Thanks so much for all the well thought-out comments and emails re: my last post. They really gave me a lot to think about and offered some great perspectives. I'll be sticking around here for some time yet, I think.
And joy of joys! My girls are home for the summer. I am always surprised by how happy this makes me every year. Everything just feels so much better when our time is unscripted and we get to go wherever and do whatever we want. Our creativity blossoms, the good times roll, and ironically, we all get along so much better when it's just us all day every day. (Gah! Home schooling is so tempting sometimes!) Not that we don't still have our moments, but our own pace does seem to help everyone chill out a little.
Here are my school girls on their last day of school:
Bunny ears. So sisterly. (And a random scooter in the pics. Very nice.)
Here they are on their first day of the school year. My but they do grow quickly.
So very happy to have them back all to myselfishy-self. Do you love summer break as much as I do? Or can you just not wait for school to start again? Do you ever think about homeschooling? Do tell.
10 comments:
I don't hear many moms expressing the feelings you are having. Last Friday in St. George my mom and I were taking a walk around the neighborhood, watching the school kids at the bus stop on the last day of school. We did an unscientific poll of the moms as we went around (since my mom knows everyone) and all but one said they were sad that it was the last day of school and that their kids would be around all summer. It made my heart hurt. Either my brain is on backwards or something but I do not understand those moms. I think you are an amazing mother.
Your girls resemble the McKay girls in these pics! I'm so sad I won't be able to see them for so long. But super stoked you are coming to the sisters retreat! We are moving to a new rental house this week before school gets out, so I'm delaying figuring out how to entertain my boys! I love summer, but I struggle keeping my boys away from screens! This summer I think I'll keep it to no screens till after dinner rule. That seems give them enough time to come up with non-screen activities.
Do these beauties at least have an older, male cousin to keep the boys at bay?! They are so so so so gorgeous.
We just finished homeschooling my oldest thru Kindergarten this year. It had its ups and downs, but mostly just ups. I couldn't imagine him being away from us all day. I really struggled with the decision and wanted to make sure I was doing it for his benefit and not for selfish reasons....in the end it was probably a little for both. We had a great experience and I am so glad it has worked out for us. Enjoy your precious girlies while they are home this summer. It is obvious you are a loving and involved mom.
They look SO grown up!!! You know I've been on the fence about homeschool for some time now... maybe one day we will both take the leap... I know you would be incredible. Too bad we don't live near each other and could team teach. :)
I LOVE Summer! We hate School! We Hate School!
Ok, we like school too, BUT WE LOVE SUMMER! We love having summer school where we have a Weekly Craft/buddy class and cooking class and sewing class and piano class etc... So much fun when things are loose and relaxed. We thought about homeschooling a ton and did homeschool two of them for a year each if you remember, just to control the flow better and help them out when they needed to come home, but we love public school and the many things they learn and experience there. I think it is character building when they get the learning experience of awful comments from snarky friends and then come home and cry on your shoulder and the siblings rally around and repair the damage. I love that it is challenging and boring at times. I think (at least here in the OV schools) they get a consistent and interesting education from teachers that really do like the kids. The ups and downs of friend groups teach compassion and patience. I like to volunteer for the fieldtrips, parties, activity days and walk-a-thons so I can experience these things with them and they love having me there. They beg for me to come. I think Homeschooling is great, but for us (because I can only speak for our situation) Homeschool when you and your child needs it and public school has been great. With all that said, we are ALL ready for summer to come. We love being together.
i can't believe them. they are so precious. so studious. so BIG! my favorite is the one with Malan giving Jane bunny ears. likely because i just think i would have expected it the other way around. oh wait, maybe that makes me sad that i don't "know" them anymore. boooo... as for the school gig, i think its awesome you WANT to be with your kids. i can't imagine when Frankster goes to school. eeek! but i just think there are differences in ways to mother (and don't determine how much they LOVE them); i know some that don't like the newborn stage, others struggle with the toddler stage, etc. hmm...now you have my brain reeeally thinking about this.
I love some things about summer time and some things about school time. My personal theory is that school days should be shorter and more productive, and then they should let the kids come home--without set homework. I like the idea of 4 hour school days, and I always try to set up homeschooling for half of the day, but my kids never want to miss anything that's happening at school. Sigh...
Wow, look at them - they have gotten so big! And they are adorable. I love those girls.
It *IS* so much easier some days when you don't need to worry about any schedules out of the house, or external influences to upset the balance/emotional center of one child, isn't it? I definitely understand about the mental battle of homeschooling versus public school, from educational styles, to academic content, to personal relationships, to bullies and other just plain negative influences... But I'm with some of your other readers on the benefits of public school, especially with respect to group activities that are impractical or just difficult to do in a homeschooling or unschooling environment, as well as exposure to different teaching styles, frustrating personal encounters, and a variety of people in general. I think those can all be good for the development of a person.
Regardless, yes, we are glad to have summer break approaching (Abby has one more week) and a break from the school routine and getting away from what seems to be an increasingly frustrated or burnt-out teacher in her class. :-) (It seems like the time-wasting worksheets have increased in the last weeks of school here...) We look forward to a summer full of family experiences! Hopefully it doesn't make Rachel too crazy to have all the kids every day. :-) (And that's one part that I don't think would go well with homeschooling - sometimes you really need a day or five away from the same old routine at home, too...)
Anyway - glad to see those beautiful smiling faces! Have a great start to the summer!
I have been thinking about your question and this post since you posted it.
I homeschool but your post made me think about why I do it. What's sad is I kind of forgot those reasons this year. We enjoyed it but remembering my purpose in it will make next year better.
School days are SO long. By the time my kiddos got home, all I wanted them to do was play or relax. I didn't feel like there was time in between practice and lessons to teach them how to be a whole person. I don't want life to be about academics and sports. I felt too rushed to be patient. "you would know where your shoes are, if you put them where they should go! Fine. Don't wear shoes! Wait, you HAVE to wear shoes!" I also felt too rushed for my toddler to learn to put on his shoes. There just wasn't time. Beyond shoes though, there is scripture time. We were doing good if that was a bedtime story most days. This might be more of a reflection on me than on home or public school. :)
I appreciated the other comments though. I haven't ruled out public school completely but I like home for now. It is nice when they are young. Plus, there are SO many resources it is awesome!
I love that we can have a devotional in the morning. I love that we can keep reading if they want to. They can spend as long as they want reading about blood and why its so cool, if they want to. I also like being the one who gets to see their questions get answered. I do take advantage of good opportunities for my kids to have other teachers & do things with friends. This is a long answer.
When I think about you though Kate, you are an amazing mom. You would do well with either method. Your girls would too.
Post a Comment