This week we started our 16th year of homeschooling! I know homeschool isn’t for everyone, but it is definitely for me! Here is why we choose to homeschool our kids.
I started homeschooling when I had 3 little ones and our oldest was about to turn 4. It was partly to give him something to do to keep him out of trouble, and partly to give me something to think about besides breastfeeding, potty training, and chasing a 3 year old. Because seriously, that was all I felt like I was doing all day everyday!
Homeschool felt great!
I had always wanted to be a teacher, so that was really fun for me.
The little ones soaked it up, getting into their letters and numbers and other preschool work. And I loved that time I was able to spend that time with my kids, watching them learn.
Of course we’ve had lots of adventures and lots of changes over our homeschooling years. We’ve had plenty of ups and downs, especially when a new baby would come, but over-all it’s been a blessing for us.
Why homeschool? l get to teach what, when, where and how I want to.
This has given me lots of creative opportunities over the years. We do spend most of our schooling time learning and practicing basic educational stuff, but I get to add games and activities that make it more fun and more memorable for my students. For example, at one point we were learning about grassland, and that a lot of it is used for farming. We watched a Youtube video that showed the process of growing and harvesting wheat. Then we went to our kitchen and made adorable little loaves of wheat bread. They loved it!
Why homeschool? It lets my kids learn to be friends with each other.
I’ve heard several times over the years that homeschool kids don’t know how to socialize, but
- I take my kids to church and church activities
- They get involved in extracirricular activites
- Traditional schools leave very little time for socializing
- At home I can keep a close watch on my own little group and teach each of them the importance of kindness
And so, even though they don’t always get along, they do spend time together and love each other and that is so rewarding as a parent.
Why homeschool? I can tailor fit my kids’ educations for their needs.
We’ve had a child ahead in one subject and behind in another at the same time. We’ve had kids with anxiety problems or blood-sugar issues. We have one with ADHD tendencies. We also have one little guy who is exceptionally smart, but still wasn’t fully potty trained when it was time to start kindergarten. Where would be better to handle these difficulties than here at home with mom?
Why homeschool? The list of things I love about it keeps going:
I love that as I’ve taught my kids I’ve learned so much with them! I love learning. It makes me feel both humble and confident as I learn about the amazing world around us, the lessons taught by history, math, technology, art, music, language, etc. I LOVE IT!
I love that I don’t have to wade through the traffic of drop-off and pick-up each day. (Yes, I have experienced that!)
I love that I’ve had time to teach my kids to cook. Each of them has had plenty of practice in the kitchen, some gaining a passion for it. We all love it when one of them spontaneously decides to make rolls or cookies. Yum!
I love that we’ve had time to teach our kids to do chores and keep it in our daily routine. This has helped a lot to keep the house at least halfway clean over the years. 😉
I love that my kids have time to play. I feel like play is so important for their development and wellbeing, for their happiness.
My kids say what they love about homeschool is snacks, hands-on activities, that the older kids can help teach, and they don’t have homework.
Well, I guess I’ve made it pretty obvious that I love homeschool. The thing I love most about it, which I’ve loved from the very beginning, is that I get to spend that time with my children. 🧡
If you homeschool, what do you love about it? If not, what do you love doing with your kids?
Thanks for reading my blog. If you like it, tell your friends. And go enjoy your adventure.
For more thoughts on homeschool, see My Home Schooling Philosophy, or click below.
Anne, you are an incredible woman! Wow! I love living a little more of your homeschool experience through this blog. You’re exceptionally gifted in so many ways.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you Sweetheart. I couldn’t do it without you backing me up. <3
Homeschool has been great for us. Our kids are each other’s first best friends. I feel sad that I don’t have that kind of relationship with my siblings. We’re friends, but it’s not the same.
I’m loving Prenda too. I get to teach my kids along with some others, and get paid to do it. It’s fulfilling work, even if it’s a lot of work. I love the freedom I have to teach and learn what I want. I feel like I’m making a difference. I’m grateful. If they ever get rid of ESA I might cry. 😉
I hear ya. 🙂
We have had so many fun adventures together with homeschooling. Little adventures, like walking around our neighborhood looking for signs of fall, or signs of birds living nearby; and making baking soda explosions, and making up hilarious madlib stories.
I love to see my kids learning and remembering awesome exciting things. We did a marine biology unit together our first year of homeschool, and we all loved learning about amazing ocean animals. We took a break from homeschooling, but I’m so excited to start it again this month!
Love it!