By jessica 61 Comments. We had a rocky start, you and I. You know, with me being a teacher and all. You were shockingly difficult at times. Not in a spa-room, Yoga-kind-of-stretch. But I need to tell you something else. And I was reflecting recently while picking up paper clippings from underneath a paint-chipped desk that…well, I owe you thanks. Because of you, my children are very best friends. All three of them, even the little. Because of you, we spend some quality time around here.

But overall, from the quality time we are deep, true friends. Thanks for my second education. Was my first education so dreadfully lacking? Okay, that was me. I cried, and they laughed at me. But still, homeschooling — these books are great. Thanks for drawing us outside, homeschooling. You know, as a teacher, I always looked forlornly out the window. It seemed so unfair that we were in cold metal desks under florescent lights.

I love reading on the back porch with you. We can sit on a couch under a fuzzy blanket on a Tuesday, just because.

We can bake together. We can play checkers. Homeschooling, you give us so many gifts. But the greatest one. Thank you for giving me Second Chances to parent. So preoccupied, so distracted. You take my time, but you give it back, pour it back into these little ones. For this gift, I will ever be grateful. A note from Jessica: Yes, homeschooling is as hard and fun as cleaning the toilet sometimes. Follow "Smartter" Each Day on Facebook!

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This Is Why All Those Weird Moms Homeschool

Follow Jessica on Instagram! Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. April 18, at I loved this post! My daughter is in Kindergarten at the local public school and I have a 21 month old at home….

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I have been thinking of home school for awhile but I do not know a lot about it…there is a home school co-op at our church but that is the extent of my connection to any home school resources at this point…I also am a former teacher…I worry about adding more than I can handle on my plate if I were homeschooling….

Where do you get the curriculum and how long do you home school…meaning do they eventually go to a public high school? So many questions…thank you for opening my eyes more to the home schooling option! April 18, at 1: Hi Ellen, thanks for commenting!

Balancing everything — that is the question! I remind myself that I have chosen to sacrifice some of that right now. That said, I do manage to fit it all in…usually. In the younger grades, you will probably have afternoons free for chores and errands…although the kids will join you. I had the same apprehensions but it usually all works out. We use Sonlight which I highly recommend. I wrote about it here. April 24, at 8: Thank you so much for your response! May 8, at 1: I homeschooled 4 kids.

The year my oldest turned 5 I had a 21 month old and a new baby born August 28th…lol. I told my husband I needed a month to adjust to the baby, so we started kindergarten on October 1. Jeff still finished all the ki dergarten curriculum in 5 months and started 1st grade in March.

Homeschooling takes a lot less time than public school. I also had been a teacher. I was amazed to look back and realize how much time had been wasted waiting for everyone to get a pencil, paper, find their books, etc.

My husband is a pastor so we moved every few years. School was their constant. When my mom broke her pelvic bone we packed up school and went to stay with Grandma. My kids developed such a closeness with each other and to their grandparents. To this day my kids are best friends. As for a quality education, my oldest graduated cum laude in music composition, my next is Food Service Director at a Christian camp, my third son is Counselor In Training Director at a different camp, hoping to make amp ministry his career, and my daughter is earning her Early Childhood certification.

One went to a public high school, one did a community college high school completion program, 2 went to a homeachool co-op high school. Different things work for different kids. As for chores, ours sometimes went by the wayside so we could do a fall nature walk to collect leaves and make placemats to surprise Daddy when he came home for dinner.

April 23, at I applaud your interest in homeschooling. To get started, you should look for a home school fair or convention. Our state convention is in June. Tons of curriculum ideas, seminars on how to homeschool, about homeschooling high schoolers, used curriculum, etc. And of course an opportunity to connect with other homeschoolers. Cathy Duffy puts out a review of homeschool curriculum, by subject and publishes what she feels are top I also subscribe to homeschool buyers coop freelots of discounts for online curriculum, most come with free trial, so good to try before you buy.

April 23, at 2: The biggest most difficult part of homeschooling is deciding to do it and actually doing it! I homeschool my daughter for many reasons.

As far as Kindergarten there are so many free curriculums along with online worksheets teachers pay teachers, easy peasy homeschool, etc that it is very easy to get started. We go out to lunch every Friday, on Wednesdays we have to do something outside, swim great PEwalk, find leaves, etc. April 6, at Wow, God bless you, girl! April 24, at 2: My advice is to take it easy… nothing is too important schoolwise until middle school or even high school I mean, really, do you remember anything from 1st or 2nd or even 3rd grade?

May 4, at 1: Yes I do actually, I remember learning to read at age 5, and learning to write, probably what lead me to do so well in English language and English literature. April 18, at 9: My son is only 18 months old right now, but I made the decisions months ago that I want to homeschool him as he grows. It scares the pants off me! You nailed it, Jessica. I shudder to think how rushed and busy our family would be without you in our lives. Thank you for reminding me of all the blessings involved.

April 19, at 7: I only home schooled for one year, but it was a huge learning year for our whole household! I too re-learned a lot of stuff with my 8th grader being at home. I also learned reasons why other parents were homeschooling their children due to bullying, faith, etc. Most important to me was that my child learned that there were positives and negatives to both ways of attending school.

He went back to Christian school and graduated from there, but I know he is forever grateful for the year at home! April 20, at 2: I would love to homeschool my daughter next year, she roles of brokers in stock market in Kindergarten now.

We discussed homeschooling before enrolling her in a charter school last year and now a decision needs to be made for next year. We are seriously considering it, maybe I should just step out and try. April 24, at 5: Hi Tasha, we have been homeschooling for 5 years that is hard to believe! No decision is ever set in stone. If you are a woman of faith at all that will serve you well. If you believe God is nudging your heart towards this I would strongly encourage you to take the leap of faith and choose to trust over fear!

Blessings as you discover your journey! Amanda The Fundamental Home says. April 21, at 8: When I think about all how homeschooling moms can make money the years I have homeschooled, this is what I think currency exchange rates hdfc bank. They somehow think they are losing experiences rather than gaining all the join and wonder we have been able to get with an at home education.

You have put into words my own thoughts, and I, too, am grateful to those homeschool moms who encouraged me to give this a try.

April 21, at This is very encouraging to me. April 22, at 1: Saw this and just wanted to encourage all the homeschool moms. I homeschooled seven and my youngest graduated last year. Those same people that thought we were strange are in future traders salary and the grandparents are so proud now. We rode horses together and learned responsibility by working for those lessons.

April 22, at 8: My baby of 5 will graduate next year, bringing a close to 22 years of homeschooling. My oldest turns forex kontor liljeholmen today. My 4th child graduates from college in 3 weeks. My family has thrived, and I am forever grateful for the blessings and opportunities and friendships and lessons that homeschooling brought into our lives.

April 22, at 9: Thank you for this! I needed this encouragement today. I feel like a failure. This post was really great. Gunna check out some more of your goodies.

April 22, at Years go, I did home-school my oldest child because he was a smart kid who was bored to tears in public school and the victim of intense bullying which the teacher did nothing about. He is an electrical engineering genius today. By the london stock exchange dragon oil that teacher was convicted of stealing money from crooked business deals one year later, sad to say.

I taught seventh grade science for one year at a public school and found out public school is also very political, for students, and the teachers who want to have their contracts renewed. More parents should home school!!! April 22, at 6: What if making big sacrifices for our children, recognizing that our education system is failing and putting our relationship with our children and their wellbeing first is weird?

April 22, at 3: April 22, at 4: I wholeheartedly agree with all the points in this article! April 23, at 4: We are just completing our 6th year of schooling at home. Next year I will have three in high school, with my oldest being a senior, and my youngest in 7th grade. That said, it has also been one of the most rewarding.

I will always cherish this time I have been given with my four. I too, shudder to think what our lives would be like if not for homeschooling. Not only am I grateful for this opportunity, but when asked, each one of my children say that they are, too.

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April 23, at 9: Thank you for this. After 6 years of homeschooling, I proudly wear the badge of weirdness! With my whole heart, thank you for this post.

You are a God-wink for me today; I needed to hear all these things and be rejuvenated. Thank you, thank you, thank you! April 24, at What a great article! I think you shared something a lot of moms I knew needed to hear way back when I homeschooled.

Your kids truly become your friends and you enjoy them more as you spend time with them. I miss the homeschooling years. They pass by oh so quickly. I know…to you, they feel like they are dragging. April 25, at 6: April 25, at 9: As a graduated homeschool mom many years ago actuallyLegitimate work from home jobs bbb approved have to say you hit the nail on the head with this article!

May 1, at You do know that there is a lot of dads doing the home schooling, right? How about giving credit where credit is due.

May 2, at I needed to read this — thank you! May 3, at I am finishing up my 18th and final year of homeschooling and you nailed it…thanks homeschooling! What a gift make money editing wikipedia time.

For those of you starting on this journey know forex new years eve hours it is worth every step.

One gift not metioned is when your kids head off to college or wherever you know you gave it your best shot…good or bad you gave all you had, no regrets about lost time or chances, and that definitely helps ease the transistion for Mom! May 3, at 1: May 3, at 4: I have — officially — only two more days of homeschooling left, after 25 years and four kids!!

I was just thinking about that, and then I saw this article a friend shared on Facebook. This is so true; it made me a bit teary-eyed. May 4, at 7: One week from today I will officially be finished homeschooling our five boys. It has been a 20 year journey! We have learned together, laughed together and cried together.

But the best gift of all was the growth we all experienced together. Despite the crazy schedules, messy house, undone dishes, fights to get school work finished, etc. I think, besides knowing Christ, homeschooling has been the greatest developer of their character. But from the time they were young, and much more so now, people see they are different. In a good way! And yes, you can do it!

You find a way to teach the courses you feel you can not handle. And God grows them into people you never would have imagined: It is the road less traveled but the journey is priceless! May 5, at 2: Looking forward to spending the summer reading more and making my decision! April 24, at 1: I HIGHLY recommend the book by Cathy Duffy called Top Homeschooling Picks.

It has a teaching style quiz and learning style quiz and then gives suggestions based on those. When I first dove in I found it incredibly overwhelming but the book helped me sort it all out. May 5, at The Home School Legal Defense Association can be can you buy penny stocks without a broker big help with advising one on how to make sure that one is operating in accordance with the laws regarding homeschooling in a particular state.

They can offer additional advice, if needed, about homeschooling students with special needs. Their website address is https: May 6, at 8: May 6, at 2: This article would say almost everything I would say.

However, there are many blessings. The gift of time is definitely a big one! May 6, at 4: My daughter is entering the 7th grade. I worked while she was growing up.

I find myself now as a single stay at home mom. My daughter has several learning disabilities along with other issues. She currently has an IEP.

I am affraid she will struggle more with kids older than her and adjusting to switching classes. I am not sure if I should try for a year or just leave her where she is. Any advice or help would be great. You may be able to get a voucher to pay a 3rd party for the therapies she needs. You should call the coordinator for more info. May 6, at 6: A beautiful breath of fresh air for my Saturday morning here in Australia!

September 27, at 8: I have an almost 3 year old. I just placed him in an 8 hour a week church preschool to help him socialize, the rest of his learning had come from home and our totschool room. He is an only child, and our family or friends have no children his age. I really want to home school, but am worried about the social aspect if I only have 1 child. Would you recommend any help on this? I have a couple of friends who homeschool their only kids. In my opinion there are lots of benefits to it.

There are so many homeschool co-ops that range from field trips to academics, monthly, weekly, multiple times a week that you are sure to find one that fits your needs. You may wish to see if there are any homeschool co-ops in your area. I homeschooled for many years, but there were various co-ops in which my children could take anything from P.

We participated in these classes occasionally just for the socialization. We also participated in park days and field trips to plays, orchestra concerts, science museums, zoos, a car manufacturing plant, a textile plant, and so on. There are even homeschool sports leagues in some areas. October 1, at 5: December 25, at My younger went back to school and is doing great there. My middle is my special needs, but he was SO much happier and learned so much more when I was homeschooling him.

February 1, at 8: I do not have the courage to homeschool with my 7 children but MY GOD, thank you so much for doing…everyday…what I am unable to do or unwilling to do or just plain lazy to think about doing. You rock and with 7 girls…I pray my daughters marry a man who was educated and fostered and cheered on you. Shannon at GrowingSlower says.

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March 23, at 7: We are just finishing up our second year of homeschool and facing the decision of what to do next year. I so needed this reminder of all the good things that come from homeschooling, not just the challenges. April 10, at I just have to add that we love and have chosen homeschooling joyfully. My husband is a public school administrator. We just wanted to maximize our family time with the kids and magnify our family culture through the way we educate our children and live our lives together.

And, so far, neither do any of our eleven children….

April 29, at 2: May 7, at It has made a huge difference in all our lives. He is always amused when peers and professors are surprised to learn he was homeschooled.

LOL; sounds like a homeschooler to ME! May 11, at 4: My 14 year old son goes to public school — grade 8. He prefers going to school and I would love to have him homeschooling, but…. May 23, at 7: Thank you for this post. As I wrap up our 7th year of homeschooling, I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture of the benefits of homeschooling. Honestly, it is such an integral part of our family life that I stopped questioning why several years ago.

Now as we start considering high school options, I find myself taken aback at how quickly this journey has gone. I wrestled with fear, uncertainty, etc, in the early years. May 25, at 1: Such a beautiful perspective. This week I just registered my almost-three-year-old in a private Christian school for late fall. I never imagined being a working mom who would register her daughter in pre-K.

One day that option might be homeschooling like I always imagined it would. You take a lot of me. You make me sit still. You make me look at my children. Homeschooling, you give us time. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Comments Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Keep up the homeschooling and remember to find the good in each day. Ohhhhh how I needed to read this.

I THANKYOU 10, times for writing it. I am so blessed. Thank you for writing about what so many homeschool truly believe. This post showed up on my facebook feed today, and I LOVE it!

Former English teacher turned homeschooling mom of three. Allergy mom only slightly neurotic. Loved by God, and wife to Mr. I run a mean minute mile and can make just about anything dairy free. Yummy Recipes About Jessica Funny Stuff. Newsletter Do you ever lie in bed and vow to be a better mom tomorrow? Do you struggle with feeling distracted? Are you a worrier? Select Month April February January December November October September August July June May April March February January December November October September August July June May April March February January December November October September August July June April March February January December November October September August July June May April March February January December November October September August July June May April March February January December November October August July June May April March February January December November October September August July June May April March February January December November October September August July May March This Is Why All Those Weird Moms Homeschool.

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