DH not on board.

[SugarAndSun]

I have been considering the best schooling options for dc for a wgile even though my oldest is only 2. While I do see the benefits of schools, I think it would be awesome to homeschool. I thought dh would be on board, but he is quite resistant.

A few of his worries:
He wouldn't have wanted to stay home with his mom all day (he has a good relationship with her, btw).

Money worries -- if I returned to work as a teacher we'd have more money, better benefits, better retirement.

I could work and send them to school and just augment their educations during the summer.

"It's just too much."

They should be with other kids all day.

Homeschoolimg is just for the benefit of the mother...control, etc.


I'm not quite sure if I should let it go or still consider trying to find a way to make it work. He's not a big reader, so any information would have to come through conversation.

Any thoughts?

[OTMomma]

If your oldest is only 2, you have a lot of time to have a lot of conversations to gradually bring your dh around. Do lots of reading yourself so you have all the answers to all his questions. Make a choice to homeschool preschool- in whatever context feels right to you, and let your dh see how bright and happy your child will be.

Keep in mind also, that homeschooling doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing right up front. In my household, dh and I have talked a lot about homeschooling K as a minimum and going from there. If you have a second child, it might be you were going to be home anyway the year your oldest is 5.

[Lillian J]

You have an awful lot of time before any decisions need to be made, and a lot can change by then.

Here are some other related threads that have lots of suggestions and links:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=486043

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=525634

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=511400

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=520606

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=418522

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=410415

- Lillian

[Mama Dragon]

He wouldn't have wanted to stay home with his mom all day (he has a good relationship with her, btw).
Your kids aren't him, for one And it's not like you just sit there and stare at each other - you DO things, outside the house.

Money worries -- if I returned to work as a teacher we'd have more money, better benefits, better retirement.
And if you stay home, the kids will have a more secure, happier schooling (IMO)

I could work and send them to school and just augment their educations during the summer.
Yes, you could. You can also school them at home and send them to school for a class per day. Nothing is set in stone.

"It's just too much."
For who? And what is "it"?

They should be with other kids all day.
No one should be forced to be in a room full of same age kids, doing the same thing as everyone else, unable to talk and discuss things as they need, having to ask to pee : I don't understand that thought process.

Homeschoolimg is just for the benefit of the mother...control, etc.
I suppose he's right. But consider that control is actually protection and not true control like he's thinking. It is my job to protect my kids from a bad education, uncaring teachers, bullies, various nasty viruses and bad food that are notorious in schools....I could go on. No one way can be blanket grouped into being perfect, but none of them are dead wrong either.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Synthea™

"It's just too much."
For who? And what is "it"?

I'll bet he has the idea that sending a child to school is less of a big deal than homeschooling.

He hasn't yet experienced all the hassles involved with school. A lot of us got into homeschooling because of the frustrations we kept having to deal with. I didn't want to have to keep going on like that for the next umpteen years. We started homeschooling after a grueling 1st grade experience, and it felt SO GOOD to finally be independent from all the schools' demands...
- Lillian

[Quindin]

I agree!

He has not tried having a child school, so he has no idea the kind of hassles that are involved.

IMO, your experience as a teacher gives you an amazing edge! I am having to research what / how to teach as I go, but that would not be an issue for you!

I say: tell him that you will give it a try once your DC is of "school-age". When your DH sees how well things are going, how happy your DC is, and how free the whole family feels, I am sure he will back you up in your decision

[callmemama]

I would encourage you to read Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto, then slip in a few of his observations during conversations with your husband!

[lillake]

Originally Posted by callmemama

I would encourage you to read Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto, then slip in a few of his observations during conversations with your husband!

I second that. DH was not on board at all when I first came upon the idea. I'd rad a book and occasionally ask him what he thought of this or that, or I'd read him an article about public schools and NCLB. The more he hears the more he's getting used to the ida of homeschooling.