1. We have lots of
quality time together.
2. We can arrange our
schedule according to our own needs.
3. My son can work
ahead when it suits him.
4. We have time to review
concepts and skills as much as necessary if they are difficult.
5. We meet a much
wider variety of people than we ever did before.
6. We have time to
explore new places and new situations.
7. We can drop
everything for once-in-a-lifetime events.
8. My son has mentors
from many more areas of his life than he ever did in a traditional school.
9. We can learn in our
pajamas if we feel like it.
10. I worry a lot less
about his food allergies.
11. No one makes fun of
him at lunchtime if he doesn’t have the current popular snack.
12. It’s ok that he isn’t
the slightest bit athletic.
13. It’s ok that he
loves music and art.
14. He has taught
himself computer coding and scripting.
15. He has friends on
three continents.
16. We were able to drive
cross-country (twice) when other kids were either in school or getting ready to
go back to school (he’s been to 25 states now).
17. None of his friends
or mine find his large vocabulary disturbing.
18. Without the
distractions and interruptions that are a normal part of a traditional school,
a “school day” takes half the time it used to and without the commute.
19. My son has taught
himself many concepts that most kids don’t learn until college, if ever.
20. We have a lot more
fun thanks to a lot more free time.
21. My son’s writing
has blossomed now that he isn’t stuck to a particular rubric or school mandated
curriculum.
22. My son has a
practical understanding of math that isn’t taught at school.
23. We can indulge both
academic and non-academic interests without sacrificing one over the other.
24. We don’t have to
wait for school breaks to go out of town.
25. We’ve found tons of
free or low-cost educational resources that are often better quality than
school curriculum – we obtained quality while saving money.
26. We spend time on
quality socialization rather than learning to manage bullying, conforming to
dress codes, and so on.
27. Without getting
into trouble or dealing with negative peer pressure, my son can excuse himself
from activities if they don’t feel right or if the atmosphere feels dangerous,
oppressive, stifling, or just wrong in some way.
28. My son can get
enough sleep — he’s a teenager and they need more sleep.
29. We can take
advantage of my son’s natural rhythms — he is far more alert and able to retain
information in the evening hours.
30. Engrossed in a good
book? We aren’t limited to a brief “silent reading” period — there’s plenty of
time to read, and read, and read.
31. My son’s vocabulary
is huge in large part due to all the reading we do.
32. We have time to
discuss news stories in depth in addition to discussing media influence.
33. My son has a better
understanding of how government is meant to work and how it actually works than
most adults I know.
34. In public school, my
son was socially awkward; as a homeschooler, he has found his tribe and now
fits in.
35. His self-esteem
skyrocketed after we began homeschooling.
36. He has learned
better coping skills at home than he did in school.
37. He has learned to
manage his perfectionist tendencies much better.
38. Going to family or
kid-friendly places during off-peak hours is much more enjoyable.
39. As introverts, we
can nourish our energy needs as much as we want.
40. The people and
experiences in our lives are now much more diverse than they ever were before.
41. We can focus on
what’s important to us and not whether or not he has the right backpack or
shoes.
42. My son is more of
an independent thinker now than he ever was in traditional school.
43. My son surprises me
every day with something new that he has learned without having an academic
lesson.
44. Instead of learning
vocabulary and spelling from lists, he learns them from reading and context.
45. He is more curious
about the world than ever before.
46. He has gotten over
some phobias and obsessive problems by learning to face them on his own terms,
in his own way, and on his own schedule.
47. We both have
significantly less stress and anxiety in our lives.
48. We have time to
stop and talk to people rather than rushing from one activity to the next since
six to seven hours of our day aren’t taken up by a traditional school schedule.
49. Instead of learning
multiple subjects from one teacher, my son can go to experts in each individual
subject he wants to learn about.
50. It may not work for
you, but it does work for us.
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." I've implemented a few of the simpler strategies from his book, and must say that I am amazed at how much time I have freed up!
