Questions from someone considering HSing

[Free Thinker]

My DH and I are still thinking alot about the whole HSing issue, and I don't think it is too early, as we want to make as informed of a decision as possible, KWIM? One of the issues that has come up recently is time. Will I really have time to do all of this? Right now I have 2 kids, that are not quite 2 years apart. I plan on having 2 more this close together in about 3-5 years (about the time we plan to start HSing). My DH is more into the structured "school at home" thing, with customizing it to our kid's personality. If we go this route, I'd definately combine everything but Math and English into one lesson, with harder stuff for the older one, easier for the younger. I am a WAHM, and dh and I run a small (13 employees) business. This takes quite a bit of my time, and if we do have 2 more little ones, that would be even harder. How much time do you typically spend on getting things organized, planned, ect. I am thinking about boxed curr. b/c of this issue. How hard would it be to find something to fit our lifestyle, and learning styles?

[Linda on the move]

I don't think you can plan that far ahead. You really have no way of knowing what your kids are going to be like, or how they will learn best. The people I know IRL who have a firm idea of what homeschooling is supposed to be like usually don't homeschool for very long; the ones who homeschool long term are very flexible.

I know several homeschooling with 4 kids who are super moms and do a great job with their kids. I can't think of any who work from home, though.

[UnschoolnMa]

I think it will be pretty important to wait and see what kind of personalities your children have come into by then. There are tons of resources for curriculum if that is the route you decide to go. I think a way to make it less stressful is to just have learning be a part of your everyday life, even if you don't unschool. Have lessons be short and broken up throughout the day if that gives you more flexiblity, etc. I think the mom in the homeschool spotlight on this very forum is a WAHM that homeschools.

[Free Thinker]

I wasn't really trying to say "this is what we will do, the curr. we will use, ect." I was just kind of wondering the amount of time I will need, and if we will even be able to work it in. Right now my DH works from about 6:30am, to 7:00 at night, or later. I am homw /w the kids all day by myself, and I don't think any of this will change in the next 10 years or so. My part of the business is all of the paperwork, about 15-20ish hours per week, depending on the week. I have a helper come out 2 days, and the rest I do inbetween activities, or whenever I get a chance. I am wondering on the timeing, if I will be able to prepare lessons, or if I need to just stick w/ something that already has it outlined for me, like Calvert, Sonligh, ect.

[Benji'sMom]

I have an aunt who homeschooled her 7 (or 8?) kids, she had one in each grade I think. The kids did a lot of it themselves, so I don't think it took up a huge amount of time, and she was able to take care of (and breastfeed and all that) her infants while the school age kids did their assignments. They must have used a curriculum, because they would sit in their "schoolroom" and do assignments, just like at a regular school, they just didn't spend all day doing it. One of her DDs has already "graduated" and is REALLY smart, so it all turned out well, even though the mother had her hands full with babies all the time.

[mandib50]

I was just kind of wondering the amount of time I will need, and if we will even be able to work it in.

well, it all kind of depends on what kind of homeschooling philosophy you follow. but seriously, the younger grades i did 1/2 hour 'formal' learning, my grade 6 dd was doing 1-2-3 hrs, lots of it independently. i found for us that i could only handle doing 4 days a week - if i start schooling in sept, i take of all of december off and then we're pretty much done in may and have a break somewhere between december and may.
i have 4 kids, homeschooling 3 this year and i am also pretty much on my own the majority of the time because dh works out of town so i am also responsible for the house and the yard and taking their kids to their activities (3 in piano lessons, 2 in tae kwon do, 2 in ballet, 1 in scouts, 1 in cubs).

i see homeschooling as a lifestyle really, to me it's not about following a curriculum it's about living life.

mandi