This will be a rather short post today, because my coffee has not begun working yet, and it has been an extremely busy several weeks. I’m kind of EXHAUSTED.
I have been planning to homeschool the kids again this year, and I already have our books and resources and so on. We have pencils and blank paper and notebooks. I have time blocked out each day for school.
And THEN, Troy and I both realized that running my business, starting his up, taking care of the baby, AND homeschooling was more than we should take on this year. (If you guys were around two years ago, you might remember that I was working THREE part time jobs, going to school, and walking three miles to use the bus every day – and I just about cracked because it was TOO MUCH.)
So yesterday, I visited the school near us. It’s a nice school. Plain and friendly, full of big windows that let in light. New bathrooms and hallways. And today, I’m dropping off the paperwork to the office that will enroll the two oldest kids in public school this year.
Needless to say, I’m equal parts relieved and guilty-feeling; because I have made it my mission to educate my children myself, it is very difficult to give that job to someone else (or a group of someone elses). However, if I have learned anything from the last few years, it would be this: sometimes you can’t actually do EVERYTHING on your own.
Therefore, I am delegating. I will have more time for working while they are away in school. Troy will have time to launch his business because he won’t be keeping them out of my hair while I’m working. And when the kids come home from school, I will help them with their homework, and tutor them in anything they are having trouble in – because you bet your ass I am keeping all the school books we already have!
School starts next week. Right now, it feels like we are all ending a chapter in a book together, and waiting eagerly for the next to begin. It’s going to be an awesome fall.
P.S. I forgot to add that I am still teaching Ian preschool material when he’s here with us. Because I can’t wait for him to learn to read!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 15 comments }
Oh, I know this must have been a really hard decision for you to make. I hope that this works out for the best for you and your family! You’ve got some really wonderful kids, Rachael.
It really was a hard decision. Thank you so much for knowing that. *hug* :)
Aww sweety, must be a hard thing to give up, but i must say i’m relieved for you – was worried about you taking on too much! x
@Marilyn, lol – at least you can never accuse me of being LAZY, right? ;)
I hope this works out to be a really good thing for the kids and for our family. I REALLY am hoping hard.
I wanted to home-school Madi until I visited the local schools for this district. They’re awesome and she’s able to get socialization that way. Also, I get the much needed break and ability to bond with Ethan during that time :)
Think of sending the two older kids to school as extra tutoring. You’ll still work with them plenty at home, I’m sure. I hope your decision relieves some of your stress!
@Sarah, I hope this school is as nice as it seems for my kids. It can be tricky to tell whether or not a school is REALLY going to be as great as they’re billed, you know?
I wish you the best with your kiddos too. :)
@perpstu, you’re right. It does help to think about it that way, and it already is making me feel better about my stress level in the upcoming months. :D
I discovered years ago that the most important thing was a school’s attitude. The school my daughter attended for the first two years wanted no parental involvement and many parents ended up choosing home schooling instead. We moved before she entered 3rd grade, and found the new school (although a very old building) had an extremely supportive principal and teachers who were thrilled to have parents involved and were able to treat each kid individually, giving them exactly what they needed when they needed it. My husband taught music/recorder to the 3rd graders, one of the moms taught french and art, another had an advanced reading group. Parents were always welcome to come eat lunch with the kids (the cook always made fresh bread and everything was made from scratch). And they would freeze a low area on the common in front of the school in the winter and the kids would go ice-skating at recess. How we ended up in that town was the result of one of the lowest points in our lives, but it turned out result in one of the best times of our lives! http://www.nesvt.org/main/page_home.html Here’s wishing that you’ll find your new school to be a place where you’ll feel as comfortable as your kids.
Sweetie, I want you to scroll up to the top and read your tag line! This could be some serious “unexpected joy” for you and your kids. Yes, this decision was difficult for you and Troy. Yes, it will be a brief adjustment for the kids – probably an even longer one for you. Remember that children are much more resilient than we think. I’m sensing the kids will be so busy soaking up education from you and an entirely different system they’ll be ready to pop by Christmas Break!
Good for you and Troy for making the proper choice for your family. Choosing to publicly educate your children because you feel it the best choice for them right now only speaks of how much you love them and put them first – not your own desires to “do it all”
(we have that in us don’t we…. we can do eeet allllll ;) )
I love you all.
I’m hoping you and your kids have a really great school year, and that you don’t beat yourself up for making a hard decision. Sounds like your delegating provides balance and safeguards your SANITY. That’s important! :-)
I don’t have nearly as much on my plate as you but I too am taking a step back this year. In fact I’m pretty envious that you learned this one so soon. I usually have to reach extreme burnout mode before I finally feel the hammer hitting my head. I’ve been homeschooling for two years now and this year (our third) we’re doing the online school thing that comes with a real live teacher! I’m scared and excited and guilty and relieved. Being a homeschooler doesn’t mean we have to be anti-school, It just means we look at all the options and choose the best balance for the family. It doesn’t mean we failed or gave up. there are many years of education left and homeschooling might come into play again some day, maybe soon maybe much later. Realizing that we can’t do it all is a really really hard thing to learn but hopefully our children will have a little easier time figuring that one out by our examples. I wish you happy success!
Look, I turned on the nested comments! LOL. :)
I think that you’re probably absolutely right. Now I just have to be patient and see how it turns out.
Mary, that sounds like SUCH a fantastic and wonderful school. :) I hope that this school is just as wonderful, but if not? I’m moving! ;)
LOL, exactly – I need to STOP trying to do it all. I can do plenty without doing EVERYTHING, yes? :)
Comments on this entry are closed.