Wish You Were Here!

I have found myself referring to these early days at home as a Home School Honeymoon.

Everything is still new and exciting.  I gaze with wonder at my amazing kids and seem to have discovered a deep well of patience to pull from at the slightest hint of discord. Of which there have been few.

Yes, I realize the passion will certainly fade.

So for now, enjoy this little postcard from a really nice place that we eventually will have to leave.

Details

In case anyone else is interested I thought I'd share more details in response to my Dad's questions.

From my Dad:

Quite an adventure. How do you know what books/texts you need for various topics? Are there testing requirements imposed by the local school board? Is it easy to re-enroll if you or Margot start to have second thoughts? Maybe more importantly...what do you want to achieve by homeschooling that conventional schooling lacks, in your opinion?

Our approach to home schooling will be a little looser than a typical school curriculum.  Like, really loose.  Since we still live in a sort-of, free country there are very few requirements imposed by the school board.  In Maine a statement of intent is almost all we need.  Some states require more.

We plan to continue the math curriculum (they have a home school version) just in case she wants to slide back into third grade next year.  Otherwise I probably wouldn't push it.  Crazy talk!

Yes it is easy to re-enroll.  She won't even be un-enrolled really.  She will still go to Music once a week.  Schools let you take specials and classes in higher grades.

As for second thoughts.  I know we will second guess ourselves along the way.  I've second guessed myself every day the attend school so I'm used to that.  For now the plan is to try it until next year and decide if she wants to go back then.  

In my most humble opinion the schools lack arts, foreign language, free time, natural science (as in worm hunting), gymnastics, rock climbing, horseback riding, daydreaming,  cooking, hiking, sewing, knitting, photography, drama, gardening and even watching really good TV and movies. 

And of course we will work on our cursive writing.  It is not a lost art!

Surprise

Perhaps it's not too surprising to some people. People closest to me know I have thought about home schooling for years. I imagined it for myself before I'd even had kids.

I half-started when Char was supposed to enter Kindergarten. After a few days together (and a 6 month old brother and 3 year old sister) she ended up doing a Pre-K year at her preschool and jumped right to first grade from there. Then Margot started Kindergarten and we just forged ahead.

Before they were school-aged I read a lot about home schooling, un-schooling, life learning. Thought about it. Had friends who did it. Most of time believing it would be right for us but just never taking the leap.

 Later when they started school I didn't really feel wrong about them being there but I just didn't feel like I was being genuine either.

It's a little hard to explain and maybe I don't even need to but I know I'll keep trying. 

Since the start of this school year the voice inside me grew stronger and stronger.  I had never really talked about the idea with them but found myself bringing it up now and then.  Every time one of them said they hated school or didn't want to go I felt torn apart. 

I kept going to yoga.  I was looking for answers.  That's as new age, mumbo-jumbo as I get! 

Then this past Tuesday when the girls got home from school I got some pen and paper and we started writing down our thoughts. What would it be like if I didn't got to school everyday? What would be different? What worries me about that? What sounds good, bad, scary etc?

Charlotte withdrew. What about learning? Her friends?

Margot got excited. So excited she was ready to start the next day.

A mental health day (or three) was in order. We all spent a few days together trying on this new idea.

Margot's excitement continues to grow.

Charlotte is still considering her options. She was always the kid I imagined being happier at home. A little more reserved and anxious about being out in the world. Yet loves being with kids and hates missing things. Next week she'll take some time at home and think some more. I think in the end she'll want to stay home too.

Today we went to Margot's school and visited her teacher and classmates. We shared our news and tried our best to explain a concept that was pretty foreign to her friends. She got a lot of hugs but never stopped beaming. She is diving headfirst into her new identity as a "home school kid."

I hope to use this blog to share our adventures and would love for the kids to do some posting too.