I remember just wishing we learn more about the actual people and places and not so much about exact DATES!   I mean, when something happened 4 centuries ago, does the exact date even matter?  Can't we just learn the order of events, or the decade it happened in?

She's a mature kid.  I can have a 15 minute conversation with her and not feel like I'm necessarily talking to a child.  When she was telling me about what they were learning in school, she had a very realistic grasp of what was necessary and what was just busywork.

I hope my SS finds a way to make it happen.  Her DD would be such a great hs'er. :-D

[~Boudicca~]

That is really cool!  I have to admit, I thought that your title was meant in a snarky way and I would open this thread to find yet another clueless family member slamming someone's hs'ing choices.  Thank you for such a refreshing story!

[Lisa1970]

That sounds like you had a great conversation!! I hope they get to home school next year.