why I homeschool

The reasons why people homeschool their kids are many.  It might be a political statement of independence from the State.  Quality of education.  Reactionary.  To increase the possibility that children will maintain the faith of their parents.  Fear.  Bad experience within the school system.  Religious or moral integrity.

I know people who have homeschooled their kids for any one of these reasons.  And sometimes all of them. I even know people who have homeschooled their kids because they have severe allergies and it's just easier to provide a healthy environment.  I have certainly had many thoughts that embrace these reasons over these years, but they are not the primary reason I homeschool my kids.

For me, and I suspect for the vast majority of homeschoolers...I like it. 

I like it.  It's cozy.  

No, it’s not awesome every minute or it, or every day, even, because sometimes I am a grump and sometimes my kids can get on my nerves.  Or wear me out.  But, overall, I like being at home with them, I like doing things with them, I love watching them learn and grow into the adults they are becoming.

I like sitting down to meals together.  I like them helping in the kitchen, most of the time.  I like not having to rush out the door in the morning.  I like them not caring, or not even knowing, for that matter, what is in style.  I like them being a year or two late on the trendy expressions.  I like running on a self designed time table, daily, weekly, yearly.

I like knowing the families my kids hang out with.  

I like sharing my day with them, reading and exploring the world.  I like them and I would miss them if they were gone all day.  And, I believe with all my heart that they would miss me.  I am confident of this because when they go away for a day or a weekend camping with Sparky or skiing or off to college they are both excited and wistful.  

“I'll miss you mama...I hope you have a good day.  I hope you'll be okay while we are away this weekend.  I wish you were coming...do you think you'll ever ski again, mama?  I can't wait to get home at Christmas and drink tea with you and bake.  Please send me some Bengal Spice tea, it reminds me of home.”

If we homeschoolers are evangelical, you can hardly blame us.  If I were a lawyer, or an artist or a baker, and I really loved that, I would probably blab about that all day long too. 

We are fortunate who get to spend our day doing something we love.

I love this.