I think God wants me to Homeschool...

[TravisandJill]

But I'm just not sure its from Him. And I have so many doubts in my abilities to school my children. My soon to be 5 year old DD is soooo high maintenence that I think I will go crazy being home all day with her! I really dont know how I can control her long enough for her to get her schooling done. I feel so conflicted.

Right now she goes to preschool and I stay home with my 2 year old, but soon we are moving further out to the country where we wont be close to schools.

I just dont know what to do. I keep on praying and asking God for a clear sign about what to do.

Any advice from moms who have been there would be great!!

Jill

[Lynn]

Jill, my opinion is admittedly biased--in favor of homeschooling. Our 7 yr. old granddaughter has been homeschooled for three years, and it has been a blessing! She can be a little bit 'high maintenance' at times, too, but the H'school route has definitely been the way to go for both herself and her parents.

A lot of the 'busier' children are in need of the kind of challenge that H'school gives them. There are also opportunities for studying with other H'school kids once a week at H'school academies in certain areas. The national achievement (Stanford) scores of many of these children are outstanding.

Homeschooling wasn't even an option at the time we raised our two sons over 30 yrs. ago, but oh, how I wish it had been! Both of them have turned out great, but they were exposed to a lot of ungodliness that they wouldn't have seen/heard if they'd been studying at home.
Much of the curricula in public schools today is so far removed from what it was 50 yrs. ago. You may already know this, but originally, children were taught to read so that they could benefit from reading the Scriptures for themselves. (My dh used to teach history of education).
Please visit with other H'school moms at your church or in a ladies' Bible study. They will tell you much more than I have and will likely encourage you to give it a try.

[MidnightCry]

I'm not exactly sure what kind of answers or advice you're looking for. I think you're at the hardest stage of this journey -- taking that first step into it and giving yourself "permission" to go against how our culture tells us to educate our children. That leads to all kinds of uncertainties.

I am a huge fan of homeschooling for sooooo many reasons . . . if you want a list, I can start typing! I have never heard of parents who regret homeschooling, but I've heard of plenty who've regretted public and even Christian schools.

A five year old has a short attention span -- no problem! Just set small goals for yourself. Keep it fun -- alphabet, phonics, simple math and some art or life science projects. Grow butterflies, do leaf rubbings, make a bird nest . . . the ideas are literally endless. I am not crafty at all, but I do what I can. I say give it a try and see how the Lord blesses (or changes your mind) your decision.

Here's a good start: http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starthere/default.asp?bhcp=1

Good luck!

[Cookies4me]

Every person has a calling. Home schooling is a calling. If you feel you are being called to homeschool your children have no fear.

God does not always call the qualified but he qualifies the called.

God will help you though all our insecurities. Also it's not only the children who learn but the parents them selves.

[HSmomto4]

Every person has a calling. Home schooling is a calling. If you feel you are being called to homeschool your children have no fear.

God does not always call the qualified but he qualifies the called.

God will help you though all our insecurities. Also it's not only the children who learn but the parents them selves.

My husband used this in a sermon last year. It was on Jeremiahs call. I always smile when I think of it.

[Cookies4me]

it's one my pastor uses often.
I think it fits well with us homeschool moms. Especially when we feel unqualified. :nod

[EmmieAZ]

TravisandJill -
I could've written your post as I am going through the exact same thing...with a "high maintenance" 4 year old who is now in preschool and an almost 2 year old boy. PM me if you want to chat :)

[Drmare]

I started homeschooling my 2 five year olds in January and they love it. I decided on a non-traditional approach after being a teacher for 18 years so I chose Sonlight. It gives you a lot of fexibility for a high maintenance child who might not be able to sit and do workbooks all morning. It takes less time and you can do a 4 day schedule. Good luck with your decision. Even though we get free Christian education because my husband is a teacher in a private school, I still felt this was the best decision for them and I would have the most influence on them while they are young. It has been a very bonding time for us.
Best of luck!:hug

[TravisandJill]

Thank you for the encouragement, I guess I will spend alot more time in prayer and see what happens!

[funmudder]

My high maintenance kid is actually my 13 year old, the oldest. He was far worse while in the schools, being labeled all sorts of things by the students and the teachers. We pulled him out when they demanded we put him on drugs. (This is my stepson, my natural oldest was pulled out in 2nd grade because of a whole other threat)

We've been homeschooling him now for 3 years and the change in him is dramatic. While he is still high maintenance, it is no longer expressed in the negative behaviors he learned from classmates. His natural mother is stunned at how he has changed, and her mother called me directly to ask forgiveness. She believed all the myths about homeschooling and thought we were terrible for not keeping him in school and getting him the "meds he needed to learn"
Now she is one of our biggest supporters.

When we started with him, though he was technically in the 5th grade, his handwriting was like a kindergardener. His math skills were 2nd grade at best. His reading skills were horrible. Over all, the "no child left behind" equalled "no child will be made to repeat a grade whether or not they learned anything".

Now he is up to speed and tests above high school levels on many things. :yay

High maintenance often means high intelligence, and those children need more challenging experiences with their education than a teacher with 30 or more pupils in a class can realistically provide. :nod :hug