If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “If you didn’t homeschool your kids, you would have more time for”… They always finish that sentence with something that serves them, or something that they thought was more worthwhile.
I quit my Tae Kwon Do training when the instructor outright told me to put my kids back in school so I could spend more time volunteering at the center. I have stopped speaking to “friends” who told me homeschooling came in between our relationships. I have had to tell relatives that they their comments were selfish.
Sometimes, even I ask myself what I would be doing if I were not involved in homeschooling my kids. I gather I would still have thriving mural painting and decorating business. I would probably have a pretty good income by now. I would still be volunteering a good amount of time to church activities. I would have more time for friends and family. Yes, my life would be just fine. But what would I be missing?
Not including the joy of watching my kids grow and mature and learn on our own terms, I would be missing out on a good deal of personal growth. I wouldn’t have been forced to teach myself to be more patient with my kids. I would not have learned to let some things go so I could be successful in unexpected areas. I would not have began writing about homeschooling. I would have never become a successful blogger and web content writer. I would not have goals to advocate in education when my kids are done homeschooling. I would not be the person who I am today.
I have no doubt that I would be OK and probably very happy if I chose not to homeschool my kids. The kids would probably be in an expensive private school right now, and I would be working hard to pay for it. But, they would be OK too.
Still, I am to a point in my life where there was a fork in the road. In one direction, there was the option of to take the well-worn and beaten path that so many others had taken. This road had a clear path and I had witnessed the outcome and effects of many who had gone in that direction. There were some successes, but many results were dismal. The other road was grassy with unknown twists and turns in it. Still all those I could find who had taken it were very happy. Their success rates could be measured to nothing other than the effort they put into the journey. Therefore, I took the road less traveled. In taking that road to teach my kids, I ended up with a different road for myself as well.
Read:
Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: A Child’s Most Basic Needs
Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: Year Round School
Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: Tardiness and Truancy
Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: Bad Days
Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: Integration/ Segregation Issues