This week I’ve had the chance to speak with two new homeschooling moms, and it’s so nice when I hear the light and pleasure in their voices, as they begin to enjoy a totally different model for education and family living. Now they’re able to experience and appreciate first hand some of the wonderful things that I’ve enjoyed for years, and I’m so happy that they’ll get to live in a way that most parents will never get to experience.
I love homeschooling. Really, I can’t say enough good about what it does for family closeness and relationships (let alone providing a balanced way of living for the parents and children, a superior education, etc). Our decision to homeschool as the second most significant we’ve ever made (the first was quitting work when my third child was born to stay home with my kids) and I credit homeschooling for the incredible life we’re able to enjoy together as a family. But there’s no possible way to adequately describe how sweet it is to someone else, because it’s something that has to be experienced.
It’s in the seemingly small things that you can feel the beauty of this lifestyle. Things like being able to relax over breakfast with your family every day, take a family trip in the middle of the day when the museums or zoos are empty, spend relaxed time connecting with every one of your children each day (without twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to schedule in ten minutes for each child), watching your children learn in a spontaneous and natural way things you used to think had to be taught. Do you know how nice it is to enjoy your children when they’re well rested and happy, instead of sending them off for their teacher to benefit, and getting them back when they’re wired and exhausted? To see your children becoming each other’s best friends? To have time to do the fun things as well as the necessary things, and to be able to adapt your schedule based on what you need, not on what someone else has said you need to do?
How amazing homeschooling is shouldn’t be a secret. We often don’t tell people just how good things are because we don’t want them to feel defensive about their choices, or sad that they don’t have what we have. But it’s really amazing, a homeschooling life!
Avivah
