Where I'm Going In 2008
It's a new year and with each new year, for me, comes resolutions or at least some sort of plan to do things better than the previous year. So let's get straight to it, shall we?
In 2008, I want to be more focused and committed in my online business. I've been doing this for over 4 years and I'm convinced that this is my year. Hey, it's good to be optimistic right? My goal is to grow my businesses enough to where I can hire someone part time to help me. I can only do so much as one person. In fact, I really need a team in place if I plan to get anywhere. Keeping up with around 10 sites (give or take a few) is just not realistic for one person. We shall see how that goes. Baby steps...baby steps... that's how I have to think. Selling some of my business in 2008 is not out of the question either. It is an idea that I have been throwing around but nothing is official. Not even close.
Now on to the personal/family goals...
I've often wrote on this blog how much I want to homeschool but that didn't work out as planned in 2007. Instead I sent my 6 yr. old on to public school in August against my own wishes (due to family pressure- basically I let them talk me out of it) which has been a source of stress and general uneasiness for me since that time. I just feel like something is not "right" when I send FB off to public school. We are sending him to a place that totally does not go with our lifestyle and beliefs. The truth is homeschooling fits us and I feel like a hypocrite every morning for sending him off to some place I myself do not like for the sake of satisfying the need of pleasing our extended family. If you think about it, it's completely ridiculous! The reason our son is not being homeschooled is because I am letting my family and my husband's family influence our decisions.
But all of that ends starting now...
I am currently revisiting our choice to homeschool. Right now I am working on going through the proper channels to see what I need to do if I decide to withdraw our son from school and start homeschooling in the next month. It is not a decision I have committed 100% to just yet because I have other things on my mind. But I will be making a life changing decision very soon. And this is where you my dear homeschooling ( or not ) readers come in. I understand that homeschooling is a very personal decision and we all do it for varying reasons. But I'd love to hear why you ultimately chose to homeschool. What made you take that final step? That is something I need to hear today.
I have other personal goals but since I spent so much time on this post talking about homeschooling (wow, maybe a bit much) I'll revisit this subject later.Labels: homeschooling, motherhood, new year goals, start homeschool
It's a new year and with each new year, for me, comes resolutions or at least some sort of plan to do things better than the previous year. So let's get straight to it, shall we?
In 2008, I want to be more focused and committed in my online business. I've been doing this for over 4 years and I'm convinced that this is my year. Hey, it's good to be optimistic right? My goal is to grow my businesses enough to where I can hire someone part time to help me. I can only do so much as one person. In fact, I really need a team in place if I plan to get anywhere. Keeping up with around 10 sites (give or take a few) is just not realistic for one person. We shall see how that goes. Baby steps...baby steps... that's how I have to think. Selling some of my business in 2008 is not out of the question either. It is an idea that I have been throwing around but nothing is official. Not even close.
Now on to the personal/family goals...
I've often wrote on this blog how much I want to homeschool but that didn't work out as planned in 2007. Instead I sent my 6 yr. old on to public school in August against my own wishes (due to family pressure- basically I let them talk me out of it) which has been a source of stress and general uneasiness for me since that time. I just feel like something is not "right" when I send FB off to public school. We are sending him to a place that totally does not go with our lifestyle and beliefs. The truth is homeschooling fits us and I feel like a hypocrite every morning for sending him off to some place I myself do not like for the sake of satisfying the need of pleasing our extended family. If you think about it, it's completely ridiculous! The reason our son is not being homeschooled is because I am letting my family and my husband's family influence our decisions.
But all of that ends starting now...
I am currently revisiting our choice to homeschool. Right now I am working on going through the proper channels to see what I need to do if I decide to withdraw our son from school and start homeschooling in the next month. It is not a decision I have committed 100% to just yet because I have other things on my mind. But I will be making a life changing decision very soon. And this is where you my dear homeschooling ( or not ) readers come in. I understand that homeschooling is a very personal decision and we all do it for varying reasons. But I'd love to hear why you ultimately chose to homeschool. What made you take that final step? That is something I need to hear today.
I have other personal goals but since I spent so much time on this post talking about homeschooling (wow, maybe a bit much) I'll revisit this subject later.
In 2008, I want to be more focused and committed in my online business. I've been doing this for over 4 years and I'm convinced that this is my year. Hey, it's good to be optimistic right? My goal is to grow my businesses enough to where I can hire someone part time to help me. I can only do so much as one person. In fact, I really need a team in place if I plan to get anywhere. Keeping up with around 10 sites (give or take a few) is just not realistic for one person. We shall see how that goes. Baby steps...baby steps... that's how I have to think. Selling some of my business in 2008 is not out of the question either. It is an idea that I have been throwing around but nothing is official. Not even close.
Now on to the personal/family goals...
I've often wrote on this blog how much I want to homeschool but that didn't work out as planned in 2007. Instead I sent my 6 yr. old on to public school in August against my own wishes (due to family pressure- basically I let them talk me out of it) which has been a source of stress and general uneasiness for me since that time. I just feel like something is not "right" when I send FB off to public school. We are sending him to a place that totally does not go with our lifestyle and beliefs. The truth is homeschooling fits us and I feel like a hypocrite every morning for sending him off to some place I myself do not like for the sake of satisfying the need of pleasing our extended family. If you think about it, it's completely ridiculous! The reason our son is not being homeschooled is because I am letting my family and my husband's family influence our decisions.
But all of that ends starting now...
I am currently revisiting our choice to homeschool. Right now I am working on going through the proper channels to see what I need to do if I decide to withdraw our son from school and start homeschooling in the next month. It is not a decision I have committed 100% to just yet because I have other things on my mind. But I will be making a life changing decision very soon. And this is where you my dear homeschooling ( or not ) readers come in. I understand that homeschooling is a very personal decision and we all do it for varying reasons. But I'd love to hear why you ultimately chose to homeschool. What made you take that final step? That is something I need to hear today.
I have other personal goals but since I spent so much time on this post talking about homeschooling (wow, maybe a bit much) I'll revisit this subject later.
Labels: homeschooling, motherhood, new year goals, start homeschool
Permalink posted by PetiteMommy at 9:31 AM
12 Comments:
As a home school mom of 4 I know it isn't an easy choice. Some days are harder than others. And with each child it is different. My girls have never been to public school and don't want to go. My oldest son went until the 3rd grade. The boy is 21 and still can't spell.:( You can't do it for anyone else but you and your child. I am blessed, my brothers broke the ice, everyone home schools in my family. Get a good support network and do what you feel is right for your child.
I did the same thing. My eldest son stayed in school untill Christmas break of his 2nd grade year.
I could not stand the effects that school had on him. Especially the "socialization".
I follow the Moore Formula method. They are the grandaddy's of it all. Dr. Dobson recommends them.
Low stress, alot of charactor building in the elementary years. Go check it out & email me.
iamfussypants@gmail.com
Also, I'm taking over & re-launching HomeschoolHacks.com at the end of the month. You'll love it! ;)
I did the same thing about homeschooling and family pressure. Noah went off to school but only because I found a charter school (very big in Michigan) where he would only have seven kids in his kindergarten class. Had I not found it, I would probably have chosen to homeschool against my family's wishes.
WOW I am so with you on this one!!Congrats on following throught with what you feel is best for your little one. Gather as much info and support as possible. I too feel homeschooling is best for my 8yo and due to a lot of pressure I have not done it Yet.
The schools in our area are absolutely amazing so I wouldn't consider it but if I felt what you do-- I would. YOU are the one who has to lay your head down at night and feel at peace. God gave your kids to YOU and YOU are the one who chooses what to do. Well, you and your husband but ya know what I mean.
Follow that gut.
You can't go wrong.
Love,
K
I'm actually considering homeschooling my 10 yo and the other 2 when they get old enough but am still going up and down on the teeter totter about the whole issue.
I don't see anything wrong with homeschooling I just don't know if it's for me, you know.
I commend you for standing up for what is right for you and your family, no matter what anyone else says!
Yep, that link I sent you earlier is from the Moore Foundation - which is what Mrs. Fussy mentioned too. They have some great resources!
The other thing I did was bring my father in law (the former president of a teachers college - eeek!) to one of our homeschool seminars put on by Carole Joy Seid - http://carolejoyseid.com/
That was HUGE for him and really was the turning point for hubby's family to at least tolerate the fact that we weren't going to put our kids in "real school". :-)
Did you read my post in my CBC with Nell about homeschooling? If not, email me and I'll shoot you the link.
It's a great decision, but a tough one. We've just started homeschooling our older daughter, and I went through a mix of homeschooling, public and private school, and unschooling when growing up. Our families have been very supportive, but my wife is often terrified of "doing a bad job". She went to the same private school for K-12, and in some ways has put "educators" up on a pedestal. Usually I can bring them down again by having her ask the teachers we know some easy questions -
How much training did you get in different learning styles?
How much one-on-one time do you usually get with the students in your class?
Do you really feel like you understand the interests of your students, or have the opportunity to tailor the curriculum at all?
As much as they'd like to oppose it, most honest teachers will admit that every child will get more direct attention at home, even if their parents know nothing about education.
Socialization is a double-edged sword - learning to "fit in" by embracing the popular attitudes of negativity, shallow consumerism, hen-pecking, and back-stabbing... well, it's something I think my children will do better without.
Yes, there are exceptions. But the exceptions prove the rule, don't you think?
Homeschooling has been a joy for me for many reasons. Both of my boys learn differently. One is an auditory/ visual learner and the other one is a visual/hands on leaner. So that is one reason we homeschool. Also it gives them both a chance to really grow in areas that most schools have no idea how to touch because they are really just starting to catch up to technological instruction and still have a ways to go. My final reason is faith based and gives my husband and I the opportunity to truly share God without the views of a judgmental society getting in the way.
My family said I would fail, but I would never let them wear me down because I knew what was best for my boys. Now my mother reads homeschool magazines and talks about the benefits more than I do.
It will be ok regardless!
My son went to private schools until a few months into third grade. I pulled him out and began homeschooling a little over a year ago.
I had always loved the idea of homeschooling because I hated school. I liked working at my own pace. I hated the busy work that was given to fill time. I hated reviewing and re-reviewing something I was already proficient in. I would have loved to have been able to learn at my own pace.
My son has Asperger's Syndrome and dysgraphia (a learning disability). We struggled for many hours a night to get him to complete his homework.He knew the material, but writing was very difficult for him. He spent most of his time frustrated and feeling like he was stupid. Finally, due to a teacher and school that was a very poor fit, we decided to make the leap and pull him out of school. My daughter, who was in preschool, asked to be homeschooled as well. We pulled her out of preschool on her Christmas break and have never looked back.
My MIL is the only family member who has given me any problems. She thinks homeschooling is fine for my son, due to his "special needs", but thinks we are not being fair to my daughter. I just kept kindly and firmly stating that she made the choices she thought were best for her kids, but my husband and I will make the choices we think are best for our children. And that where our children are concerned, she has no say is how they are raised. :)
I homeschool because I don't believe a classroom with 20-something kids and one teacher is the best learning environment. Like Mrs. Fussypants, I object to the "socialization". I am able to tailor my kids' learning to best suit them. We can work at our own pace. And. last, but not least..it fits our lifestyle. I will never have to wake my kids up at 6:30 to get ready for school ever again. :)
It is not an easy decision. You will always second guess yourself, no matter what you choose. Just make sure that it is you and your husband doing the choosing, and not those around you. Good luck!
Holy crap that was long. Sorry. :)
I'm interested to read about your homeschooling adventures. It's something I've gone back and forth about. Our plan right now is to try preschool for Julia in the Fall. We'll see how that goes. I'm nervous, though!
The decision to homeschool and then actually doing it aren't easy things, and it's an even bigger challenge without support, but you know your son and you and your husband know what's best. You'll do a fabulous job!
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