Making It All Work

[white_feather]

Hi Mommas!

I'm looking for some words of wisdom or a different perspective in figuring out if homeschooling will work for me and my family.

I have a 4 y/o son, and I'm intrigued by possibility of homeschooling him. In my heart, I believe it's the best, most nurturing option. I think I could do well at it and provide him with lots of opportunities.

However, I don't know how it would work with my other goals for this decade. I have an 11 month old daughter. I'd like to have 2-3 more children. I am just begining work as a doula, about 1 client per month. I would someday like to go back to school and become a midwife - probably when my youngest is school aged.

So, is all this a possibility? Or am I cramming too much into a decade? Is it reasonable to homeschool for the young years, then send them into the school system when they're a little older?

I know I can put my career on hold while my babies are so young . . . but I don't know that I can give it up all together, which might happen if I homeschool for the next 20 years.

What to do . . .

[Thmom]

it really depends on your version of homeschooling and what kind of support network you have.
I homeschool 3 of 5 kids(9-4yrs). But we are VERY relaxed. Thankfully our state doesn't have any requirements so I can be as relaxed as I need to be. We formally teach math and LA (which includes phonics) everything else is done on a child led basis. They ask about something and we learn about it. So this means we have the freedom to do other things. I rarely spend more than an hour and half on "school" sometimes all day on projects but it's not all day everyday kwim..Also, it's our goal that our children will be self teaching by the time they are 15 and the most I'll have to do is cart them around to thier various activities. (most HSer that I know of that went to ps for the high school years really didn't like it) We're confident that if we have taught them how to learn (use resources) and given them a love for learning (not always easy) they will be drawn to learn. We also hope that they will have some ideas as to careers at that age and can start working towards that rather than take the mundane useless classes of typical high school.

Anyway.. I think if you can have a relaxed school setting so you have time for your own schooling and everyone can follow thier intrests and you have a good support network so when you need someone to take care of the kids you don't have to stress. Also, as much as an AP parent as I am there are days that my kids drive me crazy and I just need a break. I would send them to PS in a heart beat if I didn't have support.

[Linda KS]

My DH works long hours, travels with his job, and we move frequently. Because of this, I don't have support network so it really to out of the question for me to take a class or balance my outside interests. If you are going to do other things, who is going to care for your children while you do them? This is really huge.

I know many children who homeschooled when they were younger and then started school in upper elementary school. They all needed a little time to adjust, but they did adjust and do just fine.

I was just talking to an old friend who homeschooled her DD through 5th grade. Her DD attended a private school for 5th and 6th, homeschooled for 7th and 8th, and is now attending a private highschool. This wasn't a plan they started out with, it is just how life turned out. The mom feels so good about the time they spent homeschooling and so good about the school her Dd is attending now.

We hope to homeschool until the kids are ready for univerysity, but I know that life can happen and things can change. I would much rather my kids start school older rather than younger. I'm sure that if my kids suddenly had to go to school they would do fine, but all our reasons for homeschooling in the first place would still be there.

[Brenoi]

Be open to the posibilities and stand by priorities. You would be amazed what is possible. Your vision of the next decade may not be possible as you see it right now, but an even better solution that mixes all your goals and plans with your hs and children may be available. Follow all the paths before you and look for a way for them all to come together. The future may suprise you. There may be a way to mix all these goals that you never considered before.

[white_feather]

Thank you all for your encouraging and insightful replies. It does help me to feel better about the idea to just trust the process and see how things fall into place. I very much appreciate your help.