Is it uncommon for a nurse to leave her job and start homeschooling her kids?

Question

This will be my last attempt at this subject. Don't get mad, but have you heard of high demand professionals that quit their job to be able to homeschool their kids? I gotta tell you, my extended family is going nuts over that perspective. I ultimately think I can do better. I love being with my kids, 24/7. They love me as their mom, we have a great relationship, I can't see why I would work long hours anymore and lose that. I can always go back to my old job, or some version of it when they're older, and can fish for themselves, so to speak.

Do you think I am crazy too?

Long time ago, I knew this MD doctor, that pure and simple quit her job in order to be able to homeschool. I thought that was such a pity because she was a very good heart surgeon, but she had 8 kids, and I could see why she loved them more. Her job was keeping her away from them and they were such treasures!! Now I have 3 little treasures of my own. I wonder if I'd do more damage than help them. So, OK I have doubts!

Answer 1

Yes, I have heard of professionals leaving their jobs to homeschool their kids.  Many of my friends are certified teachers who left their jobs to homeschool my kids, and some are former nurses and professors.  I left a well-paying job as an insurance broker in a large firm to homeschool my son.

It's really just a matter of loving your kids enough to provide for their needs, even if it isn't terribly convenient for you.  For some kids, that means working a higher-paying (though more stressful) job to send them to private school...and for other kids, that means giving up your career aspirations for a time in order to homeschool them.

I don't know about our school systems being any more compassionate...kids get called names all the time, and while some of our teachers are truly wonderful, there are others that simply shouldn't be around children.  (My parents are teachers, I grew up around teachers.  I respect teachers.  But some just really shouldn't be teaching.)

If you feel that homeschooling is the right thing for your kids, than by all means go for it!  I've found it to be an incredible experience, as has my son.  We intend to homeschool all the way through high school, as do some of my friends, while others intend to homeschool through elementary or middle school and then send their kids to middle or high school.  

Homeschooling is a great choice if you're willing to put the time, effort, and love into it.  Do what's right for your children, no matter what anyone else says.  At the end of the day, your children's welfare and education falls on your and your husband's shoulders...not on the shoulders of those who criticize.

Answer 2

My mum did it. She was a registered nurse and midwife with specialist trauma, ICU, and aero-medical qualifications; she worked as a senior clinical nurse specialist. Now she's a home schooling mum to us lot!

Answer 3

Many people quit their jobs for the betterment of their children and of course this includes many, many homeschooling parents.  In my case, I was fourteen when I started homeschooling so I was old enough that my mother could still work, but all the young kids had a parent who worked on a part-time basis, from the home or did not hold a paying job.  You're lucky enough to be in an in-demand career, so I think you have a definite advantage if you  choose to re-enter the workforce after the kids get older.

Many studies indicate that children who are homeschooled perform in the top 20% on standardized tests.  Even those who were critical of home education when I was doing it admitted that the kids did at least as well as their traditionally schooled peers.  Studies also indicate that contrary to popular opinion, homeschooled children do as well socially as any other child.  I encourage you to find a homeschool co-op in your area and check the kids out.  I think you'll find they're pretty awesome, and much better at relating to kids from a variety of age groups.  Who's to say that sitting in a room with kids exclusively your age is the be-all-end-all of socialization?  This is simply a by-product of our traditional education system.  

I, like you, was raised in a very mean-spirited school environment and while it made me academically strong, it also took a toll on me as a person.  Being homeschooled gave me the opportunity to define and re-define what was important to me as a person and also as a student.  As I'm sure you're well aware, there's a lot more to education than  teaching and preaching facts and I believe that homeschooling is a great way to broaden a child's horizons and tailor their education to their individual needs and interests.

Bottom line:  Make your own decision and don't be dissuaded by the idiots and their "I knew a kid who was homeschooled once and they sure was weird/stupid" rhetoric!  There are a lot of homeschool groups and academic resources out there and they can give you the help and support you need.  Good Luck to you and your kids.

Answer 4

For me you are such a good mother and you are not crazy...

I availed my early retirement when I had my 2nd child now 12 ,decided to stay home just for Breastfeeding, what more with Education, we all know how important it is. At that time my salary is higher than my husband and my retirement pay is not that much for 10 years of service.

We decided to do this when we encounter unbelievable problems in a traditional private schools. Schools I say because we transfer everytime we encounter problems such as:

Humiliating teachers, my eldest has come to the point of deciding not to attend school anymore, later discovered that his Math teacher is not a Teacher. I mean if you are a major subject teacher such as Math and Science it should be your Major because you are practicing it professionally, am I right parents?

Oftentimes my son goes home with either a black eye or a ripped uniform, or someone spilled an ink or his things and snack  stolen from his bag. I wasted a lot of hours meeting the teachers and parents and all that stuff.

In a way I am thankful these things happened to us because it opened our eyes to many possibilities.

Once I doubted if I can make my 5 year old read and she was able to read after using the 100 Day reading program I used and she has better comprehension than my other children who did not start at that method.

My dear go for it, very rewarding career. Don't mind the persecutions from other people, you 'll get over it. For so many years I've been doing it there are many others who still say ill things . Some even judge my children that they won't be able to get a good job, some say we are irresponsible parents because we don't know what is best for our kids. I accept it as a challenge to prove them wrong.

Your extended family will eventually see the good results, just be patient.

Answer 5

To put it in a nutshell - homeschooling represents (to me) personal responsibility.  My husband and I are personally responsible for what and who I expose our children to.  I am personally responsible for their upbringing - this includes their physical needs, emotional needs, their education and their religious training.  When my 11 children are all growed up and on their own they will be versions of the home that raised them.  They will reflect the beliefs and values that my husband and I instill in them and live before them.  It is and option to put your child into the hands of another person or institution to train them up in the way they should go (ie - delegate your responsibility) but only you can make that decision and before God you are responsible for that decision and must bear the fruit of it in your old age.  Money or personal fulfillment outside the home is not the issue - your responsibility of keeping the hearts of your children and protecting them until they are strong enough to fly on their own . . .is.    There is no greater pain than a wayward child - there is no greater joy than a delightful child.  Homeschooling is one of the easiest ways to produce the latter.  Thanks, Melanie

Answer 6

Lots of people leave their careers to homeschool. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it--despite what your family might think. :)

You sound willing AND able to homeschool your kids. You are right: you would lose the closeness you share with them right now. They would lose the closeness they have.

Just do it. :)

Answer 7

TO ME I THINK YOU SHOULD NOT HOME SCHOOL YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE IF I WAS A CHILD I WOULD NOT  WANT TO BE STUCK IN THE HOUSE ALL DAY! YOU SHOULD REALLY ASK YOUR CHILDREN IF THEY WANT TO BE HOME SCHOOL! YOU SHOULD LET YOUR CHILDREN ENJOY TALKING AND PLAYING WITH THEIR FRIENDS! YOU CAN JUST SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN ON THE WEEKEND OR AFTER WORK!

Answer 8

I think its a wonderful idea, in my opinion there is no higher calling than to raise children well.

Answer 9

I was born and raised in Europe as well; I too was/am a high achiever, with plenty of formal schooling, and prior work experience.



I have had to hear on several occasions, not within the home school community though; that I was wasting my education, or was asked, "do I have no ambition"? Sigh :(

Actually I feel it is my family who presently benefits most from my education.

Those who try to talk you out of home schooling your precious children, simply do not understand that it takes a lot of strength, determination, resourcefulness, and a person with a stiff backbone to make such a change in their family's lifestyle, as well as a spouse who is willing to support them by being the sole bread winner; not a simple, or stress-less task either.

None of these changes, and or sacrifices will ever compare with, or be equally important to being that lucky stay at home mom/dad, who has had the privilege of educating, and be with his/her children through their formative years, being their main example, and mentor.

Home schooling is not just a American way of life; homeschooling is about family, children, and making them our priority.

Conventional schooling is actually not been around for as long as we think, home schooling, apprenticeships, and one on one mentorship were the one of the ways previous generations were taught, and just look at all they achieved; we forget that we (society) are the beneficiaries of all those accomplishments today.

Unfortunately most Americans have also bought into the MYTH that you have to have two incomes, three cars, a vaction home, two closets full of name brand clothing, five cell phones, four TV's, just to name a few, otherwise the children will be deprived of all the things they need to be popular, and make their way in life.

REALLY? How about children need their parents, their time, attention, encouragement, not their $$$

Stuff comes, and goes, and trust me the companies will make sure of that, but we only have a very short time to be with out children and they need ALL of us before they spread their wings.

We can provide them with a better education, instill a strong work ethic in them, show them by example how to live, but all of this requires us to be there, physically, and emotionally, and not be too exhausted to do so.

I do not think you are crazy at all; I think you are right in every way to place your family above all else.

I know several professionals, even in the medical field that have done the same thing.

They stay current on their licenses, and go back part-time when they feel the children are ready for independent studies, often this is around ages 14, and up.

As a bonus, look at it this way with your background, and education level at least they cannot come up with the question, "what makes you think you are qualified to teach your own children"?

Personally we do not believe in conventional/traditional schooling until college, or trade school.

I don't know how well you have researched home schooling, or how old your children are; ours now range from pre-teen to late twenties; what I am getting at is that there is so much to choose from it can be mind boggling, and time consuming to sort through, so hang in there; do the research.

After all these years I sometimes still have doubts, but I have seen the results, and they speak volumes, doubts are good they make us more aware of what it is we need to do.

I would advice finding a local home school group, and connecting with them to see what is available in your area; you will need support; and attend a home school convention in your state, or elsewhere close by.

These conventions have many workshops relating to home schooling, and home school methods, and vendors bring their curriculum's for review.

God bless you, and your family.

Good luck.

Answer 10

No, I don't believe it is unusual. I have known several women who left their lives as professionals behind to homeschool their children, including a lawyer, a dental hygenist, and several nurses.

You're not crazy. You just love your kids and want what's best for them. So go for it!

Answer 11

Whether you leave a high paying job or not, you are likely to have relatives that shake their heads at why you would give up a wife's income and trade it in to homeschool. I was a professional illustrator and portrait artist. A career that can sound pretty glamorous, but it doesn't necessarily come with a glamorous annual income. LOL. Even with the income not being a huge loss, my parents are constantly swinging between praises about the kid's education that they are getting with our homerschool to "when are you going to go back to full time 'work'". It can get frustrating.

About the doubt ... It sounds like you will be an outstanding homeschool mom. I am sure your kids will get a far better education from you than from the local public school because of your dedication. You will probably always hear relatives hint that you threw away 'all that money and opportunity', but when your life is at the final moments, what will you value more? For me, I know that these years homeschooling my kids have been my greatest treasures. No amount of income could have come close in value to what I have had. :)