So here goes:
1997 - I got my first teaching job in a charter school. My thoughts on homeschooling: Homeschooling is for those SuperMoms and the Lazy/Crazy Moms (the ones who end up in the courts/newspapers) and that most homeschooled children are "behind".
2000 - My first child was born (with a temper)! My thoughts about homeschooling were pretty much the same. I stayed home with her for a year and was "bored"! She was a preemie so she slept 20 some-odd hours a day!
2001 - Went back into the school system...still thought homeschoolers were Saints and/or Crazy.
2004 - Unicorn went to preschool.
2005 - Unicorn skipped KG and went to 1st...Homework was a nightmare! I thought we were going to kill each other. Homeschool was DEFINITELY for Saints and Crazies!
and so it continued...UNTIL...
January 2010 - Unicorn is now in 4th grade (repeating 2nd once), Ladybug is 3 (almost 4) and Monkey is 1 (almost 2). I have quit working in the public school system and am teaching preschool in my home (Ladybug is attending). Unicorn is continuing to fall behind in Math, picking up bad habits at school (stealing, lying, etc.) and I have had some conflicts with her teacher and her IEP was being changed (again) and not in a benefical way!
Homeschool? Can I? Will she fight me like she does during homework time? Will we both survive? Where do I start? and the list went on.
I didn't know any homeschoolers at the time so I began to research and "question" my family (and her dad) about it (I was testing to see if I would have their support or if it was another decision I would have to defend). I was surprised by how well everyone responded!
In April of 2010, I pulled Unicorn out of school (just before the mandetory state test that is NOT required for Homeschoolers)! We took it easy as I tested out some curriculum. We focused on Math (her biggest struggle) and Reading (her favorite) and Religion. We pretty much did this all summer (except when Unicorn was at her dad's house).
In August we started up full-time AND...
SO FAR SO GOOD! I love having her home...we are both still alive and she is "catching up" in Math and excelling in all other areas! She is even learning Latin (and loving it)!
Thank you The HomeSchool Villiage for asking about this...I think it is great to document our homeschooling adventures!
