Really - Homeschooling?

Well it arrived in the post today, 'it' being the exemption forms. Today the doubts started sinking in; "Can I actually do this?", "What makes me think I can teach my child?", "Am I setting my children and myself up for the impossible?"

At this point I opened the envelope and discovered a rather wordy document that I have to speak to.  Getting an exemption appears to be a very personal thing.  How am I going to educate my children?  That is it, in a nutshell. I have to prove I have thought about it, have a plan in place and intend to teach my little two wee guys.

That can't be too hard.

The encouraging thing is that those in the Ministry of Education, Homeschooling division are actually pro home schooling and here to help.  That is a relief. I look forward to chatting with the representative.

So why homeschooling? And why now?

My husband and I have both been going through a spiritual journey in recent months, short term missions has been raised as a option for next year. 

Over a recent weekend we were at a local Christian trust 50 year celebrations. My husband is a trustee, and we were at celebration events all throughout the weekend. My husband spoke to a guy from Mission Aviation Fellowship at an afternoon tea on the Saturday, they discussed the fact that accountants (my husbands occupation) are desperately needed on the mission field. 5 minutes after this conversation, the MAF guy was handed a job description for a CFO in PNG. This job description was then given to us at the Saturday evening dinner celebrations.  We were fortunate to be able to have a conversation with the PNG mission representatives that evening. The following day there was a special Sunday service at the Baptist church for the Trust. After this we got the chance to have another conversation with the PNG mission folks, and made plans for a meeting during the week. 

My husband is very inspired by the  mission and the description of the job. One of the biggest factors in taking on this role is that we would need to homeschool the boys.  So with the prospect of such a job in such a location I have been looking into homeschooling since that conversation.  

The most fascinating thing is; after researching only one day I was sold on homeschooling.  Whether we go to PNG or not, I am sold.  The big thing that got me was a list of questions a HS blog listed, I've looked at so many blogs I couldn't tell you which one, so I am going to list the questions, most are from one site, but I've added a few from other sites as well.

1. Why did I want to have children?

2. Why did God give us these children?

3. What do we want for our children?

4. What is our role as their parents?

5. What is our role as their teachers

6. What do we want them to learn?

7. What things do I want my children to accomplish by the time they leave our home?

8. What is the top reason I would send my children to a school?

If I honestly answered these a week ago, I would have given 'sunday school' answers, I would have answered what I thought was right, but not what was honestly on my heart.

I think the last question was the one that really hit me.  What is the top reason for sending my children to a school? To have some time to myself, to do the things I want to do.  That is a very honest answer. I am not talking getting time to myself for good mental health reasons, I'm talking I just wanted time to myself to do what I wanted to do. I was selfish.

This brought me to the first question; Why did I want to have children?  Really I didn't think too much about it, it's what people do, they procreate.  I wanted a baby, but babies grow up, I had two of these, but then once they got a little rowdy, well I was more than happy to drop them off for someone else to educate and and spend the day with them.  I have been happy doing this for 6 years with my eldest who started Montessori at age 2. I couldn't wait for my second child to go to Montessori so I could have some time to myself. Granted he was a very busy child, so there was a sense of needing some time for mental health purposes.

Now all I think is what I have missed.  Since coming to this decision, I can't believe the shift in our family, I am enjoying my boys, I am learning about them, and they are still in school for the final 2 weeks until summer holidays. I guess it illuminates two things; firstly, how we view our children effects the family atmosphere and environment. Secondly, children who know their parents want to spend time with them delight in that knowledge.  Please don't get me wrong, we have still had hissy-fits, arguments and all sorts of ugly behaviour from both them and us, but for once the focus is on learning, both in a 'life is eduction' way and character is priority kind of way.

If you are contemplating homeschooling, then I can only encourage you to google blogs of families who have done it, and read their thoughts, it's inspiring.

Hear this, this is THE most important thing I am going to write.  Often you will hear highly competent, nurturing women with 6 children tell you "If I can homeschool anyone can" - ignore them, listen to me, I am not a teacher, we are highly suspicious that most likely I have dyslexia, and  pretty much zero patience. I love my two boys to bits, but they drive me up the wall sometimes.  We have a tiny house with no spare rooms. We are minimalists, we do not hoard so I have no resources or craft things.  We are not wealthy, our life is lived on a tight budget. We are living in limbo, unsure what country we will be in two months.  Listen very carefully ...

"If I can homeschool, anyone can"

To home school or not ...

The cat is amongst the pigeons - so they say.  My youngest child would often ask me "when are we going to get to home school?" To which I would instantaniously break into a cold sweat!

I love the idea of home schooling, just would prefer someone else home schooled my children. I've had no offers.

I have two boisterous boys. They love Bear Grylls and climbing trees.  They adore sport and having friends around. Me?  I'm more introverted, like my space, and adore peace and quiet.

What am I doing even contemplating this?