It was a very difficult year. Many other mothers and I were already tired of testing our children for COVID, flu, strep, and RSV every time they sneezed. In reality, all those symptoms could just mean a simple cold, but fear was everywhere, and the schools made us test for everything, just in case.
It was no fun at all to watch the children go off to school and spend the whole day wearing a mask that kept them from seeing their friends’ little faces. The school also required different kinds of quarantine based on the child’s symptoms. Virginia is a state where it is cold most of the year. It is hard to take children to the park or to outdoor activities when it is freezing.
There were rumors of some frightening things happening in public schools. They said parents should not get involved in their children’s education. What do you mean?! Parents should not be involved in the education of their own children?! These and other troubling trends were happening in schools, parks, libraries, and other places where children spent time.
I had never considered the possibility of homeschooling. I remember a neighbor who homeschooled her son, and my husband, who is American, thought homeschooling was rather strange. Still, I started to think about it. I went looking for information and ended up watching countless videos of American mothers who had been homeschooling for years. In those videos, they presented their reasons and showed their love for homeschooling. Every video I watched and every blog I read brought me closer to the idea.
Finally, and to my surprise, I made the decision: I was going to homeschool my children! I wrote down my reasons and my goals. I researched curriculum, state laws, how to do assessments, and how to create a space at home for homeschooling. Two months later, I began an incredible journey of learning, for me and for the children.
Fortunately, I soon discovered that homeschooling should be a fun, light, collaborative, and respectful process. A child cannot be good at everything, any more than an adult can. This lies at the heart of my main goal in homeschooling: to discover, develop, and nurture my girls’ natural aptitudes and talents. In that first year, I used the most advanced curriculum I knew of, and we still had time to take several days off, go on field trips, travel, have playdates, take ballet, swimming, and guitar lessons, and adjust our schedule when necessary.
Time was on our side. We did not wait in line for the next class or to use the bathroom, we did not have a short window for snacks, and lunch was healthy and warm. Plus, we had breakfast together, without rushing, without grabbing a piece of bread to eat in the car, and without anyone yelling because we were a few minutes late.
Many people question how effective homeschooling is. Yet the statistics tell a different story. Here are just a few:
- According to recent statistics, from 2019 to 2021, the share of children being homeschooled in the U.S. rose from 2% to 8%;
- That percentage has been growing by 2% to 9% each year;
- In 2022, 4.3 million children were homeschooled;
- Homeschooled students outperform those who attend traditional schools in social, emotional, and psychological development, according to 87% of participant surveys;
- Young people who were homeschooled perform exceptionally well academically when they reach college.
If you want to adopt homeschooling as a lifestyle for your family but don’t know how to start, I can help you. On this journey, I have taught, but I have learned even more. Homeschooling is dedication, respect, reciprocity, and, yes, a lot of love.