Guess where three of the five boys are today? School. Fourth grade, second grade and the 4 yo preschool classes will never be the same. The boys and I are back in the world of waking up early and nightly homework.
We have been homeschooling for almost 2 years. It was just what we needed as a family. We lived in 3 different states in two and a half years and homeschooling gave the kids a secure base while life, for Hubs and I, was chaotic and challenging.
My sweet MIL offered to help us send the boys to a small Christian school. Me, not being a fool, jumped at the chance. Will we ever homeschool again? Maybe. But honestly, I started dreading teaching some harder concepts, like long division. Sticking a fork in my eye looked more appealing. I realized I needed to focus. Those who know me well know I am hopelessly overcommitted. I was exhausted and really, really fussy all the time. I just wasn’t enjoying trying to be superwoman anymore.
Now, while the boys learn at school, trade baseball cards, and pick new girlfriends I can work without guilt. I love my magazine. I have such big plans for Blissfully Domestic. New features, more writers, new tools, more conferences and more channels are all in the works. I am so excited to be building a network that will both bless the readers with down-to-earth, useful information; and help the staff to comfortably work from home. While the big guys are at school, I can focus on the company. Of course, I’ll still be coloring with my 2 yo and feeding the baby as I work, but after having 5 boys all day- it is a breeze!
What about you? What are your thoughts? Which option has worked for your family? Homeschool, public school, private school, or a mixture? I would love to hear your stories, too.
Love, Alli
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad you were able to put them in a Christian school at least if you had to get them out there in school. You still rock!
Well, let’s try that again!
You’ve gotta do what’s best for your family as a unit. How wonderful that you have a MIL with the ability to help offset that cost.
We send ours to our parish (Catholic) school. I’ve always thought that if push came to shove, I could homeschool if need be. But we’re blessed in being able to scrape up tuition each year.
I’m sure boys are having a blast with their new compadres!
My son too attends Christian School he is in PreK (4 year old) this is his second year. He only goes 1/2 days but will go all day next year. I plan to do the same for my younger two when they are of age. Though I have thought of and kind of liked the idea of homeschooling, my hubs was against it so we are where we are.
I was a single parent when they were young, and I had to work full time, outside of the home.
But if I didn’t, I’d still have chosen not to home school. I am not disciplined or patient enough.
And I realize that! =)
I had considered homeschooling but I think Big Guy would have killed me in my sleep by now if I’d done it. He likes being around other kids and complains all weekend when he’s not at school — Mom is borrrrrrring!
Plus I’m sure I would have reached a certain point where I just wasn’t qualified to teach them. My sister’s third-grader’s homework in Florida was pushing it. It was a struggle to remember the math (pre-algebra ALREADY!) and, down the road, science never was my bag.
And it’s still a struggle to get my work done during the day, with Little Guy clamoring at home in the morning and both battling at bedtime. It makes me a bit — OK, a lot — witchy at times. I just can’t imagine doing it with both home all the day. Hat’s off to you for making it work for this long.
Our boys go to our parrish school. It was something hubby and I agreed on years ago. I always joke that I would turn tricks on Michigan St before I would send them to public school around her.
My 4yr is at preschool and my 9yr in 4th grade. Once I have a full time job that makes me stay in a company office for 8 hours a day, my kids are in daycare after school, meaning they are away from me from 8.30am to 6.45pm. Terrible, I feel so sad and guilty for not being able to follow them more closely. I live in Portugal and part-time jobs and work at home is not a reality yet. Maybe I can find a home based job through my blogging contacts. Any ideas?
Do what you got to do. You seem happy with your decision so more power to you girl! Rock on Sistah-Friend!
homeschooling is still working for us. though i sometimes do wish i had large chunks of time in the day without kids. like you, i’d still have a baby to nurse and a toddler around. just no big kids to do the dishes.
I’ve always thought that I would love to homeschool, but am afraid I’d hit burnout much earlier than you did! (Well, and there’s a little thing called “WORK” that I’m still doing even when I thought I wouldn’t be.) Three cheers for Mamas who are OK with not being Supermom. Cuz I still feel guilt about it every day, when I know I shouldn’t.
Oh, and if you’re looking for more BD writers I hope you’ll think of me. (Dang, there I go overcommitting *myself* again!) But seriously, I mean it…it would be a privelege!
We are Catholic-schoolers–always have been (our oldest is 16, youngest is 6); that is what has worked best for our family. Tuition is a sacrifice but we feel it is well worth it.
Kudos to you for being willing to be flexible as the needs of your family change. I hope the school year goes well for everyone!
Alli,
First of all, wow! That’s big news for a family. I’m glad you have generous people who are there to assist as they are able – that is a gift like none other to your family. And yes, I know even just after summer break, when they all go back to school, just having one or two around is a piece of cake. Enjoy your extra bon-bon eating time!
Since our oldest entered school we have had them in area Catholic schools….until just this year. Life happened, financial things happened and we decided we were just unable to swing putting through three of them full-time.
And we live in a primo district, so we had that going for us. But my husband and I were both products of 12 and 16 years of Catholic education – and the guilt, oh the guilt – and you know what? It’s been AWESOME! The kids are doing beautifully – their teachers are phenomenal – there are many, many more things offered that I never even knew were options to my kids.
Now here’s what I say. There’s nothing perfect out there – you just have to go with what works best for your family – and sometimes that may mean mixing it up a bit and stepping out of your comfort zone.
Now we’re going to mess them up – yet again – and pull them out and move them when we finally sell our house and make it to Memphis! Oh well, I’m already saving money for their therapy funds….
Hugs!
Amen.
Praise Jesus.
And
GOOD FOR YOU.
I.could.NEVER.homeschool…..not EVER. ANd I used to teach kids!!!! But just not my own!
I applaud you for doing it in the first place and for knowing when it was time to do something else.
Again. AMEN.
Now go pour yourself a cup of tea and relax for 10 minutes. You deserve it!
you’re still super woman in my eyes. ;0)
It’s bittersweet sending them to school, isn’t it? I think it’s pretty heavy on the sweet, and the only bitter is the nostalgia you feel in retrospect. But still.
Good for you Fussy. It takes a strong woman to admit that she cannot do it all. Or, at least that she cannot do it all without going moderately insane and making her family pay the price.
And Karla’s right-you’re still superwoman!!!
Oh, you will get so much done now! Your kids will have a blast too. I’m working from home with my 2 year old too. Still hard to get stuff done with her here. Lots of late nights. At least it is much easier with just one kid home. I don’t know how you did everything and homeschooled? You really are Wonderwoman!!
You are still superwoman! Managing all that you have managed for so long….takes a superwoman! Glad you are getting a much-deserved break in the action. And I think it will be good for you personally that you get to spend more time on your business!! Which also ROCKS!
You are still Wonder Woman! How you keep sanity with all that testosterone around is beyond me!
I think we will either homeschool or do Christian school when Ladybug gets to that age. Just depends on where God has us at the time. I dread going back to a “real” job. I love working from home and being able to keep my family a priority.
Good for you! You RAWK, Fussy!
I will never home school unless there is some reason that I absolutely have to. I know my limitations and I know that trying to formally teach my children would send us all to therapy.
congratulations! What a wonderful change of life for all of you – and you will always be amazing for putting your children ahead of your calm and peaceful life while you were all in transition! I firmly believe that we make the best of our situations and as long as our priorities are “right” our decisions are for the best.
Enjoy the two little ones, and all the great school stories you will now get to hear!
L
Hi Fussy, follow you on Twitter but think it’s my first comment here. I was home-schooled, private schooled and public schooled as a kid. As a parent now I have a whole new respect for my mother, but for me personally, private school was definitely the best experience. Hope your boys enjoy it and that you enjoy some piece of mind from making the tough decision!
I guess I am the only crazy one here that home schools…through the good, bad, and ugly. We have five children (teen – Kindger) and it’s been a blessing in our lives. It sure brings out the craziness of my own character, that’s for sure, and it’s not always pretty, but in His graciousness, He has bonded our family in spite of my inadequacies. Yea for the beauty of a country that allows us all these wonderful choices (at least for now.
Please go have some “piece and quiet” for me, and I will vicariously live through you.
Well, since I don’t have any children yet I can’t much help on this one. Although, I am definitely going to invest in Photoshop! Looks like entirely too much fun that I shouldn’t be missing out on.
I commend you for doing all of it for so long…but I believe that the real Superwoman is the one who can honestly say that it’s no longer working for them and make a change. Keep up the great work!
I think its great that you have done both. If I could I might have tried it, but working full-time public school has been the way to go for us.
After seven years of homeschooling, I sent mine to public school this year. Best. Decision. Ever. I’m happier. The kids are happier. Its all good.
The early morning wake up and homework is stinky at times but because everyone is more content overall, its not a terrible burden.
This is awesome! I wish you would have joined us over at Mom is Teaching when this was such a big hairy deal. I’d still love a guest post if you are up to it or if you don’t mind me linking straight to this one with a few quotes just to “lead folks on”, I’d love it.
Good on you! You have given your children a great basis and they’ll be just fine.
-Nancy
I only have 3, but none are in school yet. On the odd day that I one is out of the house, I can’t believe how much easier it is. I can remember how hard I thought it was to take the oldest with me to the store when he was a baby…now I do it with 3 all the time. It’s all about perspective!
You’re still a super woman!!! Seriously girl I could not home school in a million years so I totally admire you for sticking with it as long as you did and your boys will always remember that time. I hope you are able to get a ton of stuff done now and I hope they love their new school!
Of course you’re still superwoman!!! Gracious, woman, did you read that post? You’re going to be running circles around most of us each day.
I’m homeschooling my triplets now for preschool (3yo). I’d love to continue, but I’m not fully committed to it yet. I’m going to see how preschool and pre-k go before deciding what to do for elementary.
You will always rawk.
We’ve had our kids in a private Christian school for four years now, and it’s been wonderful. They’ve been hugely supportive the past three years because we are THAT family, 2005 I had a stroke and 2006-2007 Peyton was in chemo treatment…they have been the one constant in the lives of my kids. Yet, next year we are looking at moving them into public school so they can attend AGP magnet schools. A hard transition, not what we thought would happen, but what needs to happen for their best interests and our pocketbooks.
I can’t wait to see what you can do with a teeny more time in your pocket!
We’ve done it all. Kids started out in a Jewish day school, then homeschooled for a couple of years, then went to public school, then private school and back to public school in high school. One will graduate this year, the other next year. I’ve always believed that what works one year may not work the next, and that flexibility is the key to providing the BEST education for your kids. As parents, we know what works, and hopefully we also recognize when things aren’t working.
I was pretty insulted by the first comment, which, if I read correctly was really saying “Well, thank goodness that if you decided to send them to school, you didn’t put them in with all those non-believing heathens like the JEWS. I mean, how bigoted can one be?
I came close to homeschooling my big guy, but the school finally gave us a learning situation that works for him. I had to be a very squeaky wheel. My youngest is begging to be homeschooled because high school is, well, high school. Sooooo undecided. Pros’ and con’s…
Good luck to your boys…wear your SuperMom cape with pride! (but watch the cleavage hehee…)
We’re in our 5th year of homeschooling. The oldest was in public school for 28 days in kindergarten, three years of private and then homeschooling. The youngest has always been homeschooled, except for a year of private preschool. Now that my son is 13, we’re starting to think about other options (his idea) and I have to say, I’m looking forward to a new chapter. I love what we’ve been able to do with homeschooling, but I’m also looking forward to doing things with my time alone as well. My daughter would blossom anywhere, she’s just that kind of kid – so she’s open to the possibilities as well. I love that we all have so many options open to us and I’m thrilled that the “us against them” mentality that was so common in our area seems to have all but disappeared. Each family has its own needs and we’re so lucky to have so many choices.
Enjoy your new path!
I’m also in that “exclusive” minority of homeschoolers who find it to be not a big deal. I’ve hs’ed one from cradle to college, now have two high school students, a fifth grader, and a four year old. I’ve never found it to be a strain or stress–for me the key has been getting them to a point of self-propulsion just as quickly as possible, and using on-line curriculum which takes the “Mom’s making us do this” right out of the equation. It so works for us–we love having our children living and learning with us all day.
I still admire you with two at home and working. I was amazed (and in constant amazement) at how you did it with 5, ran a business, and kept your sanity, LOL. I went to private school but I know it took many sacrifices for my parents to send me. I have a 2 year old and decided to put him at a private Christian Mother’s Day Out Program which offers a great curriculum. He is with other children, has learned so much and the 3 days a week/5 hours a day he attends. This has allowed me to focus on work during the day and not stay up all night after he goes to bed. We have not decided the next step for his education and still considering the options. I think it all depends on the child, your community, opportunities (there are some great public schools as well), and the financial burden you can take on. If I had any choice it would be for a “Christian based” school for his early years. It has made such a positive impact on him.
Seeing as I’m poking a fork in my eye right now (ie, teaching long division YET AGAIN to my 4th grader), I can so commiserate. I hope all goes well with the new endeavor.
I’ve never wanted to homeschool my son, because he thrives in the school environment, is very peer-motivated and I needed a break, frankly. However, if Proposition 8 doesn’t pass here in California and they start teaching gay marriage in schools like they have in Massachuesetts, I will seriously consider it!
My oldest is only 4 1/2 so will be starting kindergarten and I’ve already gone through an array of idealistic visions to cold hard financial reality. But the advice I’ve taken to heart is Barbara Curtis’ at mommylife.net (though some of her political commentary makes me boil I respect her parenting & teaching chops): as mom of 12 she says “make the decision year-by-year, child-by-child.”
I feel much better now. My kids are in Christian schools too. I couldn’t imagine how you did it all. I know I couldn’t! It really is something each family needs to decide for their family and particular circumstances.
Good for you, Fussy!
xo
We still homeschool. Only six years to go.
God impressed on me that this is for the long haul, so we find outside help to fill in the blanks of my education, like math (they both have tutors).
We also supplement regular school with public speaking, missions, park day, and monthly field trips with our homeschool co-op, dance classes and musical theater performances for the girl, piano lessons and church worship team for the boy, etc. We wouldn’t have time for any learning if we sent the kids to school!
I firmly believe that God’s leading is the most important thing to consider in schooling, or any other part of parenting. I’m glad you’ve found something that works for your family!
Public school. Cannot work up the nerve to post about it, though.
Congrats on being able to catch your breath (if only a bit!) Seems I’ve gone in the opposite direction school-wise. My kids have been in private Christian school up until this year. I’m homeschooling my 2nd and 4th graders this school year.
We loved the school my daughters attended, and it’s a long story why we made the switch. Let’s just say it started with my youngest having some trouble staying focused at school and falling behind. I never thought I’d be a homeschooling mom.
Never say never and never say forever, at least when it comes to school LOL! What’s good one year may change the next. We just need to be open to God’s leading, whatever that may be.
(((HUGS!)))
You have 7 kids? Where have I been!! LOL