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When we joined the gymnastics world with our little monkey, our world really changed. She had become a member of the team. This meant spending six hours per day, five days per week, working out and conditioning. Learning and mastering new skills was not an easy task. What about school? The gym did offer a private school for the students to attend. If we chose that option, she would have spent even more time in the gym. I was not willing to have her spend an additional five hours away from us every day. Several of the girls were being homeschooled. I was a little nervous about trying this option. Was I qualified? Would she be missing out on her education? So many questions!
We decided to give homeschooling a try. In the beginning, we used two different curriculums, ABeka and Alpha Omega. We also decided to homeschool our oldest daughter. She had really been struggling in public school. She really needed to relearn some of the basics in English and Math. Our youngest was beginning the first grade and our oldest had just finished the fifth grade. I started in the summer, just in case I could not measure up to my own expectations. I had both of them start with the first grade in the core subjects. We would work both curriculums. Our oldest little angel did additional schoolwork while her little sister was at the gym. I would have one on one time with our little monkey while the oldest took ballet classes in the evening. It was great. We were able to also teach some of the things that are not emphasized in public schools. Important things like morals, self discipline, time management, respect and responsibilities. Our oldest child got the one on one time that she needed to get caught up to where she needed to be.
As they each got to the upper grades, we transitioned to an online curriculum. That was awesome because it took some of the burden away from me. I am so thankful that we decided to homeschool. They both graduated from High School and went on to further their education in their field of choice. Our first child is now a Massage Therapist. She took her state boards at the ripe old age of 19. That was seven years ago and today she is one of the best in her field.
Our little monkey decided that her "Olympic Dreams" had become "Olympic Nightmares" and made the choice to not do gymnastics as a teenager. She had endured enough of the injuries. We gave her the choice to either go back to public school or continue with the homeschooling. She chose the homeschooling. Most of her friends were in public school and she had heard the horror stories of their days. She wanted no part of the drugs, gangs and just plain ugliness that her friends had endured. She has always loved animals, especially dogs. She decided that she wanted to become a dog groomer and has now completed the schooling for that. She has always wanted to be a veterinarian and this is a stepping stone in that direction.
I am so glad that the decision to homeschool was made. Our daughters have grown into the most responsible and respectful young adults. Never once did we have a problem with drugs or alcohol or any "wild" behavior. Our oldest met her first boyfriend and had her first date at age 17. She never dated anyone else and they married when she was just a few weeks shy of her 21st birthday. Believe it or not, her wedding night was just a pure as a wedding night should be. Our youngest had her first date when she was 17, too! This was not a rule in our house. It is just the way things turned out. Her first date was with a brother of one of our oldest daughter's best friends. They have been dating for nearly 3 years and are getting married in April of next year. She, too, believes in "waiting". This is not because my children are prudish, it is their own personal beliefs. I have always had wonderful, open discussions with them. They were exposed to the same television programs and movies as every other teen and young adult. The difference is that we were able to discuss how decisions that are made can change your life. I made sure that they knew that each thing that you do can have an impact on the rest of your life. I believe that homeschooling allowed us that kind of openness and interaction. I believe that we are closer because of homeschooling.
What are your thoughts on homeschooling? What do you think about them only dating one guy and knowing that "he" was the one? What are your thoughts on "waiting"?
We decided to give homeschooling a try. In the beginning, we used two different curriculums, ABeka and Alpha Omega. We also decided to homeschool our oldest daughter. She had really been struggling in public school. She really needed to relearn some of the basics in English and Math. Our youngest was beginning the first grade and our oldest had just finished the fifth grade. I started in the summer, just in case I could not measure up to my own expectations. I had both of them start with the first grade in the core subjects. We would work both curriculums. Our oldest little angel did additional schoolwork while her little sister was at the gym. I would have one on one time with our little monkey while the oldest took ballet classes in the evening. It was great. We were able to also teach some of the things that are not emphasized in public schools. Important things like morals, self discipline, time management, respect and responsibilities. Our oldest child got the one on one time that she needed to get caught up to where she needed to be.
As they each got to the upper grades, we transitioned to an online curriculum. That was awesome because it took some of the burden away from me. I am so thankful that we decided to homeschool. They both graduated from High School and went on to further their education in their field of choice. Our first child is now a Massage Therapist. She took her state boards at the ripe old age of 19. That was seven years ago and today she is one of the best in her field.
Our little monkey decided that her "Olympic Dreams" had become "Olympic Nightmares" and made the choice to not do gymnastics as a teenager. She had endured enough of the injuries. We gave her the choice to either go back to public school or continue with the homeschooling. She chose the homeschooling. Most of her friends were in public school and she had heard the horror stories of their days. She wanted no part of the drugs, gangs and just plain ugliness that her friends had endured. She has always loved animals, especially dogs. She decided that she wanted to become a dog groomer and has now completed the schooling for that. She has always wanted to be a veterinarian and this is a stepping stone in that direction.
I am so glad that the decision to homeschool was made. Our daughters have grown into the most responsible and respectful young adults. Never once did we have a problem with drugs or alcohol or any "wild" behavior. Our oldest met her first boyfriend and had her first date at age 17. She never dated anyone else and they married when she was just a few weeks shy of her 21st birthday. Believe it or not, her wedding night was just a pure as a wedding night should be. Our youngest had her first date when she was 17, too! This was not a rule in our house. It is just the way things turned out. Her first date was with a brother of one of our oldest daughter's best friends. They have been dating for nearly 3 years and are getting married in April of next year. She, too, believes in "waiting". This is not because my children are prudish, it is their own personal beliefs. I have always had wonderful, open discussions with them. They were exposed to the same television programs and movies as every other teen and young adult. The difference is that we were able to discuss how decisions that are made can change your life. I made sure that they knew that each thing that you do can have an impact on the rest of your life. I believe that homeschooling allowed us that kind of openness and interaction. I believe that we are closer because of homeschooling.
What are your thoughts on homeschooling? What do you think about them only dating one guy and knowing that "he" was the one? What are your thoughts on "waiting"?
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