With the abrupt change in programming and disruption of daily life, many are praising teachers for the work they do. Teachers are amazing. When I go down my list of friends, over half are teachers. They are incredible people. Authentically loving and teaching your children day in and day out.
I’ve been watching the Internet for the past few weeks and while everyone is wondering what to do and how to do this new season of life, I’ve been sitting over here wondering, “What’s the big deal? I do this everyday.” But that’s a little insensitive so I backed up and thought about things from differing perspectives. Which made me dive into our own reasonings on why we do this apparently crazy, countercultural thing called homeschool.
If you give a mouse a cookie and all that.
I also want to do a short disclaimer. Again, SO many of my friends are teachers. Lovely, wonderful teachers. I adore and admire them. SO many of the families I love have chosen to not homeschool. That’s ok. My story does not diminish your story.
Home
We live in a small rural community. Our public school is great. Really it is. Small class sizes, fantastic capable teachers. The facility is in excellent condition and supplies are plentiful. Opportunities for extra curriculars abound. It all sounds really good right?
But the more we do this homeschool thing and the more I talk with other homeschool moms, I’ve come to see that it’s really not about the school. It’s about home.
Didn’t see that coming did you?
Some people pull their kids to homeschool because of learning deficits, bullying, poor childhood experiences, etc. For us though? It’s none of those. We each had fantastic educational experiences at the very same school, we excelled and had fun. But, it’s not home.
Home. We believe in keeping our kids home in a safe and engaging environment. We believe learning and growing together as a family for as long as possible is best. Public school is relatively new. Home? Is not new. The family unit is not new. Keeping our children close to that unit while fostering independence naturally is best for kids. That is done best at home.
We are taking life slower than most. Our schedules aren’t full. Our stress level isn’t high. We are home. We are doing life together.
Work
My husband is an RN. Generally working three 12 hour shifts per week. This is fantastic for our family, as we spend SO much time together. However, if we sent our children to public school, they essentially wouldn’t see him at all three days a week. He leaves at 5:45 am and doesn’t get home until close to 8 pm.
For us, right now, this doesn’t work. It’s not how we want to live as a family. It does not align with our values. So, we had to find a solution. Homeschool fits.
Learn
When I discuss homeschool with people one of the first benefits I cite is the ability to tap into our children’s’ interest and desires. “We can take field trip any day of the week!” It’s something everyone can get behind.
But if I’m being totally honest? We’ve yet to take a dedicated field trip-minus a vacation to the Black Hills. Remember how I just said home was so important? We take homebody to a whole new level, on a normal day. We have found educational opportunities exist in the everyday. In the mundane. I’m raising these people. Raising them to be functioning adults inside and outside the home. So adding cups of flour, sorting loads of laundry, shopping for groceries is a regular part of their education.
We have noticed Millie loves math, and building. So, we’ve tapped into that with projects and curriculum that focuses on those things. But, we aren’t running here and there or searching for outings. Home is our school. Family is our foundation.
We also do not start any formal education until at least 4. We do developmental appropriate activities with our kids. But we are not concerned with them regurgitating information or entertaining them. We want them to actually understand and so we wait and follow their lead. We want them to be innovative and creative so we aren’t full of organized activities.
Because they aren’t going to get behind or fail at life. It will be ok.
It’s so important to let them be little.
So yes, your life and routine looks vastly different right now. Different than what you ever thought things would be. But what if I told you, you could thrive at home? That your kids and your family could see great growth? It’s a good time to step back and reframe things. To evaluate where you are and what you want. You do not have to be a teacher to do this and to do it well.
Mama, let me tell you something. You can do this. This school at home thing is new. The sudden change in daily schedule is jarring. The world around us is concerning. But you were given these children, at this moment, for these times.
It’s time for us all to take a collective deep breath and realize our babies were sent home for a reason. They didn’t need school, they needed home. They needed you.
All will be well again soon. Or maybe with a change of heart all is well now, at home.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Jess