Be selfish, very very selfish because we will all face the same decision soon. Will we homeschool through to high school or turn the teaching reins over to somebody else?
I use to read articles about homeschooling through high school and would quickly glance over them. Sometimes, I would not read them at all{me bad} because that time seemed so far off. I figured by the time we get to high school, someone else would be teaching my sons.
Feeling vulnerable and being concerned that we are not going to adequately prepare our children for life can be gut wrenching.
Yet the time is almost here when my oldest son graduates next year. It is possible to go from vulnerable, scared, unprepared and not confident to being very, very selfish. Yes I get plain jealous thinking somebody else should teach him at the most critical time of his life. I won’t share his training for the future with anybody. Yes I’m selfish that way.
When the time came for high school and even a year or two before, it just seemed a natural continuation of the journey to keep on schooling him.
Three things that helped me to remember that during the high school years we are still our child’s best teacher.
Look ahead. My husband and I feel that we have a junior partner in his education. No longer is he this 4 or 5 year old boy looking at me in wonder. He is a young adult, not a bigger child. He comes with a plan {although not always perfect}, an individual mind set, goals for his education, personality and oh yes strong opinions opposite of his father and myself at times. Bravo.
Look past it. Look past transcripts, chemistry, calculus and algebra. Homeschooling through to high school is not just about academics. While it’s true that knowledge is power in understanding your options, it’s equally important to remember that high school options are clear cut. The method to arriving at your options are precise. Will he go to a four year college? Will he do some missionary work? Will he go to a technical school? Will he do college courses at home?
You probably already have some idea. There is not as much guesswork as there was in the earlier years. For example, colleges have very specific guidelines they want you to follow. There are specific guidelines for scholarships, the work force and yes even when he obtains his license to drive.
Look past the mechanics and focus your energy on his heart. When he is a grown man sitting there weighing your advice against his own judgment, does he know in his heart your advice is for his eternal welfare?
Look back. Take time to savor the past. As my oldest son sat in my lap and I helped him mouth his first words or put the pencil in his tiny hand or helped him fold his hands in prayer, I was still the best teacher for him. Looking back, I realize that homeschooling through high school doesn’t mean I can’t get help from tutors, co-ops, or even classes. As long as it fits in what my end goals are, I am still the teacher.
I regret worrying so much about “that time”. So be jealous, very, very jealous and revel in teen life. My teen sons want to be treated as individuals. They need more than anything to be understood and help with their goals.
Place a high value on your time during the teen years and then you’re not so ready to swap your time. When the teen years come, remember that learning is lifetime. Just breathe and take the next step.
{I think I have a graduation party to plan!}
The Selfish Mom
I think we are ready for the next part for our Home Management Binder. Do you think we can have it done by spring? Then it can be all ready for spring cleaning and those projects.
Here is a quote I think about today as we choose homeschooling and dare to venture on to high school.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
~ Apple Inc.~
Hugs to ya
Tina
