Why homeschool, especially since you’re a single parent? This is a question asked by almost every person I’ve ever told that we homeschool. The reasons I give, and the reasons another homeschooler gives may be as different as night and day, though there are usually some that match. It all depends on what our priorities are, whether it be religion, family, education, sports, etc. This isn’t even mentioning all the divisions in each of these, which is why you will get a lot of different answers to the same “simple” question.
Why homeschool? The answers I give to that question are different, depending on who is asking, and why they are asking. Sometimes the answers are longer, sometimes they are shorter. Sometimes I give more detail to one thing and less to another, and sometimes I give all detail, or no detail at all to any of them. If it is someone I’m not close to, who is completely against homeschooling, and refuses to have an actual conversation, I am usually short and to the point. These are the ones that no matter what you say, they aren’t listening, and they will never think of homeschooling as an option. If it is someone that is on the border with homeschooling, and they aren’t sure, I give them more information, because they will listen and make their own decision. If it’s someone who is interested in homeschooling, I give them as much information as they can handle at one time. Some of the reasons I give for homeschooling that I will hopefully be discussing further in other articles include, but are not limited to socialization, quality, quantity, time, love of learning, safety, freedom, etc. If there are any reasons that you have that you would like me to discuss further, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will include those in my list of things to discuss.
Why homeschool? Well, I certainly don’t do it because it’s easy, because it’s not. It’s more difficult still to do it as a single parent, but nothing that is worth doing is always easy. I can say however that it is worth it, a million times over. Every time my son asks if he can do “homework” (which to him is anything from working on a notebook, to making mazes, to doing workbooks, to doing math with edible manipulatives, to working on a lapbook, and anything in between), every time I see his face light up with understanding, every time I see the impression that he leaves on people (my uncle, who wasn’t so sure about the whole homeschooling thing and doesn’t see us often told me “I don’t know exactly what it is that you’re doing with him, but whatever it is, keep doing it!”), every time I am told what a wonderful child he is or what a well behaved child he is, anytime he sits and holds a conversation with an adult lasting hours, every time he is able to ask a question and get an answer on the spot and then later apply the answer to his question to something in everyday life, (when he was 4 my son asked where rain came from, and I told him the whole process of evaporation, condensation, etc., my brother said “He would have been just as happy with the answer ‘the sky’,” and I asked him when/where would he would learn it if I didn’t tell him. He said “It doesn’t matter, he doesn’t understand, and won’t remember.” About a month later I was boiling noodles on the stove and my son asked what that “smoke” was coming from. I told him it was the water evaporating from the pan because it was so warm, at which point he said, “Oh yeah! That’s where rain comes from. It’ll go up into the sky and make clouds now.” My brother happened to be eating dinner with us that night and overheard the conversation. Not only has he not commented on my longer version of answers, but actually started giving them himself after that.), and even every time he corrects me or gives me one of his serious looks and says “Mom, that’s not a word.” It makes it worth it, and gives me more reasons to homeschool.
Why homeschool? Right now, I am going to give you the one and only reason that every homeschooling parent can agree upon. Not only is it the one reason that every homeschool parent can agree upon, but the one and only reason ANY parent can agree upon when asked why they do something for their child. Are you ready for the answer??? I homeschool my child because … I want what is best for him! It’s all any parent wants for their child, what’s best for them. Some believe public school is what’s best for their child, some believe private school is what’s best, and some believe homeschool is what’s best. I am not in any position to tell you what is best for your child, just as you are in no position to tell me what is best for mine. In most cases, a parent is the one who knows their child best, and a parent is the one who should be able to decide what is best for their child. So there is your general, all in one, ultimate reason as to “Why homeschool?” I want the best for my child.
See this article for information about homeschooling a special needs child
Also see this article about homeschooling a gifted child.