What Some Homeschooled Children Do While Everyone Else is in School

A week after I found out that I was pregnant, I began my home school research. Three of my cousins had been homeschooled in the eighties, and I was positive that I wanted it for my child. But six weeks after she was born, I had to go back to work. Lets fast-forward five years. I am now doing what I have always wanted to do. I am working in my dream job. I am a homeschooler. And although there are so many things that homeschooled children get to do while everyone else is in school, here are just some of the things my daughter and I get to do while everyone else is in school.

My daughter is an early riser by nature. So while parents are rushing to get their children to the bus stop, or to school, she and I are eating breakfast and watching early morning cartoons. After cartoons, we run around the living room playing with our puppy Mimi and then we play a game of hide-and-seek, or whatever she wants to play. Mornings in our house are relaxed and entertaining. And once in a while, we will even go to her favorite fast food joint for breakfast and some indoor playground fun. It is absolutely great to hang out with my daughter in the morning

While everyone else is in school, my daughter and I are enjoying lunch on the deck followed by a bubble blowing session. See, after lunch, the school day is over. School starts between nine and ten in the morning (depends on how long we have lounged during breakfast), and we are finished by noon. So when all the other children are returning to their desks for the second half of their school day, we have completed ours and are ready for some more playtime. Most times it is a walk to the park so she can run around and be silly. But then again, sometimes our entire day consists of silliness. That's the fun of homeschooling.

Although I do have a desk for my daughter to work during her schooling time, we learn everywhere. There have been times where she wanted to sit in my bedroom near the large window and "do" school there. We have "done" school in my room, in the computer room, in the dining room, in the car while going to the museum, at the park, and even at her aunt's house while we were on vacation. School can be at the park, near the lake, and even in the supermarket when we are buying ice cream. Teachable moments happen anytime and anywhere. We use them.

Spring break, holiday breaks, and even summer breaks are scheduled around, well whenever we want. During Christmas of 2007, she was off the entire month of December. That's right, for four whole weeks, she enjoyed the winter, and the holiday season without any thought of school. Spring break of 2008 was only for three days. But for the month of February, she had school for only three or four days a week, with long weekends. Our breaks and holidays are whenever we want them to be. Other children are stuck to the schedule set for them. As a side note, even with the month long winter break, she will be completing school in eight days from the date of this article.

My daughter works hard and she plays hard. That means that there are days when she looks at me and I can tell that her brain has had it for the day. She takes a nap, or at least has a rest time. She wouldn't be able to have that if she weren't homeschooled. Which is a good thing, because when she rests, I rest. And all homeschoolers know that homeschooling is a full time job in itself. We can use the rest too.

People often use the "s" word when they hear that I am homeschooling my daughter. That question that the majority of homeschoolers roll their eyes every time they hear it, "What about your child's socialization skills?" She is socialized every time we run errands. Every trip to the supermarket, the mall, the dentist's office, the pediatrician's office, or anywhere there are other people, she is being socialized. And the great thing about this is the fact that she is not just around children all day long. She is around people of all ages, all personalities, and all nationalities. When all the other children are stuck in class all day long, my daughter is socialized just fine.

Field trips are the norm for us. There is a living museum just a few minutes from our home. We go all the time, and every time that she is there, she sees something new. A field trip through the wood near our home is awesome for nature hikes. As a homeschooled child, my daughter is not restricted to the few yearly trips that are normal for other children. In fact, we go to the places that she is interested in going. If she is not interested in seeing a ballet, I'm not going to take her. No point in making her endure something that she is not interested in.

All in all, being homeschooled has a lot of benefits that my daughter would not have if she were schooled in the traditional manner. I understand that some parents have no idea why I would want to do this. I also understand that there are parents who would love to homeschool, but cannot. For me, homeschooling my child was an answered prayer. I have asked on numerous occasions if she wanted to go to school. She looks at me every time and says, "No way mommy. I like being homeschooled." That's all I need to hear. As long as she wants to, I will be here to teach her.