| What does homeschooling mean to me? It has | | | | they need more time with something, we can slow |
| become such an integral part of who we are as a | | | | down to make sure they master it. And I know right |
| family, that it would be difficult to analyze it separately. | | | | away when they need more help. Problems are not |
| It truly has become our way of life.Homeschooling | | | | hidden until they become major issues; we can take |
| means I spend more time with my children - all of | | | | care of them right away. I know and love my children |
| them, not just the little ones. My older kids attended a | | | | better than anyone else, so their success is |
| "regular" school for several years before we started | | | | paramount.Homeschooling means my older kids get to |
| homeschooling, and I always felt out of touch with | | | | see the younger ones grow and develop. They were |
| what was going on in their lives. We were growing | | | | just as amazed to hear the youngest laugh for the |
| apart, both figuratively and literally. Why has society | | | | first time as I was. Everyone is learning more about |
| accepted that parents should want to be with the | | | | child care, and patience, and putting the needs of |
| babies and toddlers, but once the kids reach school | | | | others ahead of their own. These are life skills that are |
| age, we're supposed to prefer to not have them | | | | important for anyone.Homeschooling means a more |
| around? I didn't have children in order to send them off | | | | relaxed daily schedule - OUR schedule - which results |
| to spend their day with some other adult. I didn't feel | | | | in less stress. Our day is flexible; we can schedule |
| that way when they were born, and I don't feel that | | | | appointments at less busy times. We don't have to get |
| way today. I deeply enjoy each and every one of my | | | | up before dawn to catch a bus at 6:50 am. I really |
| children, and I love having them with me every | | | | don't think anyone should have to be out of bed while it |
| day.Homeschooling means we are free to discuss our | | | | is still dark out. :)Homeschooling means more free time |
| faith openly, and apply it to all areas of life and study. | | | | to pursue other activities. We can finish a day's work in |
| God is not relegated to only Sunday school, or even | | | | less time since we don't have to continually organize a |
| only Religion class. History is full of faith-filled people | | | | classroom of 20 or 30 students, or spend time walking |
| whose actions and ideas were directly related to their | | | | up and down long hallways.Homeschooling means we |
| faith, including the founding fathers of our country. I | | | | can visit DisneyWorld during the off-peak times, |
| really don't see how one could teach about how | | | | instead of fighting crowds of people stuck to school |
| America began without mentioning God. Science is in | | | | vacation schedules.Homeschooling means, on the other |
| reality a study of God's creation. How can one look at | | | | hand, living in a house that is never quite all clean. |
| such an amazing world and not appreciate the Source | | | | Having six children home all day, every day, creates |
| of all? Writing and reading can include faith-related | | | | more mess (especially in the kitchen), and makes it |
| topics. When dealing with discipline issues, God and His | | | | more difficult to keep up with the cleaning, laundry, etc. |
| teachings can be included in the discussions. It would | | | | It doesn't bother me as much as it did at first, because |
| seem unnatural for a person of any faith to spend their | | | | I had to set priorities. The education and growth of my |
| entire day forbidden to mention their | | | | children come first. They do help with chores, but not |
| God.Homeschooling means I have an incredibly open | | | | at the expense of schoolwork. Every couple of days, |
| and close relationship with my two teenagers. They will | | | | when I reach my limit, everyone takes a break and |
| talk to me about anything, and are not embarassed to | | | | cleans up. But until they all move out, there will still be |
| be seen with me or our whole family. We laugh | | | | some mess.Homeschooling means I can slow down |
| together, and actually enjoy each other's company. My | | | | and live in the present moment when necessary. I |
| sixteen-year-old daughter and fourteen-year-old son | | | | have grown to really appreciate the time I have with |
| have become great friends to each other. They have | | | | my younger children, taking a few minutes at any time |
| not been made to feel that parents are irrelevant, or | | | | to watch them take such joy in each new skill they |
| the enemy. More time together means we know each | | | | learn. I definitely feel less rushed since we started |
| other much better.Homeschooling means I know, and | | | | homeschooling, and I am able to be there for each |
| select, which books my children read and learn from. I | | | | small, yet monumental moment in the life of a |
| am also aware of, and guide, the topics of discussion. I | | | | child.Homeschooling means, in short, more time and |
| don't have to wonder what "life lessons" they are | | | | opportunity to fully live out my vocation of |
| picking up at recess, on the school bus, or even in | | | | motherhood.[Please don't misconstrue my words to |
| class. I choose when they learn certain things, when | | | | imply that these things are not possible for anyone |
| they are ready (and it has been at a different age for | | | | who does not homeschool. This has been a discussion |
| each of them). I plan and direct their education, a level | | | | of what homeschooling means to ME. Every family is |
| of involvement which is very important to | | | | unique; every family has their own path to follow in |
| me.Homeschooling means my children can progress | | | | finding what is best for them.]Cynthia Brandolini has |
| through their studies at their own pace. When they | | | | been educating her own children at home since 2000. |
| learn something quickly, they can just move on. When | | | | |