An Unconventional Homeschool Journey
Hi friends! In case you’ve noticed, I’ve been very MIA on here recently. And if you haven’t noticed, where have you been? (I’ve mostly been at home.) I haven’t been posting for any specific reason besides that I got busy and didn’t schedule time to make things happen like I wanted them to. Then I got overwhelmed with the feeling of being behind. Then, to be honest, I got a little lazy. But then I got over it so here I am!
And while there have been A LOT of things going on over the past few months, there are some downright crazy things happening now! Like homeschooling for instance.
Now look. I’m not a typical homeschool mom. I didn’t start when my kids were little. I haven’t homeschooled them from the start. Actually, I’m only homeschooling one of the five school age kids I have. And she’s in 7th grade.
How do I randomly start homeschooling a junior high girl, you may ask? It isn’t quite as random as it seems. A few years ago I did the same thing with my oldest girl. Her 7th grade year was any 12 year old’s version of hell on Earth and when her 8th grade year began the same way, we threw in the towel with public school.
As an aside, please do not think I’m bashing public school. I have 4 other children who attend public school. There is a time and place for everything.
So when girl #2 started having some issues of her own, it was a no brainer for me. This time it wasn’t so much about bullies as it was about influence. We’ve all gotten in with a crowd of people that influence us in the opposite way of what we should be going. And when we’re talking about preteens, who are just beginning to figure out who they are, these influences are magnified.
One friend said to expect people to “inform me” that it’s impossible to protect our kids from everything. And while I agree with the idea that we just can’t protect our kids from all the bad things in the world, I am also wholly sure that we should be the biggest influence in our child’s lives if we want them to know how to appropriately respond to said things in the future.
I know my child (and myself) well enough to know that what she needs now is for me to be her biggest influence. And if that meant taking her out of school and away from any outside, potentially negative and harmful influences… so be it.
I remember being 12 and 13 and feeling very lonely, very sad, and semi-angry. My parents were great. I always had everything I could need or want. But that didn’t change the way I felt. There was no distinguishable reason for me to feel that way. Or so I thought. The fact is that there is so much going on in the preteen body and mind that it’s easy to become overwhelmed while trying to figure out who you are. No one explained that to me then, but I’m doing my best to explain it to my daughter (all the kids really).
So here’s a word of advice parents: when you think you’ve learned who your child is, start over again. They are always changing and it’s important that you stay up to date so you can know what it is they need.
I feel super blessed to be able to keep my kid home to school her. Not all parents have the availability to do that but I’m glad I do because I know that is going to make a huge difference in both our lives!
Hit me up with any questions you have and feel free to leave your homeschool stories (and advice!) in the comments. Have a blessed day!!