- Laura Rogers
- Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Why do you homeschool?
I have been asked that question hundreds, if not thousands, of times over the years.
I have been homeschooling for a long time. Therefore, it is with mixed feelings that I come to this, my last year. My youngest child will graduate in May and I will join the ranks of retired homeschool moms and empty nesters. This season of fresh school supplies and student planners has me looking back at the time I have spent preparing lessons and sharpening pencils. Why did I homeschool? Why did I persist through years of grade school projects, middle school math, and high school credit hours?
The only answer I can give is that I did it for the happiness it brought to my family.
My children loved having the freedom to choose topics to explore in-depth. We designed their schedules to allow time for the subjects they loved and wanted to pursue. We read widely. We explored our community. We did nature study on the River Walk. We studied biology at the zoo. We practically lived in the library. In short, we had a great time.
Homeschooling offered my family the freedom to create our own curriculum.
I toured schools around the country and borrowed ideas as we went along. Our homeschool took on elements of Waldorf education, the Montessori approach, Forest Schooling and more. I poured over books on educational methods and attended conferences and workshops. In all of this, I involved my children. My kids attended conferences with me. We held meetings together to choose each year’s book list and course of study. Education is something that includes all facets of your life. I would tell my children,
"You are already important right now. You will not become more important when you finish twelve years of school. Your life is worth creating in the image you envision. Live in the now."
As I enter my last year of homeschooling, I want to pass on this important piece of advice to those of you on your own educational journey with your children. Live in the now. Buy the good art supplies. Take that yoga class. Stop at the river and take a walk. Pick berries together. Go to museums. Talk to your children and take them with you to conferences. Ask them what they want to learn and help them gather the resources to do so. Together you can learn, explore, create, and discover. Whatever learning path you choose – homeschool, private school, public school, or some mix in between, enjoy the journey.
Looking for resources for your homeschool year?
Homeschooling Science:
Homeschooling Earth Science and Astronomy
Homeschooling Social Studies and History:
Homeschooling Medieval History
Homeschooling Early American History
Homeschooling World History of the Modern Age