Why I Started Homeschooling

This week’s TOS Blog Cruise Topic is “Why did you decide to homeschool?”

I first heard of homeschooling when my oldest was a baby. My mother, who is a former teacher, became a coordinator for a homeschool cover school in 1988. I was intrigued by the concept, but thought it was a bit crazy! Just a few years later, Allison was 3 years old and reading fluently. Chris and I started wondering how in the world we could send her to public school in two years to be "taught" her letters! We decided to homeschool her, planning at first to keep her home for a couple of years, then to put her into school a grade ahead. We did send her to school for third and fourth grades, but by that time, I was teaching my younger children at home as well and had fallen in love with the homeschooling lifestyle, so we pulled Allison out of school to homeschool again. John Michael and Katie were homeschooled through eighth grade. Emily has also been homeschooled all her life and will continue to be so at least through eighth grade. I have loved our flexible schedule, having the freedom to teach my children how and what I want and the opportunity to instill my values in our children. Most of all, I have loved getting to spend my days with my children instead of sending them off to be enjoyed (or not) by someone else!