Well, it's been exactly eleven months since we started our adventure as a homeschool family! This time has really flown by and our family has grown in so many ways. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually...every way imaginable and in every way for the better. My journey as a homeschool mom hasn't been an easy one, but I know that growth comes from time, commitment, hard work and taking risks. Does our family still love homeschooling as much as we did eleven months ago?? Nah! We love it more!!
It's also been eleven months since I began blogging as a homeschool mom. In my first post, I likened our journey of starting homeschool to that of Neo taking the red pill in the movie "The Matrix". He goes from an ordinary guy in a safe world that he has always known, to living an extraordinary life in a world that was broken beyond his wildest dreams. He left his mundane routine and safety net to find wisdom and courage. When he took the red pill, he learned the truth and it broke free from his comfort zone.
Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic , but I still think our homeschool journey is similar to Neo's journey. Most families don't realize there is more than one environment for a child to learn. They think the world of classroom learning is the only option. So many parents still think that they're not the ones in charge of their child's education. Even if you consider yourself to be a "proactive parent" in your child's school, you can still find yourself running out of options as with the seriously-changing, school environment. If you don't think schools are changing in big ways, I've got news for you- they are! Whatever the reason or reasons...if your children are unhappy in school, that should be enough to take a risk on making a positive change in where and how they learn. Neo didn't realize how monotonous and miserable his life was until he stepped away from it. That's usually how it works in life, isn't it?
Just like Neo, we don't have to be limited to what is presented to us in our environment or by our community. If we're willing to make a big change, we can teach our children to learn "outside the box". Maybe I sound like a Pollyanna, but shouldn't learning be more fun? We can foster their interests, spark their curiosity and plant the seeds of their growth. As homeschool parents, we can build on our children's strengths and give attention to their needs in their own time. There are SO many homeschool curricula, programs, resources, support groups and tools to help parents give a well-rounded education for their kids. Even if you're just remotely considering it, the time has never been better...now is the time to homeschool!
I love seeing our son learn and being a part of his learning journey. He lights up when he learns about the subjects that interest him (history, geography, the military, science, computers, etc.) and he doesn't explode during the subjects that used to be a struggle. Don't get me wrong...math is not always a picnic, but it sure is better than it used to be. He is the coolest son in the world and I'm so blessed to be his mom and to be his teacher!
More and more parents don't like what's going on in their children's schools. They're willing to make the sacrifices and changes to better the way their children will learn. Homeschooling is on the rise. There are approximately 2.2 million homeschooled children in the United States ( "Research Facts on Homeschooling" by Brian Ray, Ph.D., NHERI, January 6, 2015).
Now that is a lot of red pills...
