Why Homeschool?

The boys began their 3rd year at a public Montessori school this fall and a month into it we pulled them out to homsechool them. There was no dramatic falling out or extreme injustice as it might appear since it was pretty abrupt and so early in the year. Truth is, we've wanted to do this for years.

I did homeschool my kids, before they went to school after all. I take great pride in the fact that I tirelessly sung my ABC's, read stories until my voice was hoarse, collected red blocks then blue and then orange and then green, walked around the grocery store asking "What rhymes with can?" or "How about Peas and Cheese...do those rhyme?", I covered our table with art paper and let them go nuts with finger paints, we kicked balls, made popsicles, and practiced counting cheerios. It was natural and they absorbed everything they could. We were born to learn, that is obvious. We were also born to discover, to experience, to create, to move, to interact and to love.

I love the school my boys were at. The community, the teachers, the educational approach that seemed to balance freedom and guidance. It is a good place. However, it's still a school. There are still 20 something 3-5 yr olds in Boaz's class. There are still teachers trying to fit into the system of checks & balances, bound by TAKS tests and regulations. There is still lice and germs and profanity and broken homes. There was love there too. My boys all found a few good friends for sure. The diversity is rich and beautiful there. I miss it already. The rainbow of colors found in the skin of classmates, the pronunciations of lovely ethnic names that need repeating, the curiousity about why people celebrate different things...or the same things, differently. So amazing.

The teachers all loved my kids. They aren't perfect, I have no false ideas about that. But they are good. They are sensitive. They work hard and respond well and care a lot. They are boys...and get wild and playful at inopportune times, but they were loved by those teachers.

Yet, those teachers could never love them the way Jason or I do. Not that they should, but really....with 20ish other kids swirling around a room...it's hard to pay attention to a well behaved, on track academically, soft spoken little boy. Not that they weren't noticed or praised, but, the truth is....I wanted to be there. Jason did too. I wanted to watch them learn, praise them, give them freedom to explore and ask questions and find answers, and for them to really know their little sister who was left at home when they were at school each day. From the moment they walked out the door, she wondered when we could go and get them. We love to be around our kids. Period.

We also know them. We know that Kiah could plow through an assignment while standing on his head spinning a basketball with his toes and that Justice would do better with 15 minute breaks and incentives. We love knowing that Boaz is a team player and does best with a working partner at his side and Baysil wants to do it all herself. Here, at home we can meet those needs more often. We can include them in our curiousity about their Mexican heritage and research it together. We can include them in our ministry with the Mission Year teams(www.missionyear.org)and discuss God's heart for the poor with them and why our friends do what they do. We can let Justice go crazy reading the encyclopedia and take it a little more slowly with those math facts. Who says he needs to learn this then and that now and this in 6 months from now in this specific way and format? Today he wanted to know what bulls eat and why some whales have 2 blowholes...and tomorrow we'll look it up and find out.

I don't have a "here's why" answer for "how come you switched?". It's just not that simple. However, it's basic. This is it. Justice will be 18 in 11 years and I was having a hard time swallowing that he would be spending nearly 40 hours a week over 9 months a year at school during that time. WOW. Each day when they left, we missed them and each night when we had 4 hours together as a family...it didn't seem like enough. We were rushing and cramming and spinning at a pace that is not what we were made for. Sure, I love a good break from my kiddos. Who doesn't need one from time to time? That's not what this is about. I will say, though, that homeschooling has slowed us down and it feels so much more consistent with our values not to be rushing around trying to check education off our to-do list this fall. It's a way of living and learning. After spelling words and copy work and reading this morning, we walked 3/4 of a mile to the park...looking at bugs and asking questions about the rain the whole way...and then we played tag and walked all the way back. Recess? Life.

Jason is so on board and in many ways he is also way more into the planning and teaching and preparing and strategizing. He's a teacher in his God-given gifting. We do have a flexible schedule which allows for us to be a team at this. I'm not taking this on alone as a mom, but we are taking it on as a team...as parents and CO-PARENTS. I'm so ridiculously blessed beyond what I deserve.

I don't think homeschooling is THE WAY, or the RIGHT THING for the world. It is right for us Shaffers. That much I know.