The Big Decision
Before my husband and I had children we knew we wanted to homeschool them. We moved to a remote plot of land, built our home, and started our family all with homeschool in mind. As soon as we had our first child I delved into what homeschool program I wanted to use (even before we had children I had an inkling of which homeschool program I liked). This post is going to be all about what decision I ultimately made, and why we decided to start homeschool already at the ripe old age of 2. If you are interested in how to start homeschooling your kiddos too and my recommendations thus far then keep reading!
Is Homeschool Political?
This blog is by no means political (politics is one of those things I hate talking about and most assuredly gives me high blood pressure ha!), but I say this to preface the fact that a lot of people are moving away from the public school system and into homeschool and I think a lot of this has to do with politics. Public schools, in particular, operate under government oversight, and the same popularized politics seen in mainstream media often make their way into classrooms as well. This is all well and good until things that begin blurring the lines of history, facts, etc. and encroach on beliefs, morals, and religion come into play.
Not only do a lot of the more personal issues that should be a family decision and not a public school’s decision come into play but so does the appropriate broach of these topics for the proper mental and physical developments of the child. For instance, whether you are for or against the viewpoints that people have on gender these days one thing we should all be able to agree on regardless is when and how it is appropriate to talk about these topics with children. Children under a certain age do not have the context or biological needs or understanding to have these topics taught or really even introduced.
When morals are blurred but then additionally what is appropriate for a child’s development (what a school should know best) are a concern it’s no wonder so many parents are taking children out of the public school and choosing to homeschool them.
Bullying and Influence
Now let’s take a step away from the political and religious concerns and look instead at a separate issue and cause alone for parent’s concern of their children attending school outside of the home. Bullying is at an all time high and is completely different than the bullying of my generation and especially that of our parents’ or grandparents’ generations. With the online world and constant and sometimes forced (school projects for example) connectivity through texts, emails, and social media children can no longer escape their classmates so the bullying follows them every where they go. That is incredibly daunting and as a socially anxious person myself, it is my worst nightmare! No wonder so many children feel they cannot escape and as children get older and hormones flood in they develop emotional and mental issues that can even go so far as to lead to hopelessness.
Influence from children’s peers has also changed. Peer pressure, like bullying, never lets up. It can be done in the presence of parents via social media where parents may be completely unaware that their child is being influenced or bullied (oftentimes the two can go hand-in-hand) right next to them at the dinner table. Influence from peers can push children to do drugs, have sex, and even feel the need to be someone they aren’t and may not even like. Attention seeking via or even legitimate attempted suicides is something that no one wants to admit is as prevalent as it is but several years in law enforcement and I can tell you I have met more hardened, depressed twelve year old children than I have adults – that is a terrifying statement!
Basic Education
Now let’s talk the obvious when it comes to school – basic education. Ah yes, we are finally reaching the topic that should be the main concern with school and that is education. I have an interesting perspective on school education because I attended public school from preschool through fourth grade, then went to a private school affiliated with our church from fifth through seventh grade.
There was not at the time a high school that was of the same Christian denomination so when it came time for high school I would need to repopulate into the public school system. Because of this, my mom had me start back in the public school system in eighth grade one year early so that I was not dumped directly into high school causing the small fish in a big pool issue to be made worse by feeling a separation from my peers. The reintroduction prior to high school was much needed and I am grateful for my mom but it was also incredibly eye opening to the education systems in place.
Private School
In private school I had eleven classes every day. I was involved in band, choir, physical education, took all basic classes plus some like Latin. We had a yearly benchmark test to evaluate each individual student on where they were academically in various categories. We learned not only academics but also morals and life lessons through education, with classes like weekly catechism and chapel. It was a well-rounded education that exposed students to a variety of experiences while monitoring each student’s education level and needs.
Public School
Public school was very different, especially in middle and high school, which best compare in age and education to my time in private school. In public school I typically had approximately five classes per year / semester. Many of my classes were taught by teachers who did other things. For instance, many of my history and science classes were taught by coaches and let’s just say they were far better coaches than history or science teachers. We watched a lot of TV shows and movies in public school and after my years at private school I was shocked to hear the students next to me complaining of the mass amounts of homework and struggles they were having while I completed my homework before ever going home that day.
In the public school system, the focus isn’t on a well-balanced education, life lessons, morals, or anything in between. Instead, it’s entire focus is having children pass a statewide exam. The names have changed over the years, but the test remains the same. In my experience, teachers that recognized that children needed to be taught for the real world and not to pass an exam were blacklisted and pushed out of the school system. I have yet to meet a child in the public school system that retained much of the knowledge taught to them because most of it is unusable in the real world and once the test is taken and passed what was learned to pass the test is forgotten.
Is The Answer Really Homeschool?
When I was growing up homeschool was not very common. In fact, many homeschooled kids had a reputation for being a little weird or quirky. These days, however, homeschool is a very different story. People are flocking to the idea of homeschool. All those police calls I had with desperate parents yearning to help their broken child warned me and begged me if and when I had children to homeschool them. Even in conservative small towns inappropriate books are on library bookshelves, suicidal children live next door, and you can’t help but feel less than surprised when hearing how homeschooling is on the rise.
Are there still good schools out there outside of homeschool? I am sure there are, but they are becoming fewer and far between. As our society changes and the social dynamic between children and even teachers evolves or maybe devolves depending on how you feel about the way things are going it’s no wonder people want to provide a level of separation and security around their children. Is homeschool the answer? Maybe yes, maybe no. I think there are a lot of factors, and more than what we’ve discussed, Factor in work life balance, schedules for parents and children, responsibilities and interests of each party, not to mention the child’s personality. Some children do well homeschooled but others need and perhaps thrive in a different environment pushed by their peers and teacher.
At the end of the day it is doing what is in the best interest of your child and your family. For us, homeschool was undoubtedly the answer.
Choosing a Homeschool Program
Knowing that homeschool was the direction my husband and I wanted to go with our child(ren) was the easy part. Picking the right program for our daughter and for us felt far more daunting. I listen to a podcast called Issues Etc.. I kept hearing advertisements for a classical homeschool program called Memoria Press. After looking into a few other comparable homeschool programs I ultimately landed on Memoria Press so let’s get into why.
1. A Christian Focus:
First things first, I knew from the beginning that I wanted Christ to be the focus of whatever program we chose. My daughter can learn anything and everything she would like academically but the most important information I want her to know is that Jesus is her Savior. He is Christ crucified. God should be our primary focus and while we live in this world now it is not a Christian’s true home so we have to walk that line of following the rules, laws, and responsibilities in this life here, but always holding God’s law above everything else. If you look at it this way it’s really simple – my daughter’s soul is far more important than her math, reading, or art skills will ever be!
2. A Classical Education:
Next up, I wanted a program that utilized classical education. One of my biggest issues I had when I went to school was the fact that none of it ever felt particularly practical. Learning a mathematical word problem about the speed of trains when the wind speed is 15 mph on a Monday and a football game is playing and there is a dog wearing a yellow poncho down the street is completely useless. Knowing accounting, however, is extremely helpful. Learning how to handle money, cook, build, problem-solve, and work with our hands is far more useful in the real world—and for years to come—than tackling word problems or solving math equations in long, roundabout ways.
3. Age Appropriate Content:
Another concern I had was if the content was age appropriate. There are a lot of seemingly great homeschool programs out there but some of them seem either too simple or too advanced for the age they are supposed to be geared toward. I love how Memoria Press makes sure to note that the Preschool Curriculum is supposed to be fun and stress free. It focuses on a lot of play and age appropriate tasks like learning how to get dressed, for example learning how to zip and unzip a jacket zipper. It brings practical real life skills that children should be and can learn at their age and assists the parents in teaching them, which brings me to my next and last major concern – the ease of the curriculum as the parent.
4. Comfort Level of Parental Teaching:
I am not a certified teacher. I have never taken a teaching course in my life, or child psychology, or anything of the sort. Safe to say, even looking at preschool curriculum made me feel intimated. I worried that I was going in to something that I know nothing about and felt terrified I was going to screw up my kid and short her on her education; however, Memoria Press breaks things down simply, and provides all you need to be successful. They give you everything you need to do the basic lessons and give you ideas of what you can add to build on the lessons.
I am curious how this goes as my daughter gets older and advances. So far I find that the curriculum is just as good for me as it is my daughter. I also love that at the preschool level, much of the curriculum mirrors what I was already doing with my daughter but adds fresh ideas and more context, making it easier for her to learn and making my job simpler—even on days when we’re not “in school” officially.
Other Homeschool Benefits
What’s great about homeschool is that the world is your oyster! A family trip, a visit to the doctor, a trip to the mall, or even a walk outside can all become teaching moments and count as homeschooling time—if you actively use them for education. Homeschool also allows for a stress-free schedule. We create our own schedule, so if a doctor’s appointment falls during normal class time, it’s no big deal. We can move our school day earlier or later—or even shift it to a different day.
Schools used to start after Labor Day, but they have slowly started earlier and earlier and earlier. I decided to go old school and started my daughter’s preschool program the Monday following Labor Day. Not only did we start later than other schools, but we will finish in the last week of April—much earlier than most schools I know. My daughter attends school four days a week. For preschool four days a week may seem like a lot but the formal part of school does not last hours on end. Instead, and for this current age, it may last anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour at most. The rest of the day is not following any type of curriculum per se but just utilizing every moment as a teaching moment. This is something I have done with my daughter since birth.
What Age is Appropriate to Begin Homeschool?
With all the flexibility of school as you just read above, the starting age of homeschool is quite flexible too. My daughter needs an outlet. She is insanely smart! Yes, I may be biased, but I have strangers come up to me and tell me that my daughter is uniquely bright. She is busy and has always been curious about everything. When she was born, my family joked that she would become an engineer. We observed that she didn’t just play with toys she studied how things worked. My husband and I felt that she needed educational challenges early on so another thing I love about Memoria Press is that their preschool program is for children ages two to three.
The beauty of homeschool is that not every child or parent is ready to take on school at the age of two. There are a ton of programs out there for starting at a variety of ages. Preschool is not a required grade level, but it can be beneficial for moving into kindergarten with a bit more ease if so desired or if you are like me and have a child who needs the challenges and outlet of deeper education earlier on.
Is Socialization a Homeschool Concern?
Depending on the age of your child, socialization should definitely be something to be aware of but I find that people get way too worried about this particular topic. Do I think socialization for children is important? Most certainly, but socialization can still come from parents or guardians especially at a certain age. Young children really do not engage with one another like older children do. Have you ever noticed how babies and toddlers play near one another but do their own thing and rarely play or even talk to one another? They may watch and study other kids some but for the most part they are doing their own thing and prefer it that way.
I find that younger children actually can pick up bad habits from children more than engaging and properly socializing with one another. Does that mean I don’t socialize my daughter? No, I do and quite a bit, but I don’t rely on other kids alone to socialize her. I don’t sweat it if weeks go by and she hasn’t played with someone her own age. She is young enough that for true socialization purposes her family is enough; however, I encourage parents who do decide to homeschool their children to look for ways to socialize them especially as they get older.
We go to church, go to classes at local places like the library, even some hardware stores like Home Depot have hands on workshops for children. I think it is important to involve your children in things outside the home, give them experiences to see what they do and do not like, but don’t overdo. Especially if it overwhelms you or your child.
Final Thoughts on Homeschool
Homeschool has been wonderful for my daughter and our family so far! Of course, we are only in the preschool curriculum now, but it has been fantastic. My daughter sometimes even asks if we are having school on weekends because she enjoys it so much. Memoria Press in particular is a great option if you are looking for a classical education that provides all you need to get started. It is incredibly age appropriate and has been a good guide for me in general parenting as much as it has been for the more formal educational approach to preschool.
Do I think homeschool is for every child or every family? No, I certainly do not, but more and more people are leaning into homeschool and for good reason. As it becomes more common there is even more support for those pursuing it.
At the end of the day, whether you homeschool your child(ren) or not the most important thing is to be there for them, teach them that God is always there for them and that they are safe and loved. While education is important, it pales in comparison to meeting children’s needs—which should include encouraging them to pursue what they love, within reason. I never want to stifle my daughter’s love or passion for what she finds interest in. For all I know she could be the next rocket scientist or perhaps the next best homemaker I’ve ever had the honor to know. I want to encourage her and help her to grow in whatever she chooses or whoever she is going to be!
Looking for More Parenting Reads?
Check out my section of family blog posts where I talk about anything from balancing homemaking and parenting all the way to how I decorated my daughter’s nursery and now bedroom. I also have several kid-friendly recipes you can find here.
