Homeschool

In the weeks ahead our lives are going to change dramatically.  That's right, school is starting.  Homeschool that is.  I am honestly completely freaked out about it.  I know that is crazy since I am a certified teacher and have taught literally dozens of students, but this is different.  This is my child.  I know that should excite me, but if terrifies me.  I want my children to be brilliant, creative, and wise.  I want them to listen to instruction and follow directions.  Knowing what I want and that it is going to be my responsibility to get them there is a little overwhelming.  I keep telling myself "Its just pre-k.  How hard can it be?"  But the truth is I know how hard it can be and the challenges that are likely to arise.  On the bright side, Levi is completely excited.  At least every other day he ask me if we are ready to start school.  Right now we are schedule to start right after Labor Day, but with his excitement we may start a week early.  We've bought him some school supplies and he is absolutely dying to cut and glue something.

So...Why homeschool?  I've gotten that question a lot.  Well, first there is simple logistics.  We are temporarily in NC and not sure when we'll be returning to GA.  Public school isn't an option right now (we'll discuss that in a bit) and with little time to find something in NC that we liked before it was full was the second problem.  It is also very likely that we will be moving back to GA by the end of the year so we'd have to put him in one place and then find something once we moved which is highly unlikely since for most places there is a waiting list.  That being said the main reason is we love our kids.  I've was a teacher for 3 years and saw too much to put my kids in that environment.  I'm not saying all schools are bad, and almost every teacher I met really wanted to make a difference, but there were too many issues that had me questioning if this was the best place for learning.  I'm sure they would get a decent scholastic education, but a social education is something we want to make sure comes from us.  We want to be the first people to educate him on some of the truths of life and I would feel terrible if he learned some of those things from kids at school before hearing them from me.  That doesn't mean that public school will never be an option, but for now we feel it best that he be taught by us and not his peers.  My goal is not to keep them locked up away from the world, but rather expose them to things on my time table rather than the worlds.  I've spoken with far too many kids that know far too much about the world at their young age.  I want them to be free to discover who they are in Christ before someone else tells them who that ought to be.  My prayer is that the will discover their identity in Christ - their talents and gifts that He has given them - and that through those they will impact the world around them.  I read another blog this week that really said how we feel better than I could put into words.  As I start this new journey it was really encouraging.  If you really want to know how we feel you should check it out here.  

As I said Levi is super excited to "do his letters."  I found this notepad at Wal-mart and he has been working on it while he waits for us to actually start school.  Below is his first attempt.  The pencil sharpener is his favorite.  He has to have it when he practices, and I'm certain he sharpens his pencil after ever letter.