Home-Schooling

I know my friend Denise Willms from http://www.wahm-articles.com/ homeschools her children. Since my own kids went to public school, I wanted to find an article to share with you from someone who has homeschooled for many years now.

Think You Want to Home School? Five Reasons Why You Should Think Again

My family has just started our sixth year of home schooling. When we hear how other families prepare for the first day of traditional school, we're reminded that we have made the right decision for us.

My children never worry about whether their teacher will like them or not, what the other kids will be wearing, or who their friends will be this year.

Home schooling can be a wonderful experience, if it's the right choice for you, and if you are prepared for it. However, I've met a lot of parents who start out thinking home schooling will be great, but are pulling their hair out and ready to quit before the first year is over.

Here are five questions to ask yourself, before you make the decision to home school your own children.

1. Are you willing to take sole responsibility for your child's education? When you homeschool, the parents assume 100% of the responsibility for their child's education. Even if you engage other resources to help educate your child, it is up to you to find those resources, and make sure they're meeting your child's needs.

2. Is your family ready to be together all day, every day? Increased "togetherness" can be draining if you're not prepared for it. Most home schooling families find that home schooling has a positive effect on family relationships. Over time, many parents and children grow to enjoy being together. However, if you look forward to your kids going to school each day so you can have time alone, home schooling will change all that.

3. Do you have the energy to home school? You'll spend more energy home schooling than sending children to school. Besides teaching your children, you'll need to keep involved with home school activities, opportunities, teaching methods and ideas - not to mention staying current with home schooling legislation.

4. Are you ready for your home to look different? A few years ago, we had a realtor evaluate our house. One of his comments was, "You have a lot of... stuff..." He was right. Our house is filled with, not only the regular items you'd find in a busy household, but with our current activities, school books, and ongoing science projects. If you like to keep everything uncluttered, you may find home schooling hard for this reason. Some people find that having their home school take over their house is much more difficult than they expect.

5. How well do you handle criticism? When you home school, you need to be prepared for some intense criticism from your family, friends, and society. You can prepare yourself by arming yourself with information and remembering why you home school. However, if you're someone who like to please others, and others' opinions are important to you, their criticism of your new lifestyle could be painful.

Before you decide to home school, consider your decision carefully from every angle. If home schooling still sounds good to you, it might just be the right decision for your family too.

Denise Willms is head writer of a ghostwriting service that specializes in creating content moms want to read. You can find more homeschooling ideas, or share your own, at Denise's website, http://www.wahm-articles.com/

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com/

Post here, let me know if you homeschool or send your kids to public school.

Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka

What Are You Teaching Your Children?

I took part in a study session the other night that provided much more wisdom that I ever expected.

The study session was all women. All of us were not only daughters but also mothers.

We were told that at the end of the evening we would each be writing something that our own mothers had taught us.

We then went about our studying and learning.

As promised, about 20 minutes before the end of the session, we were asked to write a phrase that our mothers used during our growing up that really had impacted our lives.

We couldn’t write the actual lesson learned but needed to write the phrase that taught us the lesson.

There was no doubt what I would write. It was a phrase first introduced to me when I was about 22 and I’ve never forgotten it. I had a good friend who was planning a surprise party for her parent’s anniversary. She told me months in advance that she was making the party and told me she wanted me there to help her and support her.

Invitations went out and I did not receive an invitation. I was certain there must’ve been a mistake somewhere. I was really torn what to do. I saw a few choices:

I could go the party without an invitation.
I could call my friend and ask what happened that I didn’t get an invitation.
I could stay home since I didn’t get an invitation.

I really was troubled by what the right thing to do was. My mom finally said to me, “Would you rather go somewhere that you’re not wanted, or be missed from somewhere you’re not at?”

I really thought and thought about this phrase and in the end, ended up saying nothing and staying home.

Several weeks later my friend actually mentioned the party and thanked me for my early support and mentioned that she decided to not invite any of her own friends since the party was in honor of her parents. I was really glad I had made the choice that I made.

As we went around the room and each read our statements, I smiled at the many lessons that moms teach their kids, sometimes without even knowing the impact that the lesson will have on the child.

I’ve actually asked my own kids at this point in their lives, what phrase have I spoken to them that has impacted their lives. I was thrilled with their answers.

If your own children are old enough, ask them this question. Discover what lessons your children have learned from you.

Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka

When Your Child Turns Eighteen

I think as parents, sometimes we think that on our child’s eighteenth birthday, something magical is going to happen. The truth is, they wake up the same person they went to bed as.

When my daughter went away to college, I admit to being completely blown away by the amount of students who had never had 100% freedom prior to coming to college. Up until leaving for college, these kids still had curfews, still were asked daily if their homework was done, still faced consequences at home if they did not turn in homework, and were still monitored in many other areas.

If you have never been allowed to stay out all night, what do you think a new college student does their first week at school? They end up staying up and out night after night. If you were never allowed to wake up and say “I don’t want to go to school today” what do you think a new college student does the first month of school? They sleep in and don’t attend class.

I believe as a parent, it is our job to allow our children the above freedoms in a safe atmosphere where we can guide them. For example, when my daughter was a senior in high school, I allowed her to go out on school nights and she really had no curfew. She did come in a few times at 2am and just couldn’t get up for school. I did write her a note for school and she slept. She missed school work, and now had double the work the next day. She quickly found that this was not a great choice to make. In college, making a choice like this can be much more devastating, if there is a quiz, a test, or a large assignment due.

My daughter was not familiar with academic probation until she got to college and student after student was placed on academic probation. Often, parents do not know the student has been placed on this probation as the entire relationship is between the school and the student. The parents no longer have a voice, or receive any type of notifications, even if the parents are paying all the bills.

Most parents I speak with have the same goal. We want our children to be independent happy adults. This can only happen though if we allow them to make choices on their own.

I know that when I think back, I did make some bad choices as a teenager. I’ve also made some bad choices as an adult. I’ve learned from those choices and those choices have all led to the person I am today. I continue to make choices and continue to grow as a person. Don’t we want the same for our children?

So, while my opening sentence said nothing magical happens the morning of their eighteenth birthday, we as parents can certainly help them into adulthood by allowing them the freedom to be independent.

Audrey :)
http://mytupperware.com/audreyoka