So, five things I love about homeschooling, and their dark side.
1. We get to make our own schedule.
On the dark side:
I've never had to make my own schedule, I've always had either school or jobs to do that for me. I just used my given schedule to create a life within. Now everything can happen all the time. Chess at 9 pm, wine at noon, groceries at 10 am on Tuesdays at Costco, where I get to say hi to Earl. Honestly, I would love to just read, write, talk, and play music all day, but I think my kids should spend some time outside and with people. So we do, but we don't have much of a schedule. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it feels like I've been floating for too long.
2. We get to focus on relationships rather than content.
On the dark side:
Sometimes I wonder if my kids are "behind." Then I realize that whatever they don't know they can make up for with their love and need for learning. Nobody knows everything, which is so exciting- there's always something around the corner to look forward to.
3. My kids get to spend most of their days doing mostly what they want.
On the dark side:
I want my kids to know "what they're made of." How are they going to learn that without going through some adversity? Today my 8 yo was near tears because he couldn't find his Minecraft Redstone book. Of course, when he found it he followed its instructions for the 10th time to make a tnt cannon. And this time it worked.
4. Once again, we get to focus on relationships rather then content.
On the dark side:
I never spent this much time with my parents growing up. I'd only spent this amount of time with people who were paid to take care of me. It has been a steep learning curve in figuring out how to interact with my own children for 16 to 20 hours a day. And also I go a little crazy. But then I take the long view, I work out, or I meditate, or I drink some wine.
5. My kids are very self directed.
On the dark side:
My kids are very self directed, whether I like their direction or not.
Toilet paper on the floor because it's a project, Legos impossibly scattered, skipping during dinner...
No one should skip during dinner.
