The Decision

So we’ve had this HUGE decision weighing heavy on us for the last month. Emily is 5 and it’s time to think about school. Having been a Public school kid, I just assumed thats what we’d do. So I enrolled her in French Immersion. But then I started reading a couple of adoption blogs (which seems like the only things I read these days.lol) and several of the parents said things about home schooling that I found interesting. So I did my homework. Im a researcher at heart. I NEED to know all the information I can know about a subject before I make a decision about something. So I started reading and reading and asking everyone about home school. I still have a few people whose brains I need to pick:) Then a couple weeks ago I through a curve ball at Morgan. “Would you think I was crazy if I said I wanted to homeschool?” And I waited for a “Yes”. But then he said that he was supportive of whatever I thought we should do. So then I went back to the drawing board and did more homework. I had one of the most interesting conversaions via Facebook about the whole public school versus homeschool debate. Here are some snippet conversation points different people made”

- “there is the risk of ur kids learning bad habits and also being bullied” – Meru
- “you can home school your kids and keep them in a sheltered environment repressing their social skills and molding them into socially awkward adults.” – Shane
- “They won’t end up socially repressed unless you are a hermit… of which you aren’t!!!” -Tricia
- “I think bullying, repressed social skills and all those things can happen wether your child is home schooled or goes to public school (bullying doesn’t just happen at school). It’s how you, as parents, deal with these situations that will matter in the end.” -Jules
- “Both…I think the social aspect of public school is very important for real world experience.” – Sarah
- “You have to be seriously dedicated to make sure she does the work in the recommended time frame or she’ll fall behind & then it will be very hard for her to catch up again.” – Lana
- “I think a lot of parents blame schools for “changing” their child or having a negative influence on them but the reality is and should be that the majority of responsibility really is in the parent’s hands. Yes your child spends 7 hours a day at school, yet they also spend even more time with their parents. public school is not evil like many make it out to be. I don’t think one is superior to the other, it really is what works best for the family.”-Danielle
-”As far as I can see all the homeschool children I know are wonderful well rounded people…HOMESCHOOL has my vote”-Hiedi
“what a blessing to be able to teach them values that are so important, especially about God and imprinting His eternal words on their hearts. You will never be able to take back the years!”-Jody
“I would be weary of is keeping your kids out of public school for fear of them ‘developing bad habits’ or being around ‘bad kids’ or ‘bullies’. Parents are anxious and worried creatures and the natural tendency is to shelter, i totally get it, but don’t make a decision based on what makes ‘you’ feel better or safer, but make one that’s best for your child.” – Nate
“there are a lot of experiences and activity’s you miss out on when you are in home school”-Cara

I think there were great points for both sides of the discussion , but the ones that stood out to me are these:

“family is critical but no one benefits from a burnt-out parent (and we women never notice ouselves until it is a way too late – so keep a sharp nose out for the smell of smoke). So the question is far larger than the children. Horrible and self centered sounding, I know, the question is you – What is best for you?” -Debbie
“Do what is in your heart. You are the parent and you know your child(ren) ~ do you want the stress of getting them off to school each day, do you want them to widen their horizons by meeting lots of kids, do you want to contend with possible bullying, do you want to meet the status quo ~ think about it. Decide, enjoy.” – Sue
“in the end you know what it is you must do. as always it will be the best choice for your situation.” -Chris

So in the end our discussion is simple the one that works best for our whole family and especially for Emily. We are going to Home School. Emily will be a home learner. For how long? who knows! If it doesn’t work, we’ll change something. I think I’ll have to do a whole other blog about how we came to this decision because there were huge things we had to work through. If you have questiona about why we decided this way, post them and I’ll answer your question!

This is going to be quite the journey for us this year, but I’m truly excited for it and since we told Emily this morning, so is she!