Top 5 Reasons We Homeschool

I thought I would share some of the reasons we decided to choose the homeschooling route.

Top 5 Reasons We Homeschool:

5.Our schedule: Though this is commonly stated as a reason people homeschool, I don't think ours is just another run-of-the-mill story. We aren't staying up until midnight and sleeping in until 10, though I know that is what works for many families. The kids are early risers. They generally do most of their "school work" before the neighborhood kids are even hanging up their backpacks at school. We generally do some morning work every morning, whether it's a weekday, weekend, holiday, or summer. The routine suits us.

4. Cost: I am fairly convinced a school that would meet the needs of my children would cost a small fortune. While I could likely find work to pay for it in dollars, I'm not sure I could ever justify the cost to the family in other ways. We spend a fair amount on homeschooling resources and programs, but it's a fraction of the cost of a private education.

3. Me: I love my kids. As a child, I always dreamed of being a mom. I don't want to spend any less time with these kids than I do, especially in these young years. I know all too well how quickly they are passing. We are strong in our attachment, and our style of parenting just naturally extends to homeschooling. Of course it is nice (and necessary!) to get a break from them, but I would miss them so much if they weren't here most of the day!

2. Kids: If you have met my kids, you would know what I meant. When my oldest would melt down for hours on end, I knew it was the right choice for any possible teacher he would have. When he was doing multiplication before he could speak in sentences, I knew it was the right choice for him as well. Due to both of their personalities and abilities, I don't doubt it was the right choice for both them and our local school. I can't even imagine how long it would take them to decompress after a day of "real" school, not to mention the emotional recovery time to process the "socialization" that non-homeschoolers think they are missing out on (read: bullying, etc.).

1. Time: Though this might be similar to "schedule," I feel like it deserved its own spot. There is always time for play. Lots and lots of imaginative play is happening here. There was a time when I didn't think imaginative play would ever happen. Now it happens in full force, complete with can't-step-anywhere-due-to-all-the-toys floors. The language blossoming I've witnessed is just astounding, as both narrate their stories while expressing emotions, navigating sticky situations, and resolving conflicts.

If the kids want to play for four hours, and read recreationally for three hours, they can. More importantly, they DO. My family is made up of introverts. We need time to ourselves or we are miserable. This often means staying home all day, or all week. That is fine by me, and fine by them. We need time to recover from social events, outings, and classes.

I don't have enough pictures of the kids and me together, but I thought I'd share this one from summer. We had just come in from swimming in the pool, and apparently there was some craziness going on:

Do you homeschool? What was the most important factor in your decision?