Thursday, November 4, 2010

Living The Life



[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Image by aranarth via Flickr"]Our computers[/caption]


As many of you know I am a former, public school, special education teacher. (mouthful, huh?) I loved my job because I loved my students--and their parents. (most of the time) Four years ago I resigned from my teaching career of 17 years to come home. I, with my husband, home educate our own three kiddos. It's not just a job. It's an adventure. I'm not talking an adventure, like back backing through Europe. I'm thinking more like living in the trenches in Cambodia. Just teasing. No, really I am. Seriously, people. It's not Cambodia on most days. Well, unless it is a day that everyone wakes in a bad mood and Dad and I haven't had our coffee yet. Then we're talkin' serious guerilla warfare. Just sayin'.  All in all our kiddos are intelligent, well rounded, and they drive us nuts. On occasion. But, would they be teens if they didn't? It's part of the circle of life. I just secretly smile, because I know that one day they will get theirs. God will bless them with children in their spittin' image. And I will laugh on the inside....because as a grandparent I will spoil my grandkids absolutely rotten (as is my grandparental right) and I will send them back home TO THEIR PARENTS. And I will sleep like a baby:)

TEN REASONS I LOVE HOME SCHOOLING:

1. I know what my children are studying. This is important to me...because I've been on "the other side of the fence", and I know some of the off the wall stuff that is taught in schools, under the guise of character training, or student enlightenment.

2. We can work at odd hours if the need arises.

3. We are not chained to calendars or clocks.

4. My children are readers. They read on a myriad number of subjects, not just assigned textbooks. I learn many things from my own children because of things they've seen or read.

5. The kids interact with people of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly. This opens the world up to new relationships.

6. The kids learn to figure things out on their own. They are excellent problem solvers.

7.  They understand that all of life is a learning experience. It doesn't end after graduation.

8. We can work in our pajamas if we so choose.

9. The kids are still kids. We all have our ups and downs. No one is perfect. They do know that they are loved. They are not scared to go to school.

10. It's really cool that I, as the teacher, can smooch on the "principal" during lunch break, and I won't get in trouble. Yep. There are definitely some perks to this lifestyle:)

Helen Keller had it right when she said, "Life is an adventure...or nothing at all."

 

 

4 comments:

  1. P.S. I don't think I like my kid enough to teach him at home. I am a bad bad mom.

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  2. 8. We can work in our pajamas if we so choose.

    WOOHOO!!!

    Secondly, I've been meaning to mention to you that I am an auntie of an amazing, wonderful, adorable, bad, terror, loving 6-year-old with a chromosomal deletion who attends the 1st grade at a public school with a special teacher so I APPRECIATE THE YOUS OF TODAY!!!! Thank you for taking care of our special children!!

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  3. Kim, You are not a bad mom. For cryin' out loud.Don't make me smack you:)
    P.S. Thanks for the appreciation. Special Education is challenging---but, worth it.

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  4. I have always admired educators of special education children. Even more so, admired parents who had the patience, ability, and knowledge to home-school their children. Kudos to you and the Mr!

    And for the record, I am jealous of BOTH you and Kim who can "work" in your PJs.

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