Why We Homeschool

Are we religious fanatics? Crazy hermits trying to avoid society? Anti-government lunatics?

No. No. and No. (depending upon who you ask! lol)

We get asked this ALL the time, as I suspect many homeschool families do.

So why have we chosen to homeschool our children? Well, that’s easy. Because we love our kids. Does this mean I am saying that if you choose to not home school your kids, you do not love your kids as much as we love our kids? Of course not. But you did ask me why we chose to home school and our first reason is always, because we love our kids and we think they deserve a lot better than what the current public school system has to offer them.

I never planned on home schooling my kids. In fact, before I had kids I planned on becoming an elementary school teacher. But when my oldest two were very little (around 2), I somehow stumbled across a website about home schooling on the internet. I was skeptical. People actually home school their kids? Like, keep them home from school? Is that even legal? Why would anyone do that? My mind did a quick check back – did I know anyone who home schooled? Hmmm… nope, no one came to mind.

So I read more about home schooling. I poured over the internet and soon found out, A LOT of people home school their kids. And yes, homeschooling is very much legal in every state. Although many people would have you believe that it’s not.

After much research I convinced not only myself, but also my husband (and with time, family too) that homeschool was the best choice for our children. I could go on and on about WHY I homeschool, but my guess it that you do not have time to read my opinion (nor do I have the time to write it) so here is a brief list of why we homeschool.

Please keep in mind that these are the reasons why our family has chosen to home school. Other families will, rightfully, have their own reasons.

First of all, I am a religious/spiritual person. My faith is important to me and I hope to raise religious children. I cannot, in clear conscience, send my children anywhere where God has been banned. What message would I be sending my kids if I did? I hope to teach my children many things, how to read, about our nation’s history, etc. But the most important thing I wish to teach my children is to faithfully follow our Father in Heaven.

Second, I am deeply concerned (not to mention just plain saddened) with the lack of morals I see around me. I am amazed (if not sickened) at the words people use in public. I am shocked, and saddened, at the attire even the youngest of children are wearing. Vulgarity has become a way of life, and quite frankly, I wish to have no part of it.

Yes, that is right, I am protecting my children.

Do I keep my children locked in the house, hoping they will never see/hear/feel evil? Nope, that would be impossible (I am not perfect you know).

I do however feel that children are especially impressionable when they are young. I hope to take this short time I have with them and teach them good values that will prepare them to overcome the filth they will no doubt encounter in their lifetime.

As a parent, I have the right to protect my children from anything I deem harmful. I am obligated to keep them safe and by the way, I WANT to keep them safe.

Of course, I have many other reasons why I homeschool. For example:

• I like spending time with my kids.
• I enjoy laughing and learning with them on a daily basis.
• I enjoy sharing my beliefs with them.
• I enjoy seeing them grow and change and develop their own ideas and personalities.

My time here with my children is limited. I want to spend every chance I can enriching their lives so that they can grow into happy, capable, kind hearted people. I feel that homeschooling gives me the most opportunity to meet these goals. It is not easy, it is time consuming and at times, it is very frustrating. But it has been 100% worth it to not only myself, but our family.

Thank goodness for the opportunity to homeschool!