I grew up knowing what I wanted to be as an adult. I wanted to be a veterinarian. As I grew older, I discovered I wanted to be an Equestrian Veterinarian. I knew exactly how my college experience was going to go. I'd start off at a junior college then move on to one of the best colleges in the country to finish out my veterinarian degree. I was in a program my senior year that set me firmly on that path. I didn't know when or where or who I would marry, but I was sure that I would be a mom who would send my kids off to school with a well packed home lunch, a kiss on the head, then I would head off to my wonderful, fulfilling career with one of the worlds most beautiful and majestic animals.
It's amazing how much a boy can change everything.
A boy who captured my gaze and stole my breath.
A boy who made my heart skip a beat when I thought I wouldn't see him again.
A boy who secretly passed me a note, just to tell me my smile brightened his day.
A boy who I refused to talk to first, but then freaked in front of my sister when he called.
A boy who took what was left of my shattered, weathered, wounded heart and soul and led me back down the path that would mend it.
A boy who accepted me for me. Who loved every part of me, the good, bad, beautiful, and ugly.
The boy who asked me to marry him and whom I am celebrating nine years of marriage with, this year.
I do not have that college degree, yet, but my life is so much fuller then I could have ever imagined before that wonderful boy entered my heart.
I am a stay at home mom of two, almost three, beautiful children on this earth. I have a license as a cosmetologist and hardly ever use it. It was a career choice The Hubs and I made together so I would be able to work from home if anything ever happened to him.
And we are taking up the adventure of Homeschooling. You look back at what my plan was before The Hubs entered my world and then see the word Homeschool and it may blow your mind. How did a girl with a clear vision for what her life was going to be, turn around to be a stay at home mom who home educates?
The simplest answer is... I met The Hubs and his family. He is the oldest of ten children who have all been home educated. I loved the relationships the siblings all have with one another. The kind and respectful manner of them. The safety their home environment provided. The additional attention to love and faith. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
As years have gone by and we had our first born, then our second, and watched as the world continued to fall apart and heard stories of schools being attacked, curriculum being changed, listened to others experiences with public schools, watched as my children grew and being sure that Munchkin has Irlen Syndrome, just like me... (Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder, you can read about it HERE) and a lot of prayer solidified that decision.
Then last year happened with the loss of my Daddy-in-law and our miscarriage: my mental state plummeted. I had been attempting homeschool a few days a week and I couldn't handle it. Munchkin and I butted heads horribly. We fought every day... it was horrible. And I felt horrible for not being able to do what I felt was right.
Through prayer, guidance, the loving and understanding nature of The Hubs, and counseling--we made the decision to place Munchkin in Kindergarten as a public charter school. I felt peace. It allowed me to back off schooling at home and focus on regaining my mental health and trying to repair the damage that had been done to the relationship between my five year old boy and I.
That has been a slow process and we are still working on it, but that is a story for another time.
Munchkin entered Kindergarten and we found a struggle at first with the new routine. Then things settled in and started getting better. He was learning that it didn't matter where he was: School is School. There were rules he had to follow at school too.
I started feeling the pull to homeschool again. Maybe we would pull him out half way through the year. The feeling grew stronger and stronger. Munchkin was the victim of bullying that we had to deal with which made the desire to homeschool even stronger.
His school was Monday - Thursday so we took the opportunity to test out Homeschool on Fridays and Saturdays. Saturdays burned him out, but it gave us a clear vision of how homeschool would go! It was great!
The Hubs mentioned it would be a good idea to have a homeschool rountine down before the baby arrives whic led us to more praying and thinking. Over the last week, the inspiration to pull him from school was overwhelming. It was time.
Since this decision was made and we have announced it to family, I've been having to answer a lot of "Why?" I expected a few, but not as much as there has been. Everyone we've told knew Homeschooling was the original plan! Then I start explaining everything and they get stuck on the bullying Munchkin has had to endure. Yes, it was awful, but it is not the reason for our homeschooling.
I don't have any patience for people who think they understand a situation, but they are completely wrong. Yes, bullying is awful and it never should have happened. If an adult did the things society lets these bullys get away with they would be charged with assault! Just because they are kids doesn't mean it's okay and the world needs to understand that. How do you expect a child who bullys to grow up and be a good person? Hopefully they come out of that phase before it's too late, but it's not going to be an easy road! Teach your children! Teach them to be kind. To have respect. To be sensitive toward others.
Beyond the bullying though... that was such a small deciding factor to Homeschool. This was our original plan. I do not regret putting Munchkin in school. It allowed time for me to heal and taught Munchkin some very valuable tools as well. I believe every decision we have made about his education has been through inspiration from our Father in Heaven.
I only wish people would be more accepting of that fact.
His school was Monday - Thursday so we took the opportunity to test out Homeschool on Fridays and Saturdays. Saturdays burned him out, but it gave us a clear vision of how homeschool would go! It was great!
The Hubs mentioned it would be a good idea to have a homeschool rountine down before the baby arrives whic led us to more praying and thinking. Over the last week, the inspiration to pull him from school was overwhelming. It was time.
Since this decision was made and we have announced it to family, I've been having to answer a lot of "Why?" I expected a few, but not as much as there has been. Everyone we've told knew Homeschooling was the original plan! Then I start explaining everything and they get stuck on the bullying Munchkin has had to endure. Yes, it was awful, but it is not the reason for our homeschooling.
I don't have any patience for people who think they understand a situation, but they are completely wrong. Yes, bullying is awful and it never should have happened. If an adult did the things society lets these bullys get away with they would be charged with assault! Just because they are kids doesn't mean it's okay and the world needs to understand that. How do you expect a child who bullys to grow up and be a good person? Hopefully they come out of that phase before it's too late, but it's not going to be an easy road! Teach your children! Teach them to be kind. To have respect. To be sensitive toward others.
Beyond the bullying though... that was such a small deciding factor to Homeschool. This was our original plan. I do not regret putting Munchkin in school. It allowed time for me to heal and taught Munchkin some very valuable tools as well. I believe every decision we have made about his education has been through inspiration from our Father in Heaven.
I only wish people would be more accepting of that fact.
No comments:
Post a Comment