Gotta love public schools...

So, I just got validation on home schooling my children today as I was watching a video of a family that I follow on youtube....The son is in 2nd grade (hes the same age as Lilia) and didnt know that 5+3 = 8....he said it was nine...even though he had a $5 bill and three $1 dollar bills sitting right in front of him....His father counted them for him.............GOTTA LOVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!!!!!!!!! (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!)

Seriously, I feel complete vindication on this now....I also found this awesome article entitled: "Don't underestimate Your Value as a Mother" in which a homeschooling mother talks about what a mother has to offer her children if she homeschools and I completely agree with every point she has to say:

1. You will be giving your child attention from someone who truly cares about their success beyond passing an arbitrary test.

I absolutely believe this...I dont test my children, giving them undue stress and fear that they "HAVE" to pass or get a good grade...I can tell from their progress if they are "getting" a topic or not...


2. Your kids will be learning at their own pace. You will learn how to gage their progress and move slower or faster based on their needs.

Again, I agree...I tell them both every day not to try to compete with each other because this one is doing that or that one is doing this....They are their own person and they will learn at their own paces...When they get something, we move on faster...if they dont, we stay on it longer...theres no time limit in home schooling...

3. You will be looking out for their best interest rather than trying to do what is best for the whole group.


Absolutely I do.


4. You will be helping them to make positive memories surrounding learning activities.

Lilia has told me on more then one occasion that she loves the time we spend together in homeschooling and how I teach her...:-) Thats validation in and of itself right there.


5. You will provide them with a low stress learning environment including a balanced view on life, work and play.

Yup...Not every day is book work...not everyday is sitting at a desk/table with their noses stuck in a book...Every day is something new...whether its teaching them grocery shopping, or doing laundry, or even cooking (Lilia can cook many things that a non homeschooled child can cook, I guarantee), I am always teaching them something...When we're out driving, we talk about nature (science) or the surroundings around us (Social Studies) and government (History)....These I believe are low stress...and they love it...

6. You will be there to give them guidance as problems arise.

As I said earlier...if they dont seem to be getting something, we stay on it longer...and if I dont have the answers myself, I seek them out...

7. Your kids will have time to be a kid.

Something I tell them every single day..."BE a KID! One day you'll grow up WISHING that you had this time back...."....Being home-schooled, they aren't subjected to school violence, bullying, teen pregnancy and drugs...they are home, safe and sound in a home whose mother tries everything in her power to protect them from even violence on TV.

8. You will be there to love them. They may even see the sacrifice that you make in your personal life to provide them with an education.

I don't personally feel that I make sacrifices in my personal life to home-school them. I honestly feel very rewarded when I see my girls excel at a math problem, or help each other with their work...Home schooling is rewarding for us and I honestly feel like its the way things should be....Having been on both sides of the coin (home-schooled AND public school) I honestly believe that homeschooling is more rewarding more beneficial...Its a known fact that home-schooled children excel in life faster, and are better educated then public schooled children because public school is behind because they have SO many children to teach...and if certain kids dont "GET" it or just dont excel, they're held BACK and made to feel badly...Thats just wrong...I was in kindergarten twice...Why I'm not exactly sure....they said it was because of my age but all my life, I swear that it was something else and no one ever told me why...When I was in 6th grade, because I was having so many personal at HOME problems, I nearly flunked out and my mother berated me....I HATED school...Then, in tenth grade, I went some where that homeschooling was taught....I loved it...I excelled!!! For the first time in my life, I was getting straight A's and B's!!!I flew through 10, 11th and most of 12th in two years, 3 months. I loved it....

One question that I get asked a lot is how my children are socialized...Well, with my family down in NJ that is EXTREMELY well known in Mullica Hill and has connections and friends and associates and such ALL OVER the county, and go to church EVERY Sunday, as well as friends here that are children of MY friends that have play dates together, Socialization is NOT an issue for them....My children have EXTREMELY good manners, say please and thank you, ask to be excused from the table and put their plates in the sink when they are finished...They have none of the bad manners that most children (and i say MOST not all) their age have from public school...

What helps me in this endeavor is that friends of my in-laws have home-schooled ALL of their children and they see how well rounded their children are. My in-laws help when my girls are down there and support my decision to home-school...

To read the complete article that I quoted above go here: http://www.homeschooljungle.com/2010/10/dont-underestimate-your-value-as-a-mother/

I adore her posts and read them often.