So, we took a year off. Four out of six children got to experience the public school environment and we all got to see what it would be like if we were living that world. It is a different world. The past year has been a whirlwind of thought processes and change. For a while it looked like we would be switching to public school, and I would need to completely rethink my place and my life goals. Then just when I think I completely let go of the original dreams and desires to be a homeschool family, God redirected us down that path. One by one the kids were realizing they didn't want to stay in public school. They wanted to come home. This was an extremely emotional process for me. Relief. Excitement. Fear. Hope. Anger. Love. Pride. All of it.
When Summer of 2015 hit we hardly knew what to do with ourselves all home again. We began making plans not only to fully enjoy our summer but for a new school year back home again. How would it look? What would we change? What would we revive?
One thing the kids really wanted was more social activities. We have always been heavily involved in church and extended family activities. But the kids found they liked the social aspects of public school. I found I liked having someone other than me help teach certain subjects and provide perspective for the kids. We weren't pregnant or snuggling infants. Was this time to join a Co-op? Our Co-op friends were encouraging us to do this and we began to look at the possibility.
God also began working on my heart about bringing our oldest daughter back home whether she chose it or not. I was afraid of the reprecussions of that, but I also did not like the hurt she was putting herself through with her school friends and decisions she was making. My husband and I prayed a lot.
We applied for a co-op in our area that seemed to fit what we were looking for and in which we knew most of the families already. We were told there was a long waiting list and some families had been on the list for years. We were also told that it depended on many things and they would let us know. It seemed unlikely they would have space for all of our children. To make a long story short, there was room for us in the co-op and our oldest actually got excited about that opportunity....for a day. The next day she stormed back to her usual "I will never homeschool!" stance. But God had confirmed in my heart that she was supposed to come back home at least to finish out middle school.
So, like it or not August 2015 we began school at home with all 6 children again! What a roller coaster!
Over all we feel God has been bringing out the best in this decision and we are so thankful we are in this place. Even our oldest has mellowed out and begun to make comments that actually put homeschool in a favorable light and there is mostly peace in the school atmosphere at home again. Praise the Lord.
Though our house is small and keeping six children moving in education while keeping up with the other demands of life is a big job, it is a joy to have the family back home together.
When Summer of 2015 hit we hardly knew what to do with ourselves all home again. We began making plans not only to fully enjoy our summer but for a new school year back home again. How would it look? What would we change? What would we revive?
One thing the kids really wanted was more social activities. We have always been heavily involved in church and extended family activities. But the kids found they liked the social aspects of public school. I found I liked having someone other than me help teach certain subjects and provide perspective for the kids. We weren't pregnant or snuggling infants. Was this time to join a Co-op? Our Co-op friends were encouraging us to do this and we began to look at the possibility.
God also began working on my heart about bringing our oldest daughter back home whether she chose it or not. I was afraid of the reprecussions of that, but I also did not like the hurt she was putting herself through with her school friends and decisions she was making. My husband and I prayed a lot.
We applied for a co-op in our area that seemed to fit what we were looking for and in which we knew most of the families already. We were told there was a long waiting list and some families had been on the list for years. We were also told that it depended on many things and they would let us know. It seemed unlikely they would have space for all of our children. To make a long story short, there was room for us in the co-op and our oldest actually got excited about that opportunity....for a day. The next day she stormed back to her usual "I will never homeschool!" stance. But God had confirmed in my heart that she was supposed to come back home at least to finish out middle school.
So, like it or not August 2015 we began school at home with all 6 children again! What a roller coaster!
Over all we feel God has been bringing out the best in this decision and we are so thankful we are in this place. Even our oldest has mellowed out and begun to make comments that actually put homeschool in a favorable light and there is mostly peace in the school atmosphere at home again. Praise the Lord.
Though our house is small and keeping six children moving in education while keeping up with the other demands of life is a big job, it is a joy to have the family back home together.