Five Reasons Why I Decided to Homeschool
One of my mentors once said, “An intelligent person decides once they have all the facts,” or something along those lines. I’m not sure where they got that quote from, but I know it’s stuck with me since I heard it. That saying has encouraged me to do my research and gather as much information as possible before deciding to homeschool my children.
Interestingly enough, I find myself sharing that quote a lot when bringing up the subject of homeschooling. When I mention it, the first thing out of people’s mouths is, “Whew, I could never.” “What about socialization?” “That is not an option for my family and me.” And that may very well be true. But when I begin to share the things my kids and I do, the resources and the programs we have access to, those comments usually go from absolutely not to, “Wow. I didn’t know it could be like that.” “When did the government start giving money?” “How can I find more information?”
It still surprises me when I realize many others don’t get adequate information before they nix an idea. But in light of the uncertainty and challenges of 2020, many parents have decided to leave traditional schools and homeschool their children. According to a U.S. Census Bureau analysis, the proportion of American families homeschooling at least one child grew from 5.4% in Spring 2020 to 11.1% in Fall 2021. Before that, the national average was a steady 3.3% since 2012.
You can call me a little bit of an OG and part of the 3.3% since I’ve been homeschooling since 2016. Whether my kids went to programs once or twice a week, most of their time schooling and learning has been with me. Talk about joy, anxiety, pressure, and fulfillment all at once when you realize everything about their education is on you. Whew!
I know many families have reasons, political or otherwise, for turning to homeschool now, but here is a list of my top five reasons for homeschooling. If you are thinking about joining the homeschool community or wondering what would make someone choose to homeschool outside of a pandemic, take a look. Maybe some of these will resonate with you.
I wanted to be the most considerable influence in my children’s life.
School is about 7 hours a day in California, Monday through Friday. That’s not including drop-off, pick-up, and extracurricular activities before or after school. That’s 7 hours of sitting, learning, and being taught daily through verbal and non-verbal communication. A lot is going on day to day at school, and there are a lot of influences around my children that I wasn’t ready for them to get exposed to.
Ultimately, I wanted to continue to be the most significant influence and role model in my kids' lives. And as I thought about it, I wasn’t in a rush for them to be away from me for that long, five days out of the week. I didn’t think it was conducive or necessary for them to be the people I wanted to raise them to be. Thankfully, my husband was on the same page.
2. I didn’t want to pressure them to learn a certain way or grasp information within a specific time.
From my time in school, I remember that the teachers and parents complained about the restrictions on the curriculum and the expectations placed on the students. Everyone was under so much pressure to teach the same thing and for students to understand the same thing. And although I thrived in school, I felt terrible for the kids who didn’t. They were singled out; even if the staff was trying to be polite or supportive, they still noticed that they weren’t on the same “level” as the rest of the class.
I remember thinking it was so sad how they had to go to school early or stay late. They missed recess or lunch, trying to get extra tutoring because the rest of the class had moved on. What an emotionally and mentally taxing way to do school. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized people truly learn differently, and grades are not a sign of intelligence or a predictor of success. So why the pressure?
I didn’t want that for my kids. I wanted them to take their time and absorb the information they learned. Not just learn facts and regurgitate them to pass a test, but know the information and be confident in their intelligence and how they learn. Kids innately can learn; even if they learn differently, there is no reason to rush them or pressure them to do it.
3. I didn’t want to be on anyone else’s schedule. I crave flexibility.
Homeschooling provides my family with flexibility that is invaluable to me. We don’t lack structure, but I love the freedom to rearrange our schedule based on our current priorities, health, and desires. I don’t have to worry about notes or attendance when it comes to doctor's appointments, vacations, or field trips.
And one of the best things about homeschooling is that most of what we do is in the off-season when places are less crowded and cheaper. At the same time, everyone else is in school or work; my kids and I are tearing up LA with our field trips and daycations.
5. There are a ton of resources!
One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that there are so many resources. You have to do research, ask for help, or get creative, but trust me, the support is there. I have had help in finding curriculum, speech therapy, music and dance lessons, electronics, and other programs. Once I joined the homeschool Facebook groups for my community and state, my life changed. The mothers there are helpful as they offer advice and links and share details about excellent, free, or low-cost events.
As a homeschool parent, I feel fully supported and connected because I have built a great knowledge base and community of other homeschool parents.
5. I met impressive homeschoolers and moms.
I remember growing up; there was a stigma attached to homeschool families. They were seen as radicals, unsocialized, religious fanatics, and had other not-so-fun labels. But I remember when my son was a baby, and I got to know a few homeschool families and kids, and they were terrific. The children were confident, intelligent, fun, and adventurous. The families were bonded and close. I loved their energy and the creative ways they looked at school and life, merging them holistically and healthily.
No matter what, there will be people who go to the extreme, whether with traditional school, homeschooling or unschooling, and there’s always a bunch that makes it look unappealing. But the best thing about your family and homeschooling is that you can make it look and be what you want. It’s really up to you.
I’m not saying homeschooling is for everyone, but if any of these reasons connect with you, at least take a look at it. Go to some informational meetings, connect with other parents and see what your options truly are. You never know what you may find. Good luck!