Why I Left Homeschooling.....Again

There are so many people out there that homeschool that provide their kids with an amazing experience.  My hat is off to those families.  Having homeschooled for 2 years, and sending them to public school for 2 years, and now coming back home at the start of this year, I feel I saw enough of both worlds to see where we fit. I want to be their mom not their full time teacher.  I want to be the mom who picks them up at the end of the school day with a smile on my face and eagerness to see them.  I want to allow them to grow with my guidance but also making and seeing mistakes on their own.  I want to have them come home and talk to me about their day and feel at peace to be home.  When you are home 24/7 a lot of these things are taken for granted, at least for us.  It felt like I was fighting with them more than I was having quality time with them.  Days melted together.  School was always done.  It was done well and quickly.   But then I would feel like I wasn't doing enough cause we still had so much of the day left with nothing to fill it with.  A lot of free time leads to problems when you have a kid or two that thrive on a schedule.  The problem is I don't necessarily thrive on a "busy work"  schedule, it causes me stress and anxiety. 

My kids have gone back to public school.  I am at peace with my decision.  Over the last four months of homeschooling I have come to realize that my heart and head are not into it anymore.  I gave it a chance and told myself that if I was still in doubt that I would sign them up to start when the kids went back after Christmas break.  At the beginning of December my feelings still hadn't changed.  So I went into the enrollment office and re enrolled them.  

It is all purely selfish.  I am choosing me as a happy mom and individual rather than a stressed out mom.  My homeschooling hat has been hung up.  Homeschooling had always felt unfinished after I sent them back to public school.   I had had a rough year prior and was at the end of my emotional rope when I had made that decision.  Then I sat and wondered if it was really a choice I had made or the circumstances made for me.  I always had the thought that I would bring them back home again.   A month into it this summer and I had my answer already.  It just never felt right.  I tried to convince myself it was, but I was just telling myself lies.  I loose myself in it.  And I like me, when I'm not stressed out and spreading myself too thin.  

                                 

**I must admit that I did cry that morning.  It's been 11 years since I was home by myself, that's an adjustment.

What We Have Been Up To

Since I last posted summer has finished up.  It flew by this year I swear!!  I have some photos to upload of some of the things we did this summer, I am going to share the start of our school year instead.  I have brought the kids back home for the beginning of this year.  I had thought I would homeschool them all year long, but after some more thought on the matter I am only keeping them home until the start of the new year. 

 Why go to that trouble you may wonder?  Because I am going to my hometown for an extended stay during the holidays.  My kids would have needed to miss 7 weeks of school, which if you have kids in the school system you know doesn't fly.  So besides using this opportunity to help my girl get some math facts mastered and letting my boys be boys we are just enjoying this little break.  

Tripp (K)

Keegan(3)

Avery(5)

I love the idea of homeschooling.  I KNOW it works.  In my head it is awesome.  In my reality it just really doesn't fit.  My husband has a job that requires him to work away, a lot. I am left to hold down the fort.  Some can do it with ease it seems but when I try I feel like I lose a little of myself.  Then I spend sleepless nights beating myself up over my lack of abilities.  Which I know are lies, but things my brain tells itself none the less.  

So here's to hoping the next 4 months go by with ease and as little complications as necessary!

School Photos

A great start to the new school year. Thanks so much for the support Ladies!! It warms my heart more than I could ever say!

Getting Ready for School 10-11

Tomorrow marks the start of the new school year. We are still waiting on Averys math and the teachers book for ETC for Keegan. I have been praying over our school year that our enthusiasm is maintained throughout the year and our hearts and minds are open. I am really excited about the Apologia science we will be doing this year. I was considering getting myself a notebook to do it along with the kids!!

Sailing Ships

We had a fun morning in our little homeschool. I have finally hit a groove and figured out a loose schedule that really seems to be working. I have started using my much loved work boxes again and I am enjoying teaching MFW so far. The key was for me to figure out I didn't need to follow the schedule the way they had it. I am doing my portion of the teaching first thing and then letting them move on to their independent work after and helping with anything I need to explain as they go...pretty simple solution but my thick head took awhile to let it seep in ;)

So most of the fun came in part to us making the three ships that Columbus sailed across the ocean on. Avery made the Santa Maria, Keegan made the Pinta, and I made the Nina. Tripp and my hubby also participated, Tripp made a taco boat(he usually sees tin foil around his tacos at the mexican restaurants) and my hubbs made a viking ship(his did the best....figures) We walked across the street and set our little ships to sail in a large pond and I am happy to report that all made it to the New World, some in better shape than others, but then I guess that happened to Columbus too!!

Muffin Tin Monday (or Tuesday..)

*click here to go to MTM

The theme for monday was people and faces. My brother gifted me with this hotdog cutter over the summer and I knew it would be perfect for this theme. The kids love when I make the hotdog man.

Current Reading

*click on the photo for a link to this book


On the suggestion of Fairmaiden from SeaCottage I purchased the above book. I am so excited to read it and start using some of the ideas in our "classroom". Although it is fiction it still leads you to the quiet study of nature! Thank you Fairmaiden for taking the time to read my little space on this big internet and thinking enough to suggest such a lovely book.

New Year

School starts tomorrow. Spent most of the day working in the school room getting things ready. I will still need to do some more through the week once I see how our new schedule is. I love homeschooling and that little boys butt!!!!!