This idea started at Principled Discovery for last week, but as usual, I am way behind. But it was such a good idea, that I thought I’d do it late anyway.
The first writing prompt is Looking Back: Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.
My first thought was “you mean I had a life before?” LOL! Then I remember….DH and I married right after college and moved to our first military assignment in Texas. He worked as a Civil Engineer Officer and I waited until the holidays were over and went to work as an RN in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a large city hospital on the night shift. I was night shift charge nurse after a few months. Then we moved. This has been our pattern…I gain some ground in my career and we move. But each move brings new things- good and bad – and new things to learn.
DH did his Masters in OH, then we moved. I did mine in LA, took the test and got a license as a Nurse Practitioner. DH left for a year-long “remote” assignment, so I stayed and worked as a cardiolgy NP. WAAAYYY stressful, but very fun in alot of ways. Then we moved to Alaska. I worked as a cardiology case manager with the expectation I’d work more in the clinic, but that didnt happen, even after getting Alaska to recognize me as an Acute Care NP (I was the only one in the state, so that require “a little” paperwork). I worked with the head of Internal Medicine to write protocols so the hospital could hire me as essentially an NP hospitalist. I was going to be responsible for rounding on all inpatients in medical or surgical departments. Literally the week that went through and my credentially was done, I had the worst stomach flu. That flu has lated 6 yrs! 
I quit the hospitalist job before it ever started, stayed on part-time as a case manager, and worked part time teaching at the University of Alaska in the BSN Department. I taught Pathophysiology and did clinicals for about 10 students.
Went on bedrest, had baby, learned all about attachment parenting. Then we moved to GA. DH was gone tons, I had a toddler that was driving me nuts. But by the time she was 3 we were hitting our stride. She has done private “play school” and a public Pre-K program, which allowed me to work part-time in a counseling center and allowed her some time away from Mom. I repeatedly told my best friend, who was homeschooling her older 2 by then, that I would NEVER do that! But she quietly wore me down. 
I liked the flexibiltiy to have family time when DH was available vs. when school was out; I liked the idea of not holding Claire back or taking whatever time she needed for something; I liked that every homeschooled kid I ran across was well-mannered and well-read. Eventually I realized it was the natural extentsion of attachment parenting. DH left for another year-long “remote” and then we moved again. This would have been our 1st move dealing with schools. Our school zone wasnt the greatest, the paperwork for out-of-zone transfer was nuts, and we might move again in 2 years. So why not give it a try for Kindergarten? How hard could that be?
I miss having alone time the most. I miss getting a tangible reward for my hard work (like a paycheck). I used to miss time with intelligent, funny, well-rounded adults, but I’ve managed to find myself a small pocket of those people either locally or that will take my calls! I think our family has gained a sense of freedom. We are all generally more relaxed now that we arent running around trying to have a life between 3pm and 8pm. We are all learning that education isnt just what is in a book somewhere – it’s working through some tough things together, it’s helping others, it’s trying new things just because they are new. I am learning as much as Claire is. We have gained the honor and fun of being present when she “gets” something new. We have gained togetherness.
5 Comments
April 6, 2008 at 2:14 am
Now it will look like you have fans in all the western states since we check daily while we travel! Wonder who is reading in South Africa??
Love and miss you.
April 6, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I think home schooling is a wonderful option available to parents. What I don’t like is the idea that education is an all or nothing game.
Our children were attending a private school. They currently attend a public school. However, we augment their education heavily. We are very active parents and spend a good amount of time on being active with educating our children outside of school. We view it as a partnership….one that we play a large, leading role. Honestly, I think the main difference with the success of many home schooled children is having actively engaged parents. If the same happens with children educated outside of the home, then I think you see much of the same outcomes in behavior and learning. When I participate in parent/child activities at school, there are few other parents there. And, I fully realize that some parents simply can’t get the time off from work, etc. But, it is also very apparent which children seem to come from families who are attentive to them and which ones don’t. It’s quite sad really. I believe our children will thrive in whatever environment we choose simply because we are caring and engaged parents. So, it’s not the method of education, it’s the quality of the parenting in my humble opinion.
April 7, 2008 at 12:01 am
Angela,
War Eagle!
I dont think I was “bad mouthing” public school at all and hope you did not read it as such. Had we stayed in GA, she would have gone to the Primary school there. We loved her Pre-K program and had great experiences and lifelong friends from her private 2yr and 3yr play school time. Even if we had moved and DH had a semi-predictable schedule, PS would be more of an option. Private school would be great, but the cost of that doesnt seem to match the benefit, especially with what I can do at “home” with the same funds. Not to mention, I may need the tuition I saved this year for middle school tuition?!
We didnt choose to HS because of religion or because she’s a genius. My main reason, especially after seeing what an extended deployment did to a 4yr’s sense of trust and security, was to provide stability. She would not have been ready to meet Dad again, move to a new state/house/neighborhood, and start a new school all within 3 months. That’s alot of change for an adult! Do kids do it? Sure, all the time. But just dealing with the deployment changed her – I cant imagine her with those other stressors. As for the parenting part, I think you are exactly right. I dont know how you and Jeff can hold down full-time jobs, keep the usual daily stuff going, and do all the extras required. I read a book by Lucy Calkins called “Raising Lifelong Learners: A Parent’s Guide” that was wonderful in helping me decide this might work. All the things you do to expose the girls to other things, lessons, school supplementation, travel, was outlined in addition to the 8-3 school day. Those were all things I agree with and try to do as well, but I dont have to wait until school is over or do it during weekends. We can have downtime, game night, free play in the yard with friends. Occasionally, I get myself worked up that I’m not teaching her as well as a “real” teacher might. Then I talk to my neighbor who is getting a Masters in Ed. – none of her educational background includes how to teach any particular content. She’s a lawyer and now is getting the child development stuff (which I’ve already had x 2 different colleges) and classroom management. The only classroom management issues I have are getting the “class” to clean her room!
Anyway, I think we are in agreement that there are more ways to reach the same goal. And I’d like to say, too, that neither decision is irrevocable. I’m quite sure we will switch back and forth between education options many times over the next 12 years. But I’m only paying for her to go to 1 college!
April 7, 2008 at 10:17 am
I’m so glad you decided to participate! Maybe I’ll put a post together next week of all the participants whose entries came in after HEW was over. I was pleasantly surprised that there were a few people who chose to join in late!
April 7, 2008 at 5:43 pm
No. I definitely didn’t think you were bad mouthing public school…no worries mate. And, yes, it would be much nicer to not be limited to weekends and evenings for certain activities so that is a huge homeschooling advantage! I know Claire will do great no matter what because you’ll ensure it.