Reese is doing well
I get a break
She does just fine without me
She is making great friends
etc.
and then there is Dallas....
Now Dallas is the kind of kid that can go off and play by himself. He has no problem being alone. He likes to work and build things and take his time to do it right. I find him to be very smart (not above normal but thinks well) I feel that if he were to go to school in a classroom he wouldn't do so well. I have witnessed this in Sunday School. He get very frustrated and then becomes the "problem". I am beginning to feel it is because he wants to finish what he is doing and he wants to do it right. He has been doing the same thing when it comes to writing letters. So with all this being said I Think this could be a problem when it comes to going to school. From what I have witness at Reese's school they are very Fast and on the go. I could see him hating that and becoming a goof or a problem kid. Yes he may grow out of this, but he has been this way forever....
Well lately I have been reading A Well-Trained Mind It has been eye opening and has really began to do a serious work in me. It has made me really think that I can teach them and in fact already am. The author of the book was a teacher and in her story she said how frightened she was of teaching her own kids. It dawned on me and this is just a THOUGHT that maybe it is because we care so much about our own children that we don't want to fail them. And we feel if we are the one teaching them the possibility is higher?? I say this more for myself because I don't think of myself as a smart person. I cheated my way threw highschool and didn't really try that hard. I am now starting to think that BECAUSE I love them so much I want to be their teacher. (this does not mean if you send your kids to off to school you do not love them please do not read into that). God gave them to me and I am beginning to feel confident that He will give me the wisdom to teach them as well. Yes they do need to learn to get along without me and I still believe we can give them that. But they also need a fair chance at learning and I feel for my kids that will probably be best done at home. Does this mean that I will do it forever?? NO. Does this mean I am going to do this Tomorrow?? NO. I am writing this to try to work it out.
These are just my thoughts this last week so don't hold me to them. I am also one who thinks out loud and I can come back in a couple days and think.......WHAT?? Did I say that?? Sheesh!
So if you have any input let me know what your thoughts are. I know that a lot of you happen to homeschool so I would love to hear about it. Why did you do it etc? Also is there anyone that has homeschool just one kid??
Oh and I forgot to mention that I SUCK at waking up in the morning....8am for school is bonkers for me ;)
You're not alone in your feelings. I'm a public school teacher who often contemplates whether or not I am "smart enough" to be teaching kids. It's a tough job, but it's also incredibly rewarding.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that the Lord will prepare us all for the challenges ahead. Whether that means you'll teach them at home, join a co-op, send one to school and keep another at home, or perhaps you'll decide to send them off to school - and get yourself plugged into their classrooms and PTA (confession - I certainly pray for strong Christian families to join me in the world of public education). Regardless, the options are limitless and the Lord will guide you.
hey there!
ReplyDeleteas you might have read on my blog, i too struggled with this...for years! keaton was the reason- i also worried that he would be labled "the bad kid" but for opposite reasons, he has to be doing something interesting constantly...the moment he gets bored he starts to find his own way to have fun.
(i'll come and blog more later...Auston is having a hard time right now)
Very well thought out thoughts. (Really I shouldn't post comments past midnight because they don't always make sense. LOL)
ReplyDeleteAmber, if God calls you to hs, you will do just fine. You don't need to be extra smart to teach. One thing about homeschooling that I strive for is to teach my children how to learn. As they get older, there will be many things I don't know. We'll learn them together and no doubt, there will be things they learn without me.
I think your thoughts on Dallas make so much sense. One thing about sending kids to school is that things are done on the teacher's schedule-not on the child's and for some children, this can be a big hinderance.
I know of people who have homeschooled one child while another went to school. It worked well for them at the time. I think it's great that you are looking at your children individually and realizing that this may work for you too.
I'll pray for your decision-that it will follow the will of God, and not man.
Oh, and I'm totall with you on the 8:00am for school thing being bonkers. "School" around here rarely starts before 9:30. LOL
A few thoughts a bit from each side.....From my experience teaching public school..while there are teachers that do work at a fast past timeline keeping to a schedule there are also teachers who are very much child centered who are teaching because they want to make a difference in a child's life not just to get a paycheck or to go through the motions. I have worked with some extremely dedicated and talented teachers and administrators who went above and beyond to make sure they were meeting the needs of all of their students. Not just hours spent in a classroom but also hours spent outside a classroom researching different ways to help and working with parents and resources to meet students where they are at. I have also worked with teachers who worked hard to individualize work for their students. Teaching is a tremendous job and not one to be taken lightly. It is both challenging and rewarding.
ReplyDeleteOn the other side...as someone who is currently praying through this same decision I see the benefits of homeschool as well. While many teachers are dedicated and meet students were they are at, you are the parent and know your child the best and may be able to meet some specific needs that a teacher in a classroom setting may not be able to??? Like Rachel said if this is what you feel like God is calling you to then He will equip you. He will lead and guide you....just as He does for those who choose public school for their children. I have some of these same thoughts about teaching my children, especially thinking ahead to middle school & high school but I am also learning more and more to trust the Lord for His wisdom and teaching. His teaching me how to be the parent that He has called me to be (whether that is teaching at home or having my children in public school) I would love to talk to you more about all of this sometime....we should get together.
Thank you guys for all your comments and keep them coming. Seriously this is what keeps me thinking about it because I know that I am not right A LOT of the time and I share my thoughts hoping to be corrected.
ReplyDeleteCarrie- I have so much appreciation for teachers. I think it is a very HARD job. I don't even think hard is the right word. I think what ever you do you need to Trust that the Lord is directing you for sure. So much more to say....yes lets get together
Rachel- good to hear from you ;) And I would love to get together with you as well. Great thoughts!
Anne- Thank you for teaching kids and loving them. That is great to hear.
*I'm back...and I have two free hands and a sleeping baby this time! =)*
ReplyDeleteI had a really hard time deciding because I KNEW that Keaton and I needed breaks from each other (he is a challenge!) and that he would probably enjoy public school...but the reason I finally decided to go with it basically comes down to the fact that God wants me to do it. I don't really know why. Why did He constantly bring it up for years? (Despite my mental arguements with Him) Why do I need to do this when I could REALLY use a break from the kids? Only He knows, and already I feel like I am seeing benefits. In fact I am enjoying it (and the kids litterally BEG to do school)so much so, that I realized that I would have missed out on something really cool. It kind of reminds me of nursing. Yes, my kids would have survived, been healthy and gone on to lead normal lives if I had only bottle fed them, but I am so glad I nursed them...it was really, really tough at first for me, but I would never take back that time with each of my kids. I love that I have had that experiance.
I am loving that I am having this experiance. It is already a joy.
My relationship with my kids is growing and it is so wonderful to grow alongside of them.
I will never be a perfect parent, or teacher, but no teacher out there would be either and they are not the perfect parent for my kids.
To me school was a mission field while I was in Jr High and High school, so it was hard for me to think about taking my kids "out" of the world we need to be reaching. I don't know if we will always homeschool, but if we do I know that we will find ways to be in the world where God has placed us...kind of like how I join a city Mom's Club for the same reason.
I want the very formative years of my kids' lives to be centered around how much God loves them and their parents love them. I want them to know how to cook, how to make a budget, how to get along with their siblings (hopefully!)...I hope homeschooling will encourage more of that...and that I get to enjoy their little moments before they are grown.
I use curriculm more for my benefit, so I know that they are on track and I can just enjoy time with them and not stress out about if they are behind or not.
I could go on and on, but I've already written a book!
It all just comes down to what God wants for you and your family...it is your own awesome adventure, so just keep seeking Him-He'll show you!
Hope this helps...either way your kids have a mama that cares about them and their education, so they are going to go far in life!
praying for you!