I have made my choice and I'm loving it!

[Sarah1220]

After careful consideration, my family had decided that we will not be homeschooling. I sure do have respect for those who do because I can only imagine how much work it is ( I taught preschool for seven years and I know that was exhausting!!).  My daughter will be going to kindergarten in two years and my son in three. We live one street over from or kids future school, often people walk their children there, or you'll see older kids cutting through yards and walking over in groups.  To say that this is a good school is an understatement, one of the best school districts in the state and it's been said that just having your child on one of the sports teams there is pretty much an athletic scholarship and a free ride right there.

The sense of pride in this community is really something, the park that's at the entrance of our neighborhood is flooded with children and their parents practically everyday, and there are a few things that you will notice when you walk over.  One of the biggest things  is the overwhelming prescence of the colors blue and orange,  friendly faces and lots of cheering for the games and activities going on.  In fact this town is so proud of our Panthers that you will often see scarecrows dressed  in jerseys and signs in front yards proudly displaying the school their children attend.

Going back to making our decision about homeschooling or not, our personal beliefs played a major role in this debate. Yes, it bothers me that my children could get in trouble for praying before they ate, but I have to believe that we have set a strong enough foundation at home that some hours at school with their friends is not enough to shake that.  In fact we all have to keep our opinions to ourselves sometimes it's just part of life.  The time that they will be away from us played a big part in the decision as  well, I worried about not seeing them until three in the afternoon, but when it boils down to it I decided that it's not that much different than me picking them up at 1:30 from preschool, coming home and having rest time. We still have plenty of hours left in the day to go to the park, go to a musem or just sit on the floor and be together, yes I know they will have homework and I will be there to encourage them, offer a break and a help if they need it.

The funny thing is that we are not a very athletic type of family, we are very open minded,(not to say athletic families are not)  we have tattoos and my husband is a musician, basically we don't fit the mold of some of most of the other parents at the park.  So the want for my children to be a part of this  "Panther" community isn't about me reliving my cheerleader days ( I didn't have any!) or because I want my children to fit in with everyone else. It's because I made my choice to send my children to school because I want them to be involved with something a little bigger than just me.

 

 

[wildboyz1994]

Oct. 7, 2009 at 4:05 PM

I want them to be involved with something a little bigger than just me.

That is a great reason just on its own.  Nice journaling, very insightful in to how you came to your decision.  We fit the mold of what typical suburbanites look, but you would be surprised about how many unconventional looking families we are friends with.  You will have no trouble fitting in, most adults enjoy having a variety of friends just like kids do!  Looks or jobs do not matter to most adults.  The few that do care, well you and your kids would have nothing in common with anyway-so its a non issue! As far as the praying- not sure about where you live, but here in CO it is no problem.  Many kids do it and really, kids are very accepting of other kids!

[Sarah1220]

Oct. 15, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Thank you!

(Original Poster)