Do you think I have valid reasons to home school?

Question

I home schooled for the 1st grade, now he's in 2nd and in private school. We are both happy there, but I want to homeschool. He's wants to too. He's an only child and so I do alot with him.

My mainreason for wanting to home school is to teach my son, the second reason is because the tuition is killing me and last because I love the freedom!!!!! We won't have to hurry in a breakfast and rush out the door. I hate being away from him too, I love being with him. I volunteer at the school 3 days a week as it is. But the freedom is what I am looking forward to. What do you folks think??

Answer 1

I don't see why they aren't valid reasons for homeschooling. Did you think about whether or not you had a valid reason for putting him in school? Homeschooling is just as valid as a choice as other schools. I personally feel that all willing and able parents should have homeschooling as their first option, with everything else as the alternative.

Answer 2

no dont home skool him especially i fhe is a onlii child wen he gets older he will get more lonely n u dont want 2 unsettle him by takin him in and out. and if u say u dont like being away from him u dont want to be like that cos then it'll be realii hard 4 u wen he grows up n wants more freedom 4 u. n skools gud fun n it will impro his social skills and everything. just let him be normal. he will be much happier in the long run!

Answer 3

"I hate being away from him too, I love being with him."

This is a reason centered on your needs, not his.

Answer 4

You don't need a special reason to homeschool. It is one of many education options. You never hear a parent ask if they have a valid reason to send their kids to public or private schools. You have the right to educate your child however you like.

Answer 5

You sound like a wonderful mom. He is your child and therefore you probably know better than anyone else what is best for him. If tuition is killing you then homeschool if you prefer that to public school. He is young and would probably love the time spent with mom. Just make sure you make time for play dates so he can interact with other children and develop good social skills. Maybe when he is a little older you can send him to school. It may be also great if you put him in an extracurricular activity such as sports or just something where he is around other children but still getting a good education at home. That way, if later down the road you decide to send him to school he will make an easier transition into an environment with other children.I know someone at college who was homeschooled(started college at 15 and had no social problems)..he wasnt an only child though so just make sure he interacts at some pt w/ other kids

Answer 6

I think that homeschooling sounds good, especially if he really wants to homeschool.

Just, y'know, make sure he does spend some time with other kids. From Pre-K through 3rd grade, I was homeschooled, and I actually wound up more mature than other kids my age as a result of always being around adults. Thing is, I didn't exactly know how to interact with other kids very well, either. So, go ahead and homeschool, just see to it that he spends some time with other kids. Maybe a church program, sports programs... if there's a program for homeschooling families in your area, look into that.

Just try to keep in mind your son's wants as he gets older. If he decides that he wants to go off to school when he's older, go ahead and let him. That one poster's idea about deciding year-to-year actually sounds like a good idea. Are the public schools in your area really bad enough to send him to private school? Private school's not a bad idea, of course, but a public school with a good program can work just as well, and it won't kill you financially.

What that guy ^ said about schedules, yeah, listen to him/her. I'm terrible at managing my time wisely. I outright suck at it.

Answer 7

I think you have listed three good reasons for homeschooling.  

My advice as a mom who has pulled her son from a school that we didn't particularly dislike.....make sure you can stick with it.  There's something to be said for consistency.  Should you pull him now then try to make sure you are doing this for the long haul (or at least long enough to feel like he knows what's happening from year to year).  My son was okay with leaving school - if I had schooled him at home then put him in then took him out again - I'm not sure he'd feel as secure as he does now.

Finally, as an only child, just make sure he has friends.  I know - it sounds simplistic and I HATE the socialization issue with homeschooling, but this is an only child thing more than a homeschooling thing.  Each only is different - in my case, I would have NEEDED school to even make friends.  Only children - we're a special breed :-)

Good luck - and enjoy your son while he's still young!

Answer 8

I think you are a selfish mother if you continue to homeschool your child. If you homeschool him you will not help him develop important social skills that can only be learned in a school setting. Also you should not base something that will forever hold your child back on whether it is good for you! You can not offer the enrichment that your child will get from class disscusions and such. Also your child can develop social anxiety and practically need to be with you when he is older.  As hard as it is to decide I think you know what the best decision is for your child. Be strong!Make sacrifices for your child so that he will have the best life possible.

Answer 9

All of your reasons are valid.

You don't need to justify your reasons to anyone, however.

Homeschooling is what works best for your family.  That is the only reason you need.

As to the ignorant posters who claim there is no way to get a social life is to be confined to a classroom, watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ogCc8ObiwQl

Answer 10

Bring him home.  

Homeschooling is not a lifetime committment.  When I started -- and even still -- I decide year to year.  This is the best thing for my family *now*.  It may change in the future.  That's one of the best things about homeschooling, freedom.

Having an only child, it's probably even more important that you belong to a support group that does group activities.  When it was just my oldest he needed to know that he wasn't the only one out there homeschooling.

The encouragement of the other moms will be good for you too.

Answer 11

if you can keep him up with the public school kids why not.

Answer 12

I say homeschool him. My son is in 9th grade and we have homeschooled since 2nd grade. We both love it. He is also and only child. We can't afford tuition either.

He don't have to keep up with public school children, public school children usually are behind the homeschooled child. One on one is better than one on 25 or 30.

Answer 13

I think you don't have to justify your decision to anyone else. If you and your son want to HS that's what matters and phooey to any of the anti-HS trolls who say otherwise!

There are some weird people out there who think liking your children is somehow abnormal. I feel sorry for them and any kids they might have.

Answer 14

home school your child.... too bad most parents do not care about the real education their child is getting.. they just see school as a baby-sitting service.

good to see a mom that really cares.

Answer 15

I think you need to follow your heart. You don't need to worry about other people's validations. You want to do it because it is what you feel is best for your family! Go for it. You don't need to explain it to anyone! Good For You!

Good Luck!

Answer 16

I think your reasons are valid.  It sounds like homeschooling works best for your family.

Answer 17

I don't think the reasons are bad, just a couple of thoughts.

1. Be sure you have other socially interactive kids that he can be with a few times a week.

2. Make sure he understands the importance of having a schedule and getting things done timely, and being places on time or he will have a tough life as an adult. He probably won't be a stay at home parent which will require he can stick to others demands and scheduling.

I was homeschooled and there were ways that I was quite advanced, and there were also some areas in life I had to learn hard lessons that I should have learned in my youth....that aren't necessarily math, reading and writing. Social interactions teach problem solving, anger management, patience, creative thinking etc. So while HOMESTUDY isn't bad, be sure it's balanced.

You can protect him for now, but one day he will need to be part of this society and he will need skills to manuver and survive it's many avenues.