Why It's Hard Not to Homeschool

We've been teaching our kids from home for 11 years now, formally for 5.  When I say formally, I mean using curricula (it just took me 3 tries to spell curricula...double r, double c, double l?)  and keeping attendance records. Nobody is actually wearing a tux.  

We are decidedly informal in our formal education.  At first my kids were calling me "Mrs. Mom", but the Mrs. was dropped when it was discovered that it takes too much effort to whine it.  "Misssusss Maaah-ummm ..." is much harder to get out in the heat of the various emergencies we face on a daily basis.  People touching each other, putting feet on desks, using someone else's pencil, humming or other disastrously annoying behavior needs (need/needs? stinking nouns and verbs can't even agree) immediate attention.  Someday I fully intend to stop doing these distractions to my children. 

We have a very strict regimen.  By strict I mean not really.  By regimen I mean; well, I'm not really sure what a regimen is (but really want to put a t on the end of it).  We begin promptly at "Whenever We Get Started" o'clock and go until we have completed the assignments for the day or the teacher runs out of caffeine.  One of the Daddy's primary contributions to the success of our schooling is the stockpile of coffee he provides.  There was one day back in aught nine when we ran out.  I sat staring unblinking at the door, humming until the Daddy got home with more, listening to the kids touching each other, putting their feet on their desks, and using others' pencils.  And yes, those are too sounds.

We are able to fit many experiences into our schedule.  Trips to the library, museum, farm,  art classes, and Chick-fil-A  enrich our children's educational palate.  It's important for a child to learn in different settings with a wide range of adult interactions.   At the library they will experience classic literature like A Tale of Two Cities or the Princess Ponies and be shushed by adults other than me.  The museum will expand their minds with post-Impressionist artwork like Van Gogh or the sculpture of the naked man (giggle), and they will be told not to touch things by someone other than myself. The farm will show them the science and industry behind what they eat and/or step in.  Art classes will teach them to enjoy the process of creating and an adult other than I will clean up the mess.  We go to Chick-fil-A because we know  it's important for a child to eat at more than one fast food restaurant as part of a balanced diet.

It would be hard to give up these adventures together if we chose not to homeschool.  I love being there to  learn with my children.  I love the unplanned discussions that we have in the van on the way to and from these outings.  I love our city and the ways our children connect with others.  (I love Chick-fil-A.)  I am so grateful for the fact that I get to be home with my kids at all, and to get to be their teacher in addition amazes and humbles me.   

The truth is that it is hard to homeschool, too.  But for our family, right now it's hard not to.