The stages of your relationship with homeschooling is a bit like marriage. After you overcome being overwhelmed, you enjoy the "honeymoon" period. Years fly by and you find yourself settling in to routine. Perhaps you may even revisit questions of insecurity. How then do you maintain the joy of homeschooling?
Well, actually, this isn't going to develop into a "How To" mini workshop. Rather, since we are settling into this school year and with winter on the way, I wanted to revisit my joys and share them with those reading my posts. I posted it here, rather than a ramble, for those who have been following this thread.
These are joys I get from homeschooling my family. Each family will have different experiences along their journey.
Thus, I love homeschooling because:
when they are grown, I can honestly say that I have spent more time with my children than anyone else.
the time spent with them helps us to shape their character.
I have seen all of their "firsts"... first steps, first words, first writings, first drawings, etc.
I enjoy my morning snuggles and reading to them before they start the day.
my children honestly feel that they are each other's best friends.
they can read and write because I taught them.
Science involves making a cell model with jello and candy.
we have pancake mornings and they start school in their jammies.
after frustration with a subject, I get to see the "ah ha" moment...when the "light bulb" comes on and it makes the effort worthwhile.
my four year old tells others "I can see your epidermis".
they choose to read nonfiction books in their spare time and get excited over facts they discover.
we can center anything around learning, even family vacations.
they ask to do schoolwork.
I love when they giggle when they are enjoying class.
they have opportunities to learn beyond "school work".
my fourth grader ran in the house after identifying "brachnoid wasp" cocoons in a caterpillar on his own.
they can learn at their own pace.
I enjoy being either scheduled or shifting gears "midstream". The point is, I have that prerogative and tailor it to my family's needs. Tailored education costs a fortune these days and I offer that to my children.
my children enjoy the companionship of their elders, they do not view it as a "burden".
my children feel comfortable enough to talk to me about important matters, even if we stay up talking until two in the morning.
my children enjoy playing "learning games".
we can school according to our schedule. This can include during regular "school hours", nights or weekends.
since all of our work is "home work", we strive to complete our goals without interfering with "family" time. Thus, our work can be done at home, in the car, or at the park. We try to use all "on the go" time for schoolwork. But, after school time is generally not used finishing "homework".
I love kicking up my feet up while reading a book and watching my children play in the backyard. Those that finished their work early receive extra play time. Another finishes Algebra next to me at the patio table.
I love homeschooling during the hot desert temperatures and freezing blizzard temperatures while taking vacation time during beautiful outdoor days.
we can go grocery shopping during the "slow" times and see other homeschoolers enjoying their day.
although there are difficulties, I am reminded each day why we chose this course as a family.
I love perusing books and materials for teaching.
I wanted to be a public school teacher as a child. The school system destroyed that desire in Middle School. I fulfill that desire now by teaching my own children.
our Yearbook contains our life over the course of the year.
my second grader loves identifying bones and organs of the body. I laugh when the phalanges are pointed out.
I could go on and on. But, for the sake of my readers, I shall stop. The point is... review your joys frequently, because difficulties will arise, to energize your learning environment and keep the zeal for teaching the most important students in your life, your own children.