family pic

family pic

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Homeschooling....

We are all settled (as much as a family of 7 can be) in at my parents house, and this week we started school. I am homeschooling this year for a few reasons:

A. We are moving across country
2. We really can't afford private school at the moment
And
C. I do not feel right putting my kids in public school.. The way I see it, why would I send my young, impressionable kiddos somewhere that God is not welcome?

Soooo yesterday got off to a bad start, Shiloh was very emotional about everything, he is one that really benefits from a school atmosphere where the only thing that is going on is teaching.... AND Little Man had kept me up the night before with a bad cold... Today seems to be going better, the kiddos are all working away and Brandt is napping.. Tyrel won't be starting school until after our move as I was worried that the books would not come in time.. For him we are doing CLASS (Christian Liberty), I am excited about that because I don't have to do anything besides send his work in. They keep track of his grades, credits, etc.

I wanted to point out a few things tho...just because I am homeschooling does not mean I enjoy teaching.. I DON'T.. I do it because I feel this is what we need to be doing now.. There are a few types of homeschooling mommas, ones that really love to teach and ones that do it because they feel that is best for their children.. I fall into the latter category.. I have often heard people say, "oh, but you are so smart and organized." Sorry, that doesn't make you a good teacher. You have to enjoy teaching to enjoy homeschooling.. Me, I loved when my kids would come home from school and tell me all the things they learned, especially in Bible. Things that I wouldn't have thought to point out to them. I loved the family atmosphere of HCS. So beings I don't enjoy homeschooling does this make me a bad mother? NO it doesn't.. I love my kids just as much as anybody else. I love spending time with them and living life, but don't like being an "educator."  But for now we will take one day at a time and learn all we can. And for those that really love homeschooling, I say "awesome", I am glad for you!!.. I just wanted to point out how I feel and since this is my blog, I figured I could! :)  

13 comments:

  1. I am right there with you. I am not a educator, hats off to those you can. If I was in your shoes, I would probley homeschool till we got settled in to our new house across the counrty.
    My kiddos had always gone to a awesome private christian school till a couple years ago. Then after 6 kids and now 8 we can't afford to send them. So we put them in public. At first I worried all the time and then I realized God had a plan for my kids in public. -my fifth graders teacher called me into her class to have a conference, it was really out of the blue so I was worried. When I sat down she started to tell me how quite and reserved my son was and how she had hardly heard him speak till just a few weeks ago. Oh no I thought. What did he do. She went on to tell me how all the teacher were so thrilled with him, that he had stepped up to be the moral leader of the fifth graders. He even stood up to the bully and the most popular stundents reminding them how we should talk and treat others!
    How cool is that, we just got to remember. That God has a plan! He has a plan for why you are homeschooling this year:) best of luck to you, hope tomorrow goes better.

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  2. This must be where Jana's post came from? I put in my two cents on hers, or LOL maybe two dollars?!
    This is what I had wrote:
    Touchy subject  I went to public school grades k-12 and had an awesome experience. I feel my parents gave me a very well-grounded upbringing in the Lord, and I was not suckered into all of the pulls that public schools can bring. That being said, I can also understand why parents homeschool. I have another year before Shayla goes to kindergarten and am gulping at the thought of her going off on a big ol’ bus without me. (I already cried about it LOL). I know I will have a hard time letting go, although I KNOW she will be just fine. She loves Jesus with all of her heart and wants to tell the world about Him. I at this point for selfish reasons would want to keep her home. However why do I have the right to stop her from telling the world about HIM? I have always been one who has said I will NEVER homeschool; however I may end up eating my words someday if I feel the Lord calls me to that point. However, I feel if you a strong desire to homeschool your kids because “it’s right” but are doing it with a begrudging attitude that it is contradictory to what the Word of God teaches. I have been in a LOT of prayer about it lately, and trying to comb through whether or not it is what I should do when the time comes. I struggle with the thought of teaching, I don’t feel I am qualified and I do not have a strong desire to do so. But I KNOW I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength if that is what He in fact CALLS me to do when the time comes. I am by NO means anti-homeschool. It is a personal decision and one that I think each parent needs to examine for themselves and their kids. But, regardless, we need to do EVERYTHING we do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), including either preparing our kids for public school, private school, or homeschool.
    Blessings to you and yours Amanda, Praying it gets better and begins to go smoothly...

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  3. Yes, you can. Thank you for being transparent Amanda - Pat Aho

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  4. I'm pondering whether your attitude against 'being the teacher' is going to hinder your children's learning.
    For good reasons, you have chosen the homeschool path, now ask God to create the 'want to' in your heart so you can enjoy the path you've chosen.
    He can and He will.
    Just a thought.

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  5. I was thinking what Anonymous #2 said. If you don't learn to like teaching your kids most likely your attitude about it will rub off on them and they might think "if Mom don't like it why should we?" Just sayin.. :)

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  6. P.S. There are days I absitively HATE homeschooling, but the good days outweigh the bad days and for us there are more pros than cons. :)

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  7. Not sure who you are Anonymous #2, but you must not know my kids.. They are all very smart and learn very well... Also, A#2 and Martha, because I posted on here that I don't enjoy teaching doesn't mean I have an "attitude" that my kids will pick up on.. They know I would rather send them to private school, but because I LOVE them, and the circumstances that we are where we are... And every homeschooling family has good and bad days whether it's something they enjoy or not... Just wanted to point out that not everybody was made to be an educator, that is basically the whole point of my post..

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  8. I don't want to homeschool my boys...I haven't the slightest idea HOW I would teach them, as I am not a very good teacher! I couldn't even explain to Jace how to play tic tac toe LOL
    Hopefully once you get to Tri, you can send them to the christian school there next year if your money circumstances change... :) Something to pray about, anyways
    Cilla

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  9. The right path ain't always the easiest path, hey? Everything, including homeschooling, has its pros and cons. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, tho.
    You did it before, you can do it again :) With God's help..
    ~Toini

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  10. mandy
    i love how open and honest you are....and just so you know, moms are many many things....some of the tasks are enjoyed more than others! if all of us could be so honest....
    sissy

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  11. I can't even imagine what it would be like to homeschool my kids. Several of my friends do it, but I just know that *I* couldn't. Funny thing is that my degree is even in special ed, so it's not like I don't have the "qualifications" to do it.

    But, I also think that part of my I Don't Want To Do It attitude comes from being a single parent. As awful as it may sound to some, I *need* the time away from them. I love my kids more than life itself, but I also know that I am of no use to them when I am tired and worn out from having to do everything that needs to be done around here. When they are at school, I feel like I can actually relax and unwind, or get more things done so that we can have more quality time together when they do get home.

    I truly admire anyone who can homeschool, for whatever reasons they choose to do it. And just from reading your blog, I have faith that you will do what is best for your kids, even if there are a few stumbling blocks at the beginning.

    :)
    Amy

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  12. That is what true love does, it sacrifices our wants for others. As you know, this subject is near and dear to my heart, but sharing more about it may be more appropiate on my own blog...I may just write a book if I get started =)

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  13. Just stopping by to say "hi"... got comments working again! :)

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