December is a even more chaotic time for our family than normal, so sorry it has been so long since last post. We are just now getting back into a good routine. Routine, you may ask what that might look like with four little monkeys, but I will disclose that detail in another post.
My husband and I were both in public schools growing up, so this thought of homeschooling did not just appeal to us at first. Sure there were some negative aspects about public school system, but we really thought, "Oh well, what can you do," or "that's just the way it is." I won't go into discussing all those little details, because honestly its not important and every system has their flaw. But I will share the main points in our decision making process.
About the summer before my oldest son was suppose to be starting pre-k homeschooling was brought up in a marriage conference DVD study we were going through. We made a list of what we thought were the pro's and con's. The bottom line was how could we financially live on one income?!? So we went on a search for a nearby preschool. I knew in Texas headstart was a financially based program. Meaning you had to make under a certain amount to qualify or have some other special requirements to even apply, unless you planned on sending them to a private school which would be a good chunk of change. For some reason I just assumed the public schools that offered pre-k was free, WRONG! I was told by several schools unless your family makes 30,000 or less, a parent in the military, or had another language besides English as their primary language we did not qualify. Now this might be different where you live, but I did my research and this was the case where we lived. Then our thought was to see how expensive would it be for private pre-k, and surprisingly not too bad. But in combination of the day care cost would just not be attainable for us at that time. Plus our day care notified us that any private pre-k in town would be too far for them to pick up our child, and so we would have to make other arrangements for dropping them off after pre-k to the day care. Which again was a problem. There are some day cares that have pre-k, but our day care was in the process of being certified. And that would mean trying to find another day care that was certified to teach pre-k, affordable for us (we also had a child under one at that time), and had room for both children in age appropriate classes. Needless to say we were shocked, overwhelmed, and just down right frustrated!
We made the decision to just keep him in the current day care, which he loved and was teaching basic skills for pre-k anyways, and to do as much pre-k work at home as we could. It was difficult to say the least. Both of us were working full time jobs, we had two children (4 and almost 1), maintaining the typically parent duties (house chores, meals, normal care for kids, and just spending time with them), they were at day care all day, and then trying to find time and energy to teach him things so he would be ready for kindergarten. Now I've always wanted a third child, and our youngest was reaching 18 mon. and I was having baby fever! I had a job that offered pretty good health insurance, and the thought came to me: what if I have our third child while I have health insurance then when he is born I can just stay home and homeschool Josh for kindergarten. Logically thinking of the expenses of gas commuting to work and extra cost for a third child in day care was not worth me still working. And naturally thought well if I'm staying home I might as well give homeschooling a shot. I wasn't sure if homeschooling was right for us, or if I was even qualified to teach him, but I reasoned that if I was genuinely going to give it a shot kindergarten was the best year to start.
Some of our major con's for homeschooling were: incorporating our religion into curriculum, we could select the social out-lets our kids would be involved in (such as community sports and church events), and I was going to be able to build a lasting bond with my kids (to truly know them and to base school off their needs and desires not just a general study or something that might pertain to some kids and not all)! I've always dreamed of staying home with my kids until they started school. I did end up working until the end of my third pregnancy, but God was about to bless me more than I ever imagined. I was starting to dread my work days., being gone from my kids all day. When I got home it was dinner, bath, bed and if we were lucky we got in a little play time between bath and bed. I thought, was this really what parenthood was all about? On the other spectrum, just as long as I have been dreaming about being a mom I also had a dream of being a nurse. I loved helping people. But it came to me as my children will only be this age once, and then its gone. What will I do when I have no children under foot. So I reasoned that would be my time to pursue a career and now was the time to devote my energy and time into my children.
Cost now with adding a third child was not an issue, public school systems were starting to seem like the wrong answer, and socialization never seemed to be a problem. The desire to grow close relationships with my kids and to give them a strong foundation in faith seemed far more superior in priority. Now that third child is 2 1/2 years old, and I can say it has not been all sunshine and roses. Sometimes a rain of tears and storms with frustration seem more fitting. Homeschooling to us really has been a life style change. A-learning-curve, and in fact I'm still learning. Trying to find that groove on the bumpy path of life, but I have NO REGRETS! With a supportive husband and four smiling faces looking at me everyday I gear up for the daily challenges.
A promise from God I hold dear to my heart.
Proverbs 22:6 NIV
'Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.'
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