And Here We Go....

So I have decided to take on the adventure of Homeschooling! I had never really thought about it before or figured it would be an option - I just thought that Brenna would go to school when she started Kindergarten and that would be that. Everyone else does that, don't they?
So what exactly made me start thinking about it? Brenna started dance class in September '06 and one of the Moms there homeschools both her kids. I really wasn't too interested but asked questions because I was a little curious and was trying to make conversation. I then started reading a little about it on the Internet and the more I read the more I thought, "I really COULD do this!" The more information I got about homeschooling the more I realized that I just could NOT herd my daughter into the public school system. Scared about it? YOU BET! But I have a great support group that consists of my wonderful sister-in-law, Lisa, who is homeschooling her daughter as well, a great friend of mine who is starting the adventure along with me with her daughter and just about everyone else in my family who I have told about this (Thank you ALL by the way!).
Another realization I stumbled on was that I am already a homeschooler. I have been staying at home with Brenna since the day she was born and I tell you what - she is a smart little thing! I have taught her so much already so I figured why mess with something that is working so wonderfully?
I still have so much to prepare for for this upcoming Fall when we will 'officially' start. Brenna is very excited about it and tells everyone "my Mommy is going to homeschool me!" She is excited about taking trips to the library to fill that brain of hers with lots of info and being able to go places like the zoo or a museum to learn things instead of just reading it out of a textbook. How wonderful will THAT be?? To be able to learn things more hands on rather then just sitting in a classroom all day?
A lot of people worry about socialization. That has been the "big question" when it comes to telling certain people about our decision. And believe me, I worried about that too. But what most people don't realize is that kids really don't get to socialize all that much with their peers at school. Most friendships are formed away from school (Girl Scouts, dance class, ect...). You know what I read in the newspaper the other day? They do a "Student of the Day" type thing and these kids they pick answer certain questions. One of the questions is What is your favorite day of the week? This little 1st grader answered "Friday, because that is the day we get to play on the playground." WHAT?! I had heard that schools have cut back on recess time but ONE day a week? That's just crazy. Brenna will have plenty of interaction with other kids of ALL AGES (which is actually better then being stuck in a classroom all day with kids all your own age). We will be joining one of the homeschool groups here, she will continue her dance class and she will also start karate soon and she also wants to be in Girl Scouts. Sounds like a lot huh? Well without the 7 hour a day public school schedule things will be A LOT less hectic and we WILL be able to do all those things.

So exactly how long will I homeschool? I have no idea - I'm just taking it year by year. But I have a feeling that things are going to be wonderful and we will be doing this for quite sometime.