- Initially, all of our five children were attending in-person school.
- However, our three oldest made the choice to be homeschooled for various reasons, while the youngest wanted to continue attending school.
- Through this experience, they taught me the importance of acknowledging their individual needs.
Personally, I could never imagine being homeschooled. It would have been a challenge beyond my parents’ capabilities and interests.
When my spouse and I started raising our five children, my focus was primarily on establishing peace and order. By the end of the day, after family dinners and bedtime stories, I was completely exhausted. Yet, I convinced myself that I was doing a better job than my own parents. I celebrated as my kids boarded the school buses, confident that they were receiving education from competent teachers in a conducive environment.
For several years, my children continued their education through traditional schooling. I assumed this would be the path we would follow.
Three of my oldest children made the choice to be homeschooled
However, things took a different turn when our oldest son, Sheridan, decided to pursue music seriously. In 10th grade, Sheridan had to juggle a full course load in public school along with hours of music composition and practice. When we discovered that his school couldn’t accommodate a shortened schedule for him, we made the decision to homeschool. We registered with the Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Association and gained access to school district textbooks.
Sheridan was able to complete his school work independently and had more time to focus on his music. He was ultimately accepted into his top-choice conservatory.
Our older daughter, Rose, spent her junior year of high school as an exchange student in Thailand. After an incredible adventure, she felt disconnected from the traditional high school experience. We agreed when she chose to join as the second member of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers. Similar to Sheridan, Rose completed her work efficiently and went on to have a fulfilling college experience in Boston.
Observing the success of her siblings, our younger daughter Julie also expressed a desire to homeschool. Like Rose and Sheridan, Julie excelled academically and ultimately attended a wonderful college.
In all three cases, I served as a supervisor, ensuring that they stayed on track with their studies. Thankfully, they did.
Meanwhile, our other two sons, Evan and Patrick, had no interest in leaving high school. They were thriving in the traditional school environment and didn’t have the same level of self-motivation as their siblings. Homeschooling them would have been a challenge, and I believe it would have strained our relationships. Nevertheless, they successfully graduated and pursued higher education.
I learned the importance of individualized education
This experience taught me the significance of honoring each of my children as unique individuals. It also reinforced the importance of self-awareness. While making the decision to homeschool was initially daunting, I’m grateful that we made those choices during high school rather than earlier. Guiding young children through their entire education requires immense patience and focus, which are qualities I know I lack. I greatly admire those who possess those traits. For our family, waiting until high school was the right decision.
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