I first jumped into homeschooling a little over 11 years ago, when my oldest child was 8. The younger two are currently homeschooling and have been for the last two years. We constantly review our decision to make sure it is still the best choice for our family.
I don’t talk about it.
It might seem strange, but I don’t talk about our decision to homeschool very often. Honestly? It’s partly because I have many friends who are teachers, and I don’t want them to feel as if I think poorly of them. It’s kind of silly, I know, but I still feel awkward about it sometimes!
I have great friends that are amazing teachers. I also have friends with kids that do wonderfully in their school settings. I don’t begrudge any of them. I also think that teachers are woefully underappreciated, and we as a country could do a whole lot better to support education.
An environment to grow in.
Every homeschooler has their own personal reasons for doing so. There’s no “right” or “wrong” answer, but I read something recently that summed up our reasons more eloquently than I have been able to in the past: The school environment did not allow my kids to grow in the way they needed to and deserved to.
I also don’t share a lot online about our specific experiences because they aren’t my stories to tell. I’ve struggled with walking the line between wanting to share to help others and wanting to keep my kids’ private lives just that – private. It’s tough!
I actually love to share!
However, when people ask me about homeschooling, I am more than happy to talk to them! It has been so beneficial to my family through the years, and I love to answer questions and help people in their journey whenever I can. So please, feel free to reach out to me!
Rita Pierson, an inspiring educator from Texas, gave a TED talk in which she said the following:
Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
Every day I strive to be that champion for my children.
