-=> Quoting Chris Gilliland to Donna Ransdell <=-
 
 DR> My oldest daughter (5th grade) likes school, and always has. I am
 DR> still not certain that being IN school is the best thing for her. When
 DR> I first mentioned homeschool to her, she was hesitant about leaving
 DR> school behind. Though she is often the recipient of teasing, etc., she
 DR> brushes it off quite well and "hangs in there".
 CG> My youngest can do this quite well also, but then he's used to
 CG> getting quite a bit of flak from my older two.  My two older children,
 CG> however, are ultra-sensitive and hate having any attention drawn to
 CG> them.  This includes being called on by the teacher for an answer or
 CG> going to the blackboard to solve a math problem.  I was just as
 CG> insecure as a kid. I don't know where my youngest gets his courage as
 CG> both his father and I don't do well under that kind of pressure.  He
 CG> probably got knocked around by the other two often enough!  (g)
 
 Excuse me for butting in.  My kids hated the black board stuff too, but
 now that I am homeschooling, they ask to do stuff on our Erasure board.
 They even ask to read their reports to the rest of us.  Another words
 homeschooling gives confidence.
 CG> Also, once a parent home-schools, how do you get time alone?  And
 Usually, the children have other activities, dance, karate, or whatever
 that gives you some freedom.  My kids have lots of friends so they are
 gone when the other kids are out of school.  Plus they do understand that
 after school I get an hour of no interruptions.  I mite not always have
 the full hour, but I get some.
 CG> with the other child, if THEY remain in school?  How do you balance
 CG> all of this out?  How do you make the home-schooling decision?  My
 I based my decision alot on moral grounds.  I saw what that was doing
 to my children and how I did not have as much of an influence as their
 friends.  Now that I homeschool, they consider what I have to say a little
 more.  Also I had two children with learning problems.  After fighting the
 school system, I decided to just do it myself.  My two kids were actually
 getting physically ill from the pressure.  Now they are more relaxed and
 I don't get the I've got a headache or stomach ache complaint.
 CG> oldest isn't doing as well as she could, but I haven't the patience to
 CG> sit with her all day.  She spins circles around me just sitting down! 
 You actually don't have to sit with them all day.  There are some activities
 they can do on their own and some with just a minimal of supervision.
 Also, just watching the news and discussing it is learning.  So it can
 be counted.  Going to the grocery store and having them use a budget to
 plan a meal is Math.  All kinds of things and it can be fun for both of you.
 DR> My younger daughter (4th grade) hasn't liked school for a couple of
 DR> years.
 CG> I'm not trying to criticize your decision, just trying to understand
 CG> your views.  Isn't it true that there are a LOT of children out there
 CG> who hate school?  I know both my husband and I didn't care much for
 CG> it at all..  We both felt lost in the "system".
 This is why some kids have trouble learning.  If you hate something you
 don't use your potential........you just do what you have to and not
 much more.
 CG> Donna, I'm wondering if one reason home-schoolers do so is because
 CG> they *really* enjoy being around their children and want to garnish
 CG> every bit of that child for themselves.  When I posted what I did
 CG> about *my* favorite parts of school, it occurred to me that our kids
 CG> grow up SO fast and before we know it, they're out the door and
 CG> raising families of their own.  Could wanting to school your children
 CG> at home be part narcisstic in that, this way a parent can spend more
 CG> time with who they helped bring into this world and have fun learning
 CG> together, too? Just a thought.  All I know is that I have the best
 CG> times taking my kids places and doing things with them, either here at
 CG> home or out. 
 With me that was not why I homeschool.  I find homeschooling hard work.
 Much harder than sending them off to school and going about my business
 until they get home.  Not that, that is the wrong choice for some people.
 I have found that now that I am homeschooling I am enjoying them more.
 I myself am learning, learning more about my kids than I could ever
 realize.  NOW I want to spend the time with them.  You don't really
 realize that until you start to homeschool.
 Alot of the people I have talked to on this echo, homeschool because they
 feel it is the best for their children.  Either the child is having
 problems and/or the school system gives them problems.  This is how it
 starts, but you are right that after a while they realize time spent
 with their kids are so precious to them.
 Regina
... "Excuse me, do you mind if I squish in here?" - Odo
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