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Why I’ve Decided Against Home-Schooling My Kids
There’s a lot of chatter around me about the drawbacks of public schooling. I also have a number of friends who choose to home-school their children. Meanwhile, as I sip my fizzy drink and enjoy the peace of my kids being away, I can’t help but feel a bit inadequate.
Just this morning, my partner, Alex, had a late shift, so the morning chaos was entirely on my shoulders. My morning sounded something like this:
“Ella, put your shoes on! Ella, brush your hair. Wait, did you just use your sleeve to wipe your nose? You’re 10; why am I still putting your shoes on? Liam, finish your toast. No, you can’t take three apples for snack today. Why? Because you didn’t eat the one I packed yesterday, and I don’t want to deal with the aftermath! Liam, where are your library books? They’re where I told you to put them last night, beside your bed, right next to that fish tank. They’re not there? How is your fish still alive?”
Then, of course, I glance at the clock and mutter some choice words under my breath before the yelling about being late kicks in. I transform from a sleepy mom to a drill sergeant in seconds.
As I pull out of the driveway, I realize I’ve left a cup of water on the roof of my car. My neighbor waves to me, indicating something fell off, but I just pretend not to see and speed off.
When I finally get into the carpool line, I’m stuck at the back. I shift back into my drill sergeant mode and yell, “KIDS! GET OUT OF THE CAR! YOU’RE GOING TO BE LATE!” Liam struggles to open the heavy door, and as per the rules, I’m not allowed to exit my vehicle, so I plead with Ella to help him. (I realize I might be making a case for home-schooling here.)
By this point, Liam is beginning to cry, and Ella finally helps him out.
“MOMMY! I HAAAAAAATE THIS DOOR!”
I speed through the carpool lane, feeling frustrated. Then I spot one of my favorite teachers, who I always try to impress, waving at me. She’s in her twenties, adorable, and I can see her silently vowing to never become like me, even as she smiles. I can’t tell if her smile is sympathetic or condescending, so I choose to assume both.
After dropping the kids off, I return home to tackle the delightful task of changing my youngest, Kayla, out of her dirty diaper. She’s three and a half, and I wonder how this is my life.
My sister-in-law, who seems to have everything together, home-schools her children with great success. Their house is immaculate and always ready for guests, and she looks effortlessly put together, which is a blow to my self-esteem.
For a long time, I felt guilty for not home-schooling my children until I realized something important: it’s just not the right fit for us at this moment. Besides, I recently learned from a friend that “a lot” is actually two words. Would you trust me to teach your kids?
With a four-year teaching degree under my belt, I thought I could handle home-schooling, but my coursework mostly involved colorful projects, discussing young adult literature, and trying to figure out how to inspire children. My goal was to be around kids because I genuinely care about their well-being.
I teach my kids valuable life lessons every day—like how to empty the dishwasher or why cleanliness matters. I show them that being kind is essential and that gossip won’t keep friends around. These lessons may not include math equations or spelling tests, but they are still important.
So, I’m going to stop feeling guilty about not pursuing something that clearly isn’t right for us right now. For now, I’ll leave the teaching to the professionals, as I continue to work on mastering the art of getting my kids to school. If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, check out this informative resource.
In summary, I’ve realized that home-schooling isn’t for everyone, including me. I’m focusing on the lessons of life I can share with my children, rather than stressing over academic content.