How can you possibly treat every child the same, when they are all so totally different?
Since my kids have been in school, I've learned that even if your kids share the same DNA, you can't just put them all in the same box (school) and tell them to GO! LEARN!
What works for one kid might actually be harmful for another.
Like my kids:My oldest is in regular public High School and although he could stand to do a little more homework, he does just fine, is popular, and is exactly where he wants to be.
My 8yr old, on the other hand, is in a highly sought-after public Preparatory Elementary School. This school takes more dedication than the average public school and requires mountains of more work from both the child & parents, but he absolutely THRIVES in this environment. He loves every second of his day, and we're hoping to continue with Prep. schools for Middle & High School as well.
Then, there is my 5 yr old. He's my special kid who has been through evaluations with multiple neurologists, ABA's & child psychologists and had a total of 3 separate diagnoses, to finally have his specialists settle on SPD.
My guy is what is called "Twice Exceptional" or "2E".
So, although he has some roadblocks, his learning potential is HUGE.
The kid was reading at 3 1/2. He writes little stories about being in the FBI.
He knows the science behind digestion and he can tell you detailed information about the solar system.
But in Kindergarten he was either so bored that he'd find something else to do or so overstimulated by his surroundings that he'd completely shut down, becoming uncommunicative.
A few times, he even hid in a quiet corner of the classroom or underneath the slide on the playground, just trying to get away.
When his teachers started telling me about this behavior, it really wasn't news to me.
I see this when I take him with me to a crowded store or busy playground, I see it when his half-siblings come for a visit & throw off his routine.
But this is his education, not a trip to the store or a visit with family, and knowing what he's capable of and how much he wants to learn, I just could not let another day like that go by.
So, we pulled him out of public school in favor on homeschooling.
As a mother, I want to do everything in my power to give all of my kids the tools & nurturing that they need to be successful in life, and I don't measure that success solely by how much money they will make or how well they perform when asked.
I measure it by things like the smile I get when they've done something they've never tried before, or how proud and supportive they are of each other and how much they want to learn.
A desire for education of any kind, not just the kind you get in the public school system, is so important.
If you have that when you're young, it will carry you through life. It leads to open minds & open hearts and a willingness to understand not just things but more importantly, other people, and we need so much more of that in this world.
Is homeschooling one child and having 2 others in 2 different schools on opposite sides of the city easy and convenient? No. But I refuse to shove them all in the same box just because it benefits me.
