As January began, I found myself really wishing for and missing homeschooling. I didn't want to send the boys back to school on Monday. I wanted to keep everyone in the warm, calm(ish) sphere of home, and with the first two days back at school ending up as a snowy mess, I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE! (I have lived in Utah for over 14 years now, but when it comes to winter driving, I still consider myself a desert-dweller and therefore unfit to be behind the wheel). But since I am rational enough (at the moment, at least) to realize that my children's schooling shouldn't be meteorologically determined, I decided to get it all out of my system and list the pros of each option.
Reasons I'd love to homeschool:
1. I don't have to put my shoes on to get the kids to school.
2. I actually learn a lot of neat things in the process.
3. There's no paperwork to fill out for our science projects.
4. No parent-organization responsibilities. Just parent responsibilities.
5. I could really tailor the work to the boys' interests.
6. NO HOMEWORK (well, it's all homework, but we're done with it by 2pm at the latest.
7. I love buying books and homeschooling gives me a great excuse.
8. No other teachers to deal with (there's really only one I'm having issues with right now).
9. I get to see much more of my boys.
10. Oh, and did I mention not having to drive in the snow!
Reasons public/charter school isn't all bad:
1. For Caleb, one word--FRIENDS (there are NO kids his age in the neighborhood, or even the ward).
2. Incentive (however uncomfortable) to actually FINISH the science projects.
3. Yesterday when I walked into Marcus's class, there was a beautiful chicken in a pen in the middle of the room. Marcus said he got to pet it, feed it and study it.
4. Sheridan has found a group of peers--kids who "get" each other. A week before Christmas, he was sharing with us the chemistry Christmas carols* he made up with his friend Austin and I felt this maternal joy that Sheridan had found some other soul who actually thought this kind of thing was funny.
5. Sheridan did get to go on a "mission" at a "space simulator." I think it was the highlight of his year so far.
6. Fine arts programs. It turns out Caleb will sing--just at school, though. And Sheridan's learning harmonies in Choir and the guitar. Marcus likes his Karate classes at school.
7. Some afternoons, I have about an hour when Mitchell is asleep and (if I let myself) I can just sit and enjoy a little quiet.
I've been tempted, but I'm not actually planning on yanking the boys from their schools at this point. I'll just have homeschool envy until the end of May and at the same time be grateful that I can just blame the State if my kids don't learn what they need to this year.
* These are the two "carols" if you're curious:
Dashing though the snow, on an unstable actincide
Through the trees we go, watching them all die. (Oh no, no!)
I think I am dead too, my hand looks like it's glue,
I woke up as a little blob, just sitting in the goo.
Oh, Actincium, Thorium, Protactinium
Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium and then,
Amaricanium, Berkelium, Einsteinium and last
Californium, Curium, Lawrencium,
Actincides that go boom!
Deck the halls with boughs of Cesium
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Spill the punch bowl in the hallway
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don, we should have bomb shelter
Fa la la la la, la la la la
'Cause of CsH2O
Fa la la la la, la la KA-BOOM!
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3 comments:
I am so with you on this post, and I don't even have any snow!!! I did not want Monday to come. I spend my time in the car deliberating about my schooling options for next year--determined that it won't be the same configuration as this year. And seriously considering homeschooling for the first time.
On another note, there are other children that speak Sheridan? Does the fact that I don't understand either of his carols mean that I need to retake Chemistry class? Or is this beyond the 100 level?
Oh I do so LOVE smart nerdy kids. And I'm so happy for Sheridan to have friends that share his interests.
I'm often tempted to pull all the kids back into homeschool for mostly selfish reasons, but so far I've kept 'em in (this year, anyway) for similar reasons to the ones you gave.
Trina, this is Shand'a old friend Heather. I just want to say that I took the homeschooling plung after the break and I am loving it. We now live in Henderson NV and having them away from the world has made a huge differencr, plus I am learning so much along with them.
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