Homeschool vs At School

What is the right thing to do in today’s climate of shutdowns and canceling everything under the sun? Does a parent homeschool or send their kids back to on-premise school? I have gone back and forth from, “Yes! I can do the homeschooling thing. I have the fortitude and patience (I hope) to homeschool my soon-to-be 3rd grader and preschooler,” to, “Oh, Hell no! What will I be getting myself into?!” I am almost positive I am not the only parent out there who has had many internal dialogues and arguments regarding this very dilemma.

I guess my main concern was the idea of socializing. My oldest is very shy and reserved. The thought of her not interacting physically, mentally and emotionally, has me cringing. My preschooler is more outgoing and a “bull in a china shop” type. I am not too concerned about her due to that. Although I know Homeschooling “Pods” and groups of families will do weekly field trips, I still have my hesitations. Does teaching your child at home hinder their ability to learn social skills or are there other means to get that interaction that a developing child needs?

For context, my daughter currently attends a private Catholic school. In the past year, there have been staffing changes as well as curriculum changes. Myself and other parents in my daughter’s class have raised concerns on the path forward for our children. Let’s say our concerns fall on deaf ears. Due to these issues and the current dilemma our schools face, I began researching as much as I could on the benefits of homeschooling vs. the benefits of traditional school.

https://home-school.lovetoknow.com/Statistics_on_Public_School_Vs_Homeschooling https://www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/

There is an overwhelming plethora of information available on the subject of homeschooling. To say I felt overwhelmed with the amount of information to sift through would be an understatement. I found sites with support groups, sites for Moms, sites with educational information, and sites specifically stating “Start Here.” I read through every bit of information and made my choice without hesitation. Homeschooling was in our immediate future.

I weighed the idea of teaching our values and beliefs vs. what the State feels your children should be learning or NOT learning. I don’t think it’s just me, but I do not like the idea of some politician or other person in power feeling like they know what is best for my child. The public school systems, I believe, have stepped over the line in what they feel the need to teach. I am a person of faith and moral compass and solely believe that certain things should only be taught in the home. Further, the shift from conservative values and teachings to a more liberal ideology in many subjects has made me question whether my child would be better served learning at home. I found a great link to help connect with other moms who are link-minded and have the same concerns and ideas.

https://www.momsforamerica.us/

Homeschooling is a very personal and individually based choice. I realize that not every family has the luxury, time, or patience of a homeschool program. I am definitely taking advantage of my circumstances to start this journey and make it as fun as possible for my girls. Museums, zoos, day trips to the beach/mountains, anything and everything to make it an enjoyable experience for us.

I listed some suggestions on excellent links I found to help me with my decision-making. There is also a link for the Homeschool program I am leaning towards using. If anyone else has more to add or other suggestions, I am all ears. I am learning as I go and welcome ideas.

https://hiphomeschoolmoms.com/

https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

https://hiphomeschoolmoms.com/

https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/