Convincing DH that HS will be a good thing...

[xzaviers_mama]

My oldest DS, 7, went to ps for K and 1st grade.  He had a rough time with K, and it got much worse through 1st grade.  He developed tics (I thought he had tourette's at one point), and even flat out refused to go to school on NUMEROUS occasions.  He had problems with anxiety, and just was not a happy guy.  I watched my child, who started out as a kid who would sit and do workbook page after workbook page (at home, before K), turn into the "I hate school/reading/homework/etc." kid.  He loved reading, and learning things, until he was forced to do it in a setting that made him anxious.  Seeing his attitude toward learning change is enough for me... and I would think that, plus the tics (that magically disappeared over the summer) would be enough for DH, but he's still on the fence. He keeps saying things like "So, you're going to homeschool him in your spare time?", in a sarcastic manner.  Obviously, with 3 sons and one more on the way, I don't have much "spare time", but I feel perfectly capable.  It will just need to become our new 'normal'.

I've been reading tons of threads on here, and other HS blogs, and I feel really good about this.  In WA, I don't have to legally do anything until ds is 8, which will be this January.  I plan on taking the qualifying course online (because the live class is too close to my due date), so I can get that done fairly soon.  

Do any of you HS mamas know of any resources that I could have DH read or look into?  I need things to be... well, simple.    If I hand DH a huge book, he's likely to feel overwhelmed, and not cooperate with me.  

Any other suggestions are welcome as well!

[SundayCrepes]

http://www.amazon.com/Homeschooling-Rediscovered-Socialization-Education-Family/dp/1430308257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312001391&sr=8-1

Homeschooling Rediscovered is a small, concise book. It is written for relatives who are clueless what homeschooling is. It doesn't cut down other forms of education, it just informs (in a very convincing way, in my opinion) how great homeschooling is. 

My MIL (a retired kindergarten teacher) was very against us homeschooling. We gave it to her to calm her fears. After reading it she sent me an email wishing us luck on our chosen path.

Lillian just posted this. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201107/what-einstein-twain-and-forty-eight-other-creative-people-had-say-about-sc? Maybe it will help your husband.

[Mizelenius]

Well, I will be very honest and say I did it w/o my husband's blessing.  He was pretty upset, but he saw that DD (who also truly hated school) was MUCH happier at home.  I have yet to hear him say anything good about hs'ing, and he was happy when our 2nd DD went to school, but he stays out of it.  It is not easy to not have someone cheer you on, and I have strongly considered sending them back this coming year.  After a million times of going back and forth, I decided I am going to continue.  Ultimately, it is about my children's needs and not what DH wants.  I have definite concerns about hsing, too, but we have been in the system, and there are plenty of flaws there as well . . .though I have no power to fix any of them.  At least with hsing I have a chance.

DH is not the kind of person to read something and be convinced, so that is why I am not even offering anything.  The one thing that really helps is to let him know you are just going to try it for a year and then re-evaluate.

[Lillian J]

There have been some lengthy threads here in which people have recommended books for this, and the same two come up over and over - both by former teachers, John Taylor Gatto and David Guterson. These have really turned a lot of minds around! If you go to this page in the HomeSchool Assn. of CA website, you can scroll down to "Why Homeschool? These books can be particularly helpful for dealing with challenging questions from family and friends," to find them and some others. 

Here's a link to the threads here in MDC that I mentioned - they're packed with helpful tips, stories, and resource ideas from people who've been in your shoes: Help! need research support for DH. he thinks i'm nuts for wanting to HS!

Oops! Forgot to put the link in for that first page - have inserted it now!  Lillian

Edited by Lillian J - 8/11/11 at 3:09pm