10 reasons why I love homeschooling

There are tons of reasons why some families opt to homeschool their children. People often wonder why I would do such a hard thing, but I often borrow from someone who said ‘Life is hard. Choose your hard!’ To be honest, I love this journey so far. The good moments have been great, and the bad have been stepping platforms for learning. So here are 10 reasons why I love homeschooling.

Choice

The keyword for me is opt. Just knowing you have choices is key. Sometimes we get caught in a rat race, thinking from this stage I have to do this. No, you don’t! Where homeschooling is legal, you can choose to take that route for various reasons.

Values

We get to teach our kids religious and moral values that we stand for as a family. That doesn’t mean they will automatically be angels, but that they will have a knowledge of right and wrong.

Flexibility

The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility; school can be done according to your schedule. I have changed how we do it a number of times. I have done routine, and changed that again! We could start any time I am free, we could split the subjects- some in the morning and some at night. In our home, the school bell is our version of the song, ‘We are soldiers in the army.’ When I start the song, even Oriel, the youngest, runs to join us with a smile; raising his hand and pretty much singing along (you should see the cute little mouth!) 😊.

Relationship

We have had time to form relationships with the kids. We are always together! It’s not just a parent-child relationship that is by default, but you get to form friendship as well. I am always being drafted into games as the aunt or the servant 😒.

Everybody learns!

You’ll know you don’t know something when asked by a toddler! They ask the simplest of questions which you take for granted. To explain, you will have to do a bit of research yourself. Aah, the sound of iron being sharpened by iron 😁.

Sibling bonds

There is nothing as heartwarming as siblings playing together. Yes, there are squabbles and tears. We used to be quick to intervene, now we watch as they have their differences and work them out. It’s amazing how much you actually ‘see’ by just observing children doing their thing. Mufaro, as big sister, is usually the one who enforces discipline on the younger ones. One day, I was pleasantly surprised when she said something that wasn’t becoming of her and Tara said, ‘No, Mufaro, you shouldn’t say that!’ She, in turn, just said ok quietly and life continued. Oh how I beamed inside, yes you are your brother’s keeper!

No clock to beat in the morning 😍

Getting the kids out of the house can be a mission, especially now in winter! Boy, we are so glad that doesn’t apply to us: except when we go to church. We can do school in our pyjamas!

Oriented to child’s development

I have had to take one step back to be five ahead. My daughter was struggling with Math and she was developing a complex about it! I went back to zero and started afresh. She began to enjoy it and build her confidence. Now, all she does is shout out random Math facts. Thanks Numberblocks for helping out too!

Hand, head and heart education

We do not do school for academics only, but for life skills. Although ‘school’ can just be an hour or two, it continues throughout the day. “Never do for a child what he can do for himself.” Our lives changed when I came across that message. They do their own beds, wash themselves and their underwear, clean up, set and clear the table, clean up their room and the living room. Of course, they don’t do it perfectly, but they learn the responsibility. There were protests and complaints when we started some of the activities but now it’s done, even before I ask sometimes!

School trips!!!

We don’t send the kids off to a trip, we go with them! That is so much fun for us too because we get to see places and relax away from our usual environment.