It's that time of year again. The questions have started. So here is a repost from 2010. I feel even stronger now that we are doing the right thing by foregoing preschool to have the kids stay home with me. My oldest will be in 1st grade next year and he is doing great. I wouldn't trade the time I had with him for anything in the world.
Where are you sending her, next year? Don’t you need time to yourself? How do you get things done?
They will be fine without you. You need time to yourself. She needs the social development. How do you know she is getting what she needs?
And when I say no, I love them at home. It’s just looks. I am now the crazy mom and I am ok with that.
Only one friend in 4 years ever asked me why. “Why don’t you send your kids to preschool”. I gave her a terrible answer. I was unprepared. I came home that night and wrote a list of my reasons. Having it on paper reassured me daily. No one asked again for two years. There have been statements and even a few ugly comments. But my defiance was part of my everyday life. So when a newer mom called the other day asking questions about “The School Thing” I was ready.
In my area, I know, including myself, 4 mothers out of over 500 who doesn’t send there children to preschool. So you can understand the pressure and fear I felt making my kids, "stay at home kids".
I wanted to share with you my answers. Just in case there is one mom out there dealing with this issue.
My Answer (after much prayer)
1. I truly think I am capable of teaching anything a 1-5 year old needs to know. I know my ABC’s, how to play games, how to do art, how to sing, how to count and how to read.
2. The most important things they can learn at this age deals with character, heart matters and spiritual disciplines. I am their guide. I am ever working and polishing their little skills.
3. I am in control of their discipline. My kids are held to the same standard all the time. Regardless of place and time. I am their self control until they can do it themselves.
4. Soon enough they will be headed in different directions. I want a firm foundation of sibling relationship. Which cannot happen if they are in different rooms.
5. I have a 16 year old brother. (born when I was 16) I know how fast kids grow up. I also understand better than most what is ahead of me. I want to be there #1 influence as long as possible.
6. Because they are at home with me they have to help. They clean and work right beside me. Our jobs as moms is to work ourselves out of a job and my kids even at 4 and 2 are doing a great job.
7. I love being with them. Every moment is a teachable moment. They are leaning only what I want installed on their little hard drives.
8. Kids should be kids. They will be in school for the next 20-30 years. I want them to pretend, make messes, and feel free to be themselves free of the ideas and social problems that will haunt most of their lives. (Peer pressure, fads, ect) yes at 4 this is real.
Everyday I am confirmed by their actions and relationships that I am doing the right thing..
What about social development?
We tend to think of social development as peer on peer (same age). When was the last time you were in a room of only 32 year olds or only 45 year olds? My kids go to church, play group, story time and play most afternoons with the neighborhood kids. They interact with kids of all ages from different families, beliefs and backgrounds. They learn from kids older and younger. All under my supervision and control.
Should all kids stay home?
God gives us our children. He has a plan for their lives. We are the ones who can best prepare them for there futures. Who we are and the decisions we make now are helping to point them towards that path. My husband and I spent a lot of time in prayer over this decision. I truly believe that keeping your kids home isn't for everyone. Kids and parents need different things. We seek God's will for our family everyday. To answer your question, "No, I don't intend to home school." I am dyslexic and feel I would be doing a disservice to my kids.
Thank you for this. I am dealing with this situation now. I have 4 year old twins and a 5 year old. My 5 year old has been in public pre-school for speech delay and he's on the autism spectrum (high functioning, but lacks social skills). I think my 4 year olds will do fine at home with me for pre-school and I can have them ready for kindergarten. I don't know anyone who wants to homeschool preschool and then send them to school for the rest of the time. I do have a friend who plans on homeschooling for all the years, but I don't know that I can do that. Do you plan on doing for lessons at home with a curriculum? If so what will you use? I know that I pretty much have no one around me to support this decision. I don't know if I'm not strong enough not to cave to the pressure. And as much ass I have to admit it, preschool for twins is mucho expensive. I would rather teach them what they need and utilize the money elsewhere for other educational things like, museums, classes, etc.
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