Unexpected Adventures

Taking the path less traveled can lead you to many discoveries. Following our homeschooling path, I have gone on adventures we probably would have not gone on otherwise. Like the time we took my daughter's violin to be check for a homeschool co-op class. It turned out that the man who checks the violins also makes and repairs violins. We got to go to his workshop. See him fix up my daughter's violin, which we had bought used. The kids were aloud to touch horse hair and a whale bone. The man taught them different things about violins. And by homeschooling, we had the time to stop and listen, instead of dropping it off and coming back later.

The man that so happens builds violins, also planted a butterfly garden in his front yard. Seeing the butterfly garden, turns into a request for a butterfly identification book by one child and a desire to touch a butterfly by another. This will turn into a trip to the natural science museum, where my son can hold a dead butterfly without worrying about brushing off their scales. He will be able to get the close up look he wanted so much. Of course, we have already been to that science museum because I read about it in a homeschool e-mail. It is a great feeling to stop and smell the roses, to love to learn and to have adventures in God's world.

Homeschooling Positive: Multi-Age Playmates

Here is another advantage to homeschooling my friend reminded me of, homeschooling children in general play well with children of different age ranges. An 8 year-old and a 6 year-old will play happily together, without thinking it is not cool for the older to play with the younger. Where as in public school a 3rd grader would not be playing with a Kindergartner.

This is just a generalization, but from my experience, it is true. So the next time someone questions you about socialization, you can answer, "Yes, socialization is one of the reasons why we chose to homeschool our children." The look on their face is priceless. I also know this from experience. Of course, I always make sure to add, homeschooling is not for everyone ;-)

No Homework: A Plus to Homeschooling

Here is another one for the list:

Your evenings are free from homework, and so you have your evenings free.

My memory was refreshed on this point, when during the week, my daughter had a play date with friends who attend public school. Of course, my daughter was having a good time and wanted to stay, so I explained we had to leave because we had to go home and have dinner and I am sure her friends had things they had to do too. Their mother frown and said, "yes, we have homework to do." I forgotten all about being free from that burden. We had our schoolwork done by lunchtime, with the rest of the day for activities, playing or meeting up with others. While her public school mates had already a long day of school, only to have more school work to do after dinner.

Getting To Know You

What I love about homeschooling . . . .

is how you get to know whole families over the years of schooling, and get to see their, and your, children grow up.

~Since this is the first post under this subject title, I thought I would explain. Every so often a thought pops into my head ~ YES! This is why I homeschool! There are positives and negatives to everything, so if you don't homeschool these won't be much use. They certainly aren't meant to offend or say there is only one right way to educate your child. If you are a homeschooler, then their will be days when your memory will need to refresh to the why you are homeschooling. The what I love homeschooling series are posted in no particular order of importance. "Homeschooling Positives" was just a shorter subject title. Please comment if you think it is a confusing title.