Growthtrac Community

[kelly]

I was wondering if anybody here was homeschooling? The issue has been on my mind since about two years ago. I decided against it b/c I had 3 kids. Now I have 4, but I am making the decision to homeschool anyway.

My daughter is in special education b/c of a physical disability due to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. When they put a child into special ed, they don't differentiate between the kids with physical problems, behavior problems, and learning problems. My daughter has been coming home with the most outrageous attitudes since she started pre-school, due to being lumped in with other kids with behavior issues. All the teaching and instilling of good behavior I have done for the past 4 years is quickly and radically becomig undone! I am becoming frusrtated and disgusted. I always felt the pull to homeschool as I knew I could keep a tighter reign on them and be able to control them much better. Sending them to school means handing them over to someone I don't even know to teach and raise my child 6 hours a day. That's a pretty strong influence, and it isn't mine. I want them to be instilled and pumped with my teachings and values, not some strangers. Right now my intent is to only do the first few years. I want to give them a solid foundation and then send them off (I just can't see keeping them home for years...like I said, I have 4 back to back). Anybody been where I am ? Anybody even know anybody else who is homeschooling, or has homeschooled?

[fatherof8]

Greetings,

My wife and I have been homeschooling our children for the last ten years. We started when the eldest was moving into second grade and the next eldest was beginning first grade. There were so many reasons why we should and only a few why we should not. The world we live in is not the one most of our parents grew up in. Not even the one most of us grew up in. I graduated in 1986 and cannot believe the difference in school standards and child behavior problems just since that time. My wife does a great job H/S our children. Don't get me wrong, she does have her days. But most of all she truely enjoys the experience and so do our children. Contrary to what most people think about homeshoolers, that they have no social skills, won't be able to function in society once they leave home, our children actually do very well. In fact we have found that they do a good job of counseling their public school friends with issues they face at school. We do attend a group once or twice a week. This allows the children to participate in sports, music and other extra curricular activities. The most important thing I can add, is that God must be in the middle of the endeavor. Without His help, I believe your just teaching the kids book smarts. God Bless!

[Jim]

Kelly...

Is this the Kelly from Growthtrac-long-ago?

[SAM]

I have several friends who have home schooled. If you check within your community, there are often other home-schoolers and they get together a couple of times a week for group time. Some of the moms/dad excel in music, art, computers, *, mechanics, etc. and joint teaching time is planned. This gives everyone social time and they get a taste of other families who are like minded with their values.

As challenging as home schooling can be, I don't think you will regret your decision.

One friend checked with her local school district and found that her kids could still participate in band or sports. Paying taxes is a good argument, whether your kids are enrolled in the public school or not. It's worth checking into.

[Cherished_Poet]

I was reading your post, and I just wanted to say congrats on your choice to homescool! My parents homeschool both my younger sisters and I, and it was the best choice they kid have made. I went to public school in for elementary school, and had to be homeschool in 6th grade for medical reasons (I'm a hemophiliac). After going back to school for both 7th and 8th, I found myself faced with a long list of choices that I wasn't ready to face or even begin to handle, so when my parents took all 3 of us out, I was relieved. Your children may fight you as they get older, but trust me, it's worth it in todays world. I look back on missing high school, and am grateful when I see all that my friends have been through. People might give you a hard time about socializing, but I've been very involved in my church and youth group - and have made some excellent christian friends. I'm getting married next November (I met my fiancee through church as children), and when I hear all that actually goes on in todays High School, even more so in relationships, I'm grateful to my parents.
God bless you parents like you, and good luck in your endeavors!

[Melissa]

I've been homeschooling for the past 13 years. My oldest will be graduating in May! I also have a 10th grader and a 2nd grader so I'm really just starting all over again but still haven't regretted a single moment knowing I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do and what is best for them.
You've definitely made a very wise choice. The schools just continue to get worse every day. I can't hardly believe how different they are from my day and they were getting bad then. I definitely felt I was not capable of doing it but knew that there wasn't really any debate. I knew it was what the Lord wanted even though my husband fought me on it for a while and still would rather they were in public school but he is not a Christian. In reality though I know that he is very greatful that they are not in the public school but he just won't admit it.
Not sure when you posted your message. I'm new to this site but I'm hoping you are still homeschooling. I've heard that there are over 1,000,000 now in the U.S. that are.
My children love being homeschooled and have never once said they wish they were in public or even once mentioned that they feel they are missing out on something. They are very greatful to be homeschooled. Hope you are hanging in there. I thought I would not be able to do it being I only had a 12th grade education and only average grades but it isn't as hard as I thought and the rewards are tremendous! Hang in there. The Lord will definitely bless you for it--I'm sure He already has.

[Karelina9]

I'm a mom to 7 children. I've been homeschooling for 16 years. I have graduated two of my kids out of highschool and into College! Praise God!
They have done a great job. I currently have 4 in school and one preschooler. She will start kindergarten next fall. I have to say that I am so happy to have been blessed by homeschooling. Our children are very close. I have great relationships with all of them. I remember when I started I said I was taking it one year at a time. Thinking the moment it got to be too much, I'd put them into a school. But the truth is, even when it did get hard, I still wanted to keep them home. Truth is, they are great people! Well behaved, polite, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, well mannered. They don't get sick as often, they don't get picked on for their morals, I don't have to buy the newest, designer/ sports clothes to keep up with the jones! I don't have these additudes you speak of, because I influence them, not some one else! They influence each other! Not so shabby We get a lot done, in a little time! And we can take vacations whenever we want!! I am not a slave to the calandar!!!
It's a really good life! Be Blessed by your decision. I'm sure it will bless both you and the child!

[webacus]

I'm a mom to 7 children. I've been homeschooling for 16 years...

Wow. Kudos to you.