| Question: |
Hello, I need advice. When my husband and I got married we had always pictured our children being homeschooled. Actually, we have "homeschooled" my oldest daughter since she was 3. She will be turning 5 next August. I mentioned to her a couple of times that we will be starting Kindergarten homeschool next September. The couple of times I mentioned this to her she was quite adamant that she was going to go on a bus and she was GOING to school. I asked her if she wanted to stay home with mommy and be schooled here, the answer was "no, I want to go to school".....(I was shocked). I'm not sure how to handle this. I think in part it's because we live right next to a public school and she sees the children playing outside plus she hears that her older cousins (who live in a different state, thank God!) are going to school, she wants to be just like them. What should I do? Should I just ignore her wishes and hope this passes over? Send her into what I think a "den of iniquity"? Or not homeschool at all next year and "wait" it out? We also live next to a Montessori School, should we send her there instead? I wasn't expecting this until she was 12, not at 4. My husband and I are currently praying about it and also seeking the advice of other moms. So with that I hope you can shed some light on this subject. |
| Answer: |
Dear Mom, If I were to ask my granddaughter, who is 3 years old, if she wanted to go to the circus or to church, I believe she would respond that she would rather go to the circus. If you seek the advice of a 3-year-old you are probably going to get a truthful, yet not necessarily, helpful answer. Homeschooling does not isolate a child from the experiences that are wonderfully and happily part of participating in a peer group. Children look to their parents for the confidence in certain choices. In other words, if you want to make your daughter feel positive about homeschooling, then be positive about it yourself. Implying that homeschooling means you stay home with mom, puts homeschooling in the realm of a lifestyle that is not centered on school. All children learn and, as such, they are learning machines. Your daughter sees 'school' as the place where you learn. She sees home as the place where you stay with mommy and do not 'learn' as much as those who are in school. Take a different approach. I would suggest that you stop formally 'homeschooling'. Let her play and be amused as she would be if you were going to eventually send her to school. Remember that, for the young child, play is work and work is learning. I admire you very much as I sense in you a sweet spirit eager to help and guide your child. Let us pray for all those moms that find they must put their dear children in a formal school situation. Let us pray that they will find in that experience a truly helpful and holy time. , Rita Munn |
