Never thought it would happen to me.

My friends decided to play "devil's advocate" today and proceed to tell me that I had no clue what I'm getting into and Little-A is going to be an unsocialized freak who will never be a functioning member of society....simply because I'm taking him out of school.  One of these friend's cited the few homeschooled kids he knew, as did another.  One friend said he had a background in teaching so he knew what he was talking about.

These friends are barely into their 20's and NONE of them have kids of their own. 

I listened to them in the beginning, because they are my friends.  I tried to have a conversation about it, to let them know that yes I do realize this is going to be difficult; yes I know my reasons for taking Little-A out of public school are primarily selfish; no, I never said either way of schooling is better...it's just different; and damnit, NO...homeschooled kids are NOT unsocialized lepers!  And for the record, I have more teaching experience than the previous mentioned friend.  

They didn't listen.  They kept changing their words to say the same thing.  I told them to stop, that while I respected their opinions, this was my decision and I wasn't going to accept any negativity about it and that the conversation was over.  It didn't stop.   I left.  I hope that my son never hears cruel words like that because if he does, he'll never come around to the joy we can experience on this journey.

I'd like to say that those will be the last tears I shed over this matter, but I'm a lot more realistic then that.

Why I decided to do it.

First of all, I'm not exactly the type of person you would expect to homeschool.  I'm a single mom, a full-time student, and I don't have a job....but I love my boys and I want what's best for them.  Let me explain something right away.  My older son...my hummingbird, D...has had difficulty in the public school system ever since 1st grade.  He doesn't have the type of personality that thrives in that atmosphere....and he's suffering for it.  My younger son, Little-A, has never had any issues in school.  He's always been on honor roll, he's had stupendous teachers, great schools, and even better friends.

So why do I want to pull my son out of what appears to be something good for him?  It's selfish, and I know it.  I want to spend more time with my baby before he gets too old to want to hang out with me.  I want to experience him as the wonderful kid he is.  I want to be able to explore the world through his amazing eyes....and I want to do it before the public school system drains the creativity from him.

I want the same for D but it will be different for him because he's already going into 9th grade.  He's at the age where he's trying to be an adult but isn't exactly sure how.  I want to be his role model.  I want him to understand that learning shouldn't be stressful or something you have to do.  Learning should be fun and exciting and something you do every day simply because that's how life is.

D is ready...this goes without question.  Little-A is fighting me tooth and nail.  His biggest concern is that he'll never see his friends again.  He won't accept when I say he will, just not every day.  He wants to experience Middle School (he's going into 6th grade).  He doesn't want to be the new kid again and have to make new friends.

Am I nervous?  Yes....but I have faith in my abilities as a mother and a teacher and I know that my boys will turn out alright.  I believe in myself and my children....and my ability to find help when I get lost.

I'm also realistic.  I know it's not always going to be sunshine and rainbows, especially since they've both been in the PS school system for so long.  There's going to be a long period of deschooling before we start.  I'm prepared for this, and so far I've gotten nothing but encouragement.

Here's hoping it continues.