How/why I got started homeschooling

[jenl]

What are your stories of getting started?  What brought you to your decision to homeschool?  Did you pull your kids from public school or start at home from day one?  How did your family react?  Have you found a supportive network?

http://www.cafemom.com/group/wisconsinhomeschool

[Callalace]

We decided on homeschooling well before our son could even talk.  We wanted to be able to teach from a christian point of view and with the style that works best for him (and later her).  Some of my family were supportive, some were not, but most were/are sceptical.  My mom and dad were not sure at first.  After a long conversation with my mom she agreed with my decision.  My dad however, still thinks it's a bad idea to this day.  Doesn't matter how many times I point out how good my kids are doing.   That yes, they are getting socialization and a good education even though I don't have a teaching degree.  He still just thinks the public school system is the best way to prepare them for the "real world".  I have 2 aunts that also homeschool.  I get great support from both of them; they are veterans!  The most support I get I would say comes from the homeschool group in my town that we are apart of.  I simply loves those people!

I have a few people in my family and some friends that I get the hint they don't think homeschooling is a good idea.  Mostly to justify why they don't.  I try to stress that homeschool is for us and might not be for everyone.  But people can get defensive regardless.  Has anyone else experienced that?

[happymama76]

We decided to homeschool because my dh took a job that would require him to be on second shift long-term. If we didn't homeschool, he'd never see our boys. That was the deciding factor, anyway ... I'd wanted to hs before that. Dh and I were both hs ourselves, so our families weren't particularly surprised, and tend to be pretty supportive.


~Happymama76

[jenl]

I tell people we've been homeschooling since the birth of our first child, which is true, but I think we decided to keep our kids at home when it was time for her to go off to all day K, and hubby and I could not envision sending our impressionable 5 year old to be under the influence of not only other adults than ourselves but that of her peers as well all day 5 days a week.  We could see how easily she would want to follow the crowd, and I could just see us trying to undo everything she picked up all the time.  Anyway, we have become more and more confident that it was the right decision the further we get.  She's first grade now, but learning by leaps and bounds, and we've had 3 more girls also, and they (well not the baby) are sooo eager to "do school" every day!

http://www.cafemom.com/group/wisconsinhomeschool

[MommyAddie]

My girls are 2 years old, but we decided to homeschool years before we even had them.  We want our children to be strong in their faith before they have to face the world alone and we want to be the ones who teach them values.  I believe as you grow, you develop loyalties to those whom you spend the most time with and I'd rather that be us.  The public school system is at odds with my families beliefs and I can't imagine what would go through my children's heads when I tell them not to believe what their teacher says.  I'm sure they'd be thinking, "Well, you're the one who's sending me there".  Our families don't like the idea, they think the kids will be shut-ins with no friends who are afraid of the world.  Thankfully, one of my dearest friends has a child the same age as the twins and we'll be doing this together. 

[jenl]

Quoting MommyAddie:

Our families don't like the idea, they think the kids will be shut-ins with no friends who are afraid of the world.  Thankfully, one of my dearest friends has a child the same age as the twins and we'll be doing this together. 

Stay strong in your homeschooing walk, MommyAddie, it's a wonderful decision; do you have a support group you can join in your area as well?  After a day like I had today, I know how important it is to have a support network around you!

[MommyAddie]

My friend Laurie and I have looked into some support groups.  Any suggestions for finding a good one.

[Seriously92]

We've done it all.  My oldest started at a Kindercare day care, we pulled him as soon as they started teaching him about monsters under the bed, then he went to a Christian school for K-4 thru 2nd.  We loved that school, but it was sooo expensive.  About halfway thru 2nd we took him out, half because of financial reasons, and half because we were about to have our second child, and with 7 years between them, I wanted him home so they would really bond & develop a close relationship.

When we moved to a rural town, I thought we'd try the public school, since it was rated in the top 10 in the state.  So 4th grade we subjected him to the public world and it was horrible.  Start to finish - just awful.  We made it through the whole year, but my son begged to go back to hs. 

He's very outgoing and friendly, but he's very softhearted and trusting.  The psycho kids at ps were just too much.  He has several best friends, one of whom he sees almost daily.  I'm totally not worried about him being social enough. 

My mom still gives me grief from time to time, I think she thinks he's miserable alone at home - but he loves it. 

My biggest struggle is getting enough physical activity.

 

Bible Study & Discipleship for the Easily Distracted, Busy Mom