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kristinannie
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| Posted: Aug 25 2011 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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I just wrote about this at length in my blog (under "It's official, we homeschool!") if anyone is interested in the longer version. Today is the first day of public school in our area. I have been having mixed feelings about all of it. We have been homeschooling all summer, but now everything seems so real. We really did opt out of public school. Does anyone else have mixed feelings as the school year gets underway?
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John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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mamaslearning
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Couple those feelings with a child that laments the fact she's not in school! 
This is our second year, but last year we had a new baby so things were more exciting. Now it's more of a humdrum experience until all the field trips and`other fun things get started (choir, Prep classes, Fun Fridays).
I'll pop over and read your long version later!
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
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jawgee
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Yes...I am having those same feelings!! It's a little nervewracking when my nieces and nephews and all of my kids' friends are headed back with fresh haircuts and new clothes and backpacks. I'm headed into unchartered territory.
I know we are doing the right thing (or I hope we are doing the right thing?!).
To be honest I've had butterflies about it, but not as many butterflies as I would if my two oldest were away at school all day long. (Esp. the 5YO. There's no half-day Kindergarten around here, and I think expecting a boy his age to be cooped up from 8:30-2:30 is just crazy!)
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Monica
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kristinannie
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jawgee wrote:
To be honest I've had butterflies about it, but not as many butterflies as I would if my two oldest were away at school all day long. (Esp. the 5YO. There's no half-day Kindergarten around here, and I think expecting a boy his age to be cooped up from 8:30-2:30 is just crazy!) |
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I completely agree with this!
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kristacecilia
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My oldest is in second grade this year and I still feel like this. I remember how magical (and terrifying) the first day of school was. New pencils and clothes and friends and lunch boxes and all that.
I am sad my kids aren't going to experience that. Our schools go back after Labor Day, but I think I will still feel this same way. It's bittersweet. I am always second guessing myself.
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Krista
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Servant2theKing
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May all of you homeschool newbies discover newfound joy in the fact that you are blessed with~
~not having to follow anyone else's schedule, especially NOT having to wake your dc up at the crack of dawn, every single day, to be on time for a bus!
~freedom to eat ice cream or other scrumptious delights that can't be packed in a lunchbox, right in the middle of your school day, or whenever you please!
~the options of schooling in pajamas, in a tent, up a tree, on a riverbank, in a park or your very own backyard, whenever the fancy strikes you!
~snuggling close together while you do read alouds (try that in a classroom)
~living, loving, learning and praying together as a family, instead of being thrown this way and that, day after day, for several months on end!
The "magic" of school gets old very soon ~ just ask anyone who's ever ridden a bus for at least two hours each day, with six to eight hours of classes sandwiched in between, while the homeschool kids often finish in less than half the time!
New clothes, backpacks or school supplies lose their appeal after the very first day or so. I'm sure many a school child envies the homeschool kids, who've been home all day long, by the time they finally step off the bus toward the end of their very long day.
Homeschooling may have its challenges, but after more than twenty years, we wouldn't trade this way of life for the finest schools in the world!
Have a blessed, joyous, grace-filled year everyone! Homeschooling truly is a gift ~ we are privileged to have the freedom and the choice to give our children such a life! Send those butterflies or seeds of doubt flying ~ do something to celebrate the special, unique blessings your family enjoys by homeschooling!
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Kathryn
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This is our 3rd year to start homeschooling. For the last 2 years I did make a FIRST DAY of school ritual with a new desk of supplies, clean schoolroom, special quote on the board, a talk about what we'll be doing, actually saying "welcome to xx grade" and taking a photo in the front yard! I think that really helps to have that start-up time just like the end of term stop time. I need it (emotionally and physically) so I imagine they do too.
I brought my oldest 2 home as they were entering grades 3 and 5 and I was sick to my stomach for about 3 MONTHS! MAJOR, MAJOR anxiety about all those longing questions and doubts. Yes, there have been many bumps along the road and now they do attend homeschool class sessions 2x a week but I still wouldn't trade it for full time school on someone else's schedule. You will find your rhythm for your family and although the road will have peaks and valleys, let the mixed feelings pass and don't dwell on them if you truly feel you are called to this life of homeschooling.
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Kathryn in TX
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kristinannie
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Thanks, Servant, for posting that. Those are a lot of the reasons why I am homeschooling. I also prayed a lot and God has let me know that I am following his will and that this is the best thing for our kids and our family. I know in my brain that it is the right decision, but it is easy to have doubts when school starts each year. I definitely don't regret this decision. It is just hard sometimes to be "different." John Paul had some friends at a birthday party say some negative things about homeschooling (which I knew they had to have heard from their parents who are my "friends"). The kids said that homeschooling isn't normal and that kindergarten is much more fun. They said that they don't have to stay home all day. I felt really bad for John Paul when he told me this this morning, but then he said, "Mommy, they are so wrong. They don't know how much fun we have. I think homeschooling is way better!" Out of the mouths of babes...
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JodieLyn
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I've heard of some homeschoolers that instead of making a big deal out of starting school.. make a big deal out of being different and they plan a party or trip or some such for the first day of public school.. so when all the kids are going to school, being homeschooled you're not just staying home.. you're celebrating your difference.. or getting out and doing something that is crowded when public schools are out of session.
Then when the kids talk about their first day of school.. your kids can say.. oh yeah we did _________ that day. 
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SeaStar
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My ds is currently doing a lot of his schoolwork while sitting in a boat in our backyard.
The school system here can't come up with magical moments like that.
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Servant2theKing
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Kristin Annie, I loved your BLOG post. Your words about prayer and truly discerning God's will for your family regarding homeschooling speak to the very heart of what is truly most important in the decision to educate within your home and family.
There will always be remarks from young and old alike, which often arises from the fact that homeschooling IS different ~ it challenges everyone else's "norm".
Thanks be to God that your precious John Paul recognizes the blessing of homeschooling!
Jodie, I love the idea of "celebrating your difference"!
ETA, Melinda, thanks so much for the mental image of your ds studying in a boat in your yard ~ homeschooling at its very best! Imagine the memories he'll have when he looks back on this time in his life!
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Mimip
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I just had to add that I feel like that the first few days of the school year and I have been homeschooling for 7 years!!!! I think it is natural in a way to feel sad about it too. For me, I had a very positive experience in my grade school years, with wonderful teachers, so I think it has to do with that as well.
We do what Jody suggests and usually do a HUGE field trip that first day of school. One year it was the beach, one year the water park by us, one year we went to Disney World (it was EMPTY!) This year we went to Chuck E Cheese!!!! My kids love it and look forward to it. I usually schedule us to start the week before and then on that Monday we take the day off and enjoy being Homeschoolers:)
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Mimi
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Erica Sanchez
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Servant2theKing wrote:
| Homeschooling may have its challenges, but after more than twenty years, we wouldn't trade this way of life for the finest schools in the world! |
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Amen! Not even if they were next door!
Our first day of school tradition is to go to Mass, take a a picture, look at any new books/curriculum we may have and GO TO THE BEACH. :)
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Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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MommyMahung
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I have been blessed so far with my kids and their attitudes toward homeschooling. When they ask why they're not in "school", I talk about the fun things we get to do and how we have the museums pretty much to ourselves, etc... and they get happy.
They are starving for interaction with other kids. I am doing my best to get them involved in different things with other kids, but it's not easy. It seems like all the activities in the area take place starting around 4pm and going into the night. We are eating dinner at 4pm, the kids get showered and ready for bed at 5:30pm and by 7pm they are asleep. So, the afternoon classes and things won't work and most classes or programs in the mornings are for infant/toddlers or adults.
I have lots of mixed feelings! I don't feel or think that I am truly capable of teaching my kids, but with the help of Martinas6, I am changing my outlook. My mom homeschooled my 5 younger siblings for a couple years, but I didn't get to witness any of it because I was already off on my own. I thought my mom was nuts and didn't think she could do it, but my siblings turned out alright.
I made a big deal about the first day of school for our kids. We bought them their own supplies, they decorated their own "pencil" boxes, labeled their folders and notebooks and more. It was fun for them and now they want to do school everyday.
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Claire F
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I know I'm quite late in replying to his thread, and I sure wish I would have seen it back when school was starting! I had the same anxiety on the first day of public school this year! Boy, did I ever.
Our decision to homeschool this year was sort of last minute. I offically withdrew my son from public school just a few days before school was supposed to start. So on that first day, when all the other kids were heading up to school, I had such mixed feelings! It really made reality come crashing home, that I'd made this decision and was really turning our lives upsidedown! It was scary and thrilling all at the same time.
I just wanted to post because I'm glad to hear that this is a fairly common feeling to have :). It's nice to know I wasn't alone.
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Question for new homeschoolers
