Comments on: off the cliff

By: Kiki @ Choosing to Cherish

Kiki @ Choosing to Cherish

I cried when reading this. Thank you for sharing your heart. Grace to you on this journey.

By: Elisa

Elisa

Oh my goodness!! YES! I am so glad I finally found this. In the past year at public school my sweet son has gone from the ultimate helper to the bully. He’s always in trouble, his attitude is horrible and I just feel sick because he’s normally the sweetest boy in the world. I am debating about homeschooling and his teacher told me that it’d be the biggest mistake I could make because my son does not know how to interact with children. Nevermind that in 3 years in a private preschool he interacted with children just fine. This post, this advice, that knowing in the back of your mind that something is off, really resonated with me, and gave me the courage that I was lacking. I CAN do this and our family will be much better off for it. Thank you!

By: ashley @ the handmade home

ashley @ the handmade home

In reply to Amy. Wow Amy. Keep us posted! ;}

By: Amy

Amy

Thank you. I think God just used this to confirm my decision to so the same.

By: ashley @ the handmade home

ashley @ the handmade home

In reply to Jamie Ohler. Thank you so much, Jamie. That means a TON to know there are other parents out there in the same boat we are, who are listening and going for what their family needs. It's HARD but SO worth it! ;} Hugs to you and your family!

By: Jamie Ohler

Jamie Ohler

Ashley,
I found your site at 2 am. while touring Pinterest and I am floored. I had to pull myself away today to get my to do list done. This post especially spoke volumes to me. We ran off the cliff 9 years ago and to this day it is still a year by year and honestly sometimes day by day choice. No matter what school choice you choose in the end the important thing is that you listened to what your family and children needed and acted. Next year it might be a different choice but you are doing a great job either way.
Thank you for the brutal honesty, it is so refreshing.

By: ashley @ the handmade home

ashley @ the handmade home

In reply to Shelby. That's amazing, Shelby! I LOVE this. I truly do. Hang in there! ;}

By: Shelby

Shelby

Oh this post…I feel every feeling you describe here. I have an almost 4 year old and 1 year old twins and for at least the last 7 months, I’ve been coming up with excuses for why it would be horrible for all of us if I quit my job and stayed at home with my kids. “I’m not enough. They’ll hate it. They’ll hate me. I’ll hate it. I’ll lose it every.single.day.” And then one of my twins had eye surgery and I watched my husband and two other littles pack up and shuttle off to pre-school, while standing in the window with one my recovering baby, and waved goodbye. In that moment I stopped and realized that our life could be more than just “trying to get through the day” (the way I’ve described my life since the twins were born). So I did it. I quit a job I really like. I jumped off the cliff. I made a commitment to put my kids and my family before things that are just less important right now. I AM TERRIFIED. And I am SO excited at the same time. My hubby said in one of our discussions, “I think this is going to be great. I think the kids will be happier, and I think our family will be happier.” I mean, come on, how could we not try. Congrats on taking your huge step of faith. And thanks for sharing the emotion that goes along with it. I’m with ya sister.

By: Amanda

Amanda

I’m so glad to read your posts! I’d not looked up your thread recently and was astounded to see your notes on homeschooling. As a mom that was educated at home from K-12 grade, now teaching my three sons at home I can assure you that it IS a lot of work (mom made it look too easy! ) but it so so very worth it! You have an amazing opportunity to pour yourself into your children for a short season. Keep things simple, especially when you’re just launching out and cultivate a love of great books and you’re golden. 🙂 Academics and socialization can be some of our biggest fears, but trust that God will work those areas out beautifully. After 30 years I’ve seen that instead of falling short, most excel in these areas instead. I loved college and came away with lots of wonderful friends and a degree in Biology earned with perfect grades. Best of all was the solid grounding in Christ nutured day by day in the faithful, loving instruction and example of my parents. Don’t grow weary in doing good; you’re embarking on a marvelous journey!

By: ashley @ the handmade home

ashley @ the handmade home

In reply to Erin.

Hey Erin – been there. The hardest thing for us, was telling people. I knew what the right choice, for us, for now, is. SO making that transition was just hard. Now that we’re six weeks in and settled, I don’t regret it at all. It’s hard. Harder than anything I’ve ever done. But I love it. We all do. I hope this helps a little, too. I just had a convo with the kids today, after a really hard day. And they said they still love it. This speaks volumes to me. It gives my kids time to be kids, ya know? As far as curriculums, now that I’ve rambled: For now, we chose to go with Sonlight. I needed a little hand holding, and it’s great, but pricey. It’s so thorough, that if I followed both curriculums to a tee, we would be homeschooling all day long. Now that we’ve settled into our schedule, I’ve learned to pare them both down to work with what I need to coordinate. I will be more than happy to share what I do specifically if I need to and if you decide to go with them, how I’ve streamlined it with the kids. I love that it came with a ton of literature, and we have our own library of sorts in our playroom. That was worth it, for me. Anyway, I hope that helps, a little! I for sure have no idea what I’m doing, but I know it’s working. ;} Blessings to you and your children – keep us posted on your choice! It’s such an isolating decision that can really put you on the “outs” but having a strong support group means so much. Praying for you and your fam!