[Phoebe]

I am currently researching homeschooling for my oldest (he's 3.5...looking into the future). I have been open minded toward all types of schooling but recently I have been doing more research on homeschool. I like what I have learned about it. However, I'd like to hear some real life drawbacks.<br>
Boredom?<br>
Monotony?<br>
Money problems? (due to only 1 income in the family for so many years)<br>
Diagreements with family members on your choice for schooling?(my mom has expressed absolute disgust for the idea. My dad was a ps principal for 30+ years and I respect him greatly)<br><br>
Anyway. Please share.<br><br>
AMy

 

[maplesugar]

I would think boredom and monotony are more of a problem in Public School. I vividly remember watching the clock in school, waiting, waiting, waiting for the bell to ring.<br><br>
Homeschool can be as exiting as you make it.<br><br><br>
I don't see too many downsides in our situation that are a result of homeschool.

 

[swellmomma]

finacial concerns for sure come into play, living on one income can be very tight but you learn to be frugal etc this is the case for many families with a SAHM even if not homeschooling.<br><br>
Disagreements with family come up, and with complete strangers, but I don't really see them as a problem over all, then again I am rather opinionated lol<br><br>
One challenge I face is while I love my children, and want to be home with them I never ever get a break, I am with them 24/7. As a single parent I do not have a spouse to take over for an hour or two int eh evening so I can recharge, or take a bath or go for a walk etc. I am still learning how to fit that in my day. The same thing happens with my kids, because the older 2 are so close in age even extracurrics they do together, they don't get much chance to be apart so the bickering kicks in and is stressful.<br><br>
Trying to get it all done, housework, working out of the home, schoolwork, baths, bed, outtings, grocery shopping, infant care and on and on, I suggest getting yourself in a routine and following it before you start homeschooling. I find My biggest challenge next to never having me time is there not being enough hours int eh day, about 1 day a week I pull lan all nighter to get the housework caught up etc.<br><br>
Boredom and monotony are never a problem though, each day is different and exciting.<br><br>
Despite it's challenges I love being home with my kids, I love seeing that Ah Ha! moment in their eyes and knowing I had a part in that, I love being so involved in their education and being able to continue guiding them to grow in the way I want, I love sleeping until 9 am, and doing math in our jammies. I would say for us at least the pros of homeschooling outweugh any challenges/cons.

 

[mags]

We are only doing HS preschool so far, but these are some ssues we've had so far. They are challenges, but they are not challenging enough to deter me from HSing.<br><br>
- Dealing with unsupportive family/friends and their anti-HS comments and, "concerns."<br><br>
- Getting me time away from the kids, I need to find a mommy's helper or something and continue to have my own interests apart from the kids.<br><br>
- My house is not as tidy as I would like it to be.<br><br>
- Not being able to find a secular/inclusive HS group. I live in a very christian area, so this is an issue that depends on where you live and what you believe.<br><br>
- I do worry about $. I am lucky my DH makes a decent living to meet our everyday needs, but I worry about saving enough for the kids' college funds and our retirement. I stew over whether or not I may want to get a PT job when the kids are older just for more rainy day $. I get the sick feeling that when my kids are grown up, my DH will get to retire from his career job and I will end up going back to work, which sucks.<br><br>
- Trying to have 1-1 time with my preschooler, but having to deal with a toddler who HAS to be the center of attn. It has caused me to relax quite a bit in our HS approach, but not willingly, lol. We are planning on ttc #3 sometime in the next yr or so, and I do worry about trying to entertain another toddler while having two older school aged children that need my attn and how I will do that w/o pulling out my hair.