Homeschooling

I’ve received many a comment that prompted me to want to write on my process with the Homeschooling decision.

Firstly, I’ve always thought it sensible and school was rather a strange idea to me. I didn’t, however, think I would qualify as a Homeschooler having left school myself at 15. So when I read a couple of years ago that it is legal and anyone can Homeschool, I was over the moon. My partners support only added to my elation and for the most part, I have had positive feedback from others. People are curious to know why, but they haven’t been condemning and that includes my parents. I am baffled that the first thing people think of is the socialization process. How will you socialise your child? That one has definitely come up, but let me count the ways. Too many possibilities to mention.

Then the doubts crept in. How will I cope with the intensity? I’m not knowledgeable enough, I’m worldly wise having travelled, but not academically great in some areas, but with potential I might add. I just didn’t apply myself at school. I didn’t ever feel an affinity with the schooling system and couldn’t wait to leave knowing on some level that the outside world was going to be my biggest teacher. A difficult teacher, but a teacher nonetheless.

So, then I had to come to terms with those negatives and I have. My maths suck, but Peter is the whiz there and I’m the English ‘whiz’ (?), so we’ve got a good balance happening. I can find someone to help with tricky subjects. Maybe hire a high school student or put my Homeschool Community to use with some bartering. So, I’m well over the doubts about my knowledge and abilities and let’s face it we all kinda Homeschool until our kids go to school, so that just continues on. I’m still doubtful with the High School years, but that’s a long way off.

I came across John Holt of ‘Unschooling’ fame and his ideas absolutely resonated with my feelings and beliefs. I prefer the term ‘Natural Learning’, though. It conjures up more of a gentle way of learning.

So, if you’re having doubts, have them for sure, but don’t let them stop you. My doubts are more around my own sanity as I’ve mentioned in the ‘Decisions’ post and also written above about coping. If I’m working at home and Charlotte doesn’t have brothers and sisters, She just wants me to play 24/7. By the time we get to the ‘serious’ Homeschooling stage, there should be some childcare swaps happening and we will hopefully have plenty of innovative ways to get around any problems there. We will probably do a mixture of Curriculum work and Natural Learning.

When I see Charlotte’s progress everyday as a 4 yr old, I know for sure that kids naturally want to learn and we will guide one another with the whole process.