After returning home from kindergarten, I could always be found scooping up my stuffed animals and dolls by the armful. We would make the trek, out of the toy cupboard or my bedroom, down the stairs and into the family room. There, rows of chairs and pillows awaited my toys. Only they weren't toys anymore; they were my students. And, armed with chalk and eraser, I taught them my day's lessons. My siblings had long since abandoned the idea of playing school with me, coming to the sad realization that the teacher's position was permanently occupied. This may have disappointed me for a moment, but I eventually found their replacements just as cute, and ever-more attentive.
My eventual decision to major in early childhood/elementary education came as no surprise to my family. And, to be honest, I was reluctant to seriously consider homeschooling our children in large part because I knew I would really enjoy it. I didn't want to make this huge decision , which would impact our children for better or worse, for any selfish reason. In the end, my love of teaching was not a factor when the actual decision-making happened. And, yet, I have to admit how truly naive I was...
The transition to homeschooling has been noteable. Those first few Friday nights, I eagerly flung myself on my bed soon after tucking in the kids(a complete exaggeration, since I had nowhere near the energy to be eager or the strength to fling anything! Plus, I am certain it was my blessed husband that did the tucking those nights.) I have shed countless tears over new curriculum, crazy daily schedules, and feelings of inadequacy. And, yet, somewhere along the way, this new lifestyle has become our lifestyle; this crazy new way of life, our life. And, even though we've only been at it 2 months and 10 days (who's counting??), some beautiful things are happening. Friendships are being rekindled (the best, sibling kind), little one is thriving, olders are learning to nurture, I've come closer to becoming a patient mama, and learning seems to be enjoyable (although no one's made that crazy admission yet!)
So, that's the general update. We're working, we're striving, we're not giving up. And sometime soon, I'll give you more details of this, our crazy wonderful new life. That is, if you haven't all been replaced by dolls....
My eventual decision to major in early childhood/elementary education came as no surprise to my family. And, to be honest, I was reluctant to seriously consider homeschooling our children in large part because I knew I would really enjoy it. I didn't want to make this huge decision , which would impact our children for better or worse, for any selfish reason. In the end, my love of teaching was not a factor when the actual decision-making happened. And, yet, I have to admit how truly naive I was...
The transition to homeschooling has been noteable. Those first few Friday nights, I eagerly flung myself on my bed soon after tucking in the kids(a complete exaggeration, since I had nowhere near the energy to be eager or the strength to fling anything! Plus, I am certain it was my blessed husband that did the tucking those nights.) I have shed countless tears over new curriculum, crazy daily schedules, and feelings of inadequacy. And, yet, somewhere along the way, this new lifestyle has become our lifestyle; this crazy new way of life, our life. And, even though we've only been at it 2 months and 10 days (who's counting??), some beautiful things are happening. Friendships are being rekindled (the best, sibling kind), little one is thriving, olders are learning to nurture, I've come closer to becoming a patient mama, and learning seems to be enjoyable (although no one's made that crazy admission yet!)
So, that's the general update. We're working, we're striving, we're not giving up. And sometime soon, I'll give you more details of this, our crazy wonderful new life. That is, if you haven't all been replaced by dolls....
