Why We Homeschool

There are dozens of reasons to homeschool. Some homeschool for religious reasons or to enhance educational achievement, but we tend to believe that education is an individual matter.

For us, we haven't always been homeschoolers. Princess was in fifth grade before we embarked on homeschooling. At the time, all of our children were having difficulty in school. Princess was just hitting puberty with all the usual hormonal mood disorders that tend to crop up at that time. AB was in the first grade, bringing home hours of homework each night and failing to complete his work in class. And I was called to the school at least twice a week to deal with Precious, who was constantly getting into trouble for hyperactivity.

We tried going the medical route, consulting with psychiatrists and psychologists and behavioral therapists, but that made things worse. Precious began to display obsessive-compulsive behaviors, even plucking out his own eyelashes! Weight loss was common for Precious and AB, and all of our children were miserable.

We tried working with the school district, but after months of trying to agree to some accommodations, we eventually realized that with the amount of effort we were putting into dealing with our inflexible school, we were getting nowhere.

So we began homeschooling, and things have been looking up. We're able to modify their education to fit their own strengths and weaknesses, and with greater supervision and personal attention, they've both been doing wonderfully!

That's not to say that our homeschooling journey has been without its ups and downs! We've gone through dozens and dozens of curricula, educational philosophies, and plans. Our daughter has returned to public school and, with a little more maturity, is doing quite well.

And the truth is that homeschool is never going to go according to plan, because homeschool is a part of real, everyday life. Kids get sick. Moms get pregnant. And the Army sends orders down so that the entire family has to move across the country. Life happens, and it doesn't happen in a vacuum.

But that's okay. Because it's a way to teach our children how to live. So we make our plans, and then we roll with the punches.

About This Blog

There are dozens of theories about why ADHD occurs. Some say that it's entirely genetic, and it's obvious that there's a genetic component. Others say it's a result of environment, but while environment can help to mitigate or enhance the symptoms, it pales in comparison to the impact of genetics. Some say that diet can help to eliminate symptoms, although those theories are controversial.

But my favorite explanation of ADHD is as an adaptation. I look at my own children and don't see their uniqueness as a "disorder", but as a different way of thinking. The question is one of perspective.

Is Precious "hyperactive"? Or "energetic"?
Is AB "inattentive"? Or "imaginative"?
Is Princess "emotionally unstable"? Or "passionate"?

I do believe that words are powerful. Our words determine how we view the world, and when applied to our children, they can have a tremendous impact on how we relate to them.

Then I ran across a theory of ADHD that states that ADHD is actually an adaptive mechanism. The theory goes that some people are geared to be "hunters", but our world is designed to meet the needs of "farmers". Hunters don't do well in farming society, not when they're expected to conform to the farmers' way of doing things.

I have a houseful of these "hunters". I have children who are passionate, loyal, gregarious, energetic, courageous, and bold. When forced to conform to prevailing societal views on childhood behavior, they would be ostracized and told that they're "wrong", but those same traits that hinder them in school can be advantages as an adult.

As a mother of five very different children, I've learned that every child is imbued with their own unique personality and temperament. I've seen it from birth onward. And I've finally come to peace with the knowledge that my job as a mother is not to transform my children into what I want them to be, but to guide them and shape them to be the best person that THEY are destined to become.

With that in mind, I enjoy life with my hunters. An outsider might think it's exhausting (and it is!) or overwhelming (and it can be!), but at least we're always having FUN!

About Us

First, a brief introduction to our family.

I am a thirty-something stay-at-home mom. My husband is on active duty in the Army, and we have five children.

"Princess" is fifteen years old and attends a public high school. She loves music and art, spending time with her friends, and she has a cat, Tigger. She, like a lot of teenage girls, struggles with depression and anxiety. She's incredibly intelligent and passionate about the things she loves, and she has a way with money, business, and finance that boggles me!

"Angel Boy" is eleven and recovering from back surgery. He has an ADHD diagnosis. As a child, his nickname was "Angel Baby". He's always been friendly and easy-going, but he sometimes lives in his own world. His doctors say he's "ADHD-Inattentive". He's not hyperactive, but he doesn't always pay attention to what his old teachers wanted him to pay attention to. He's homeschooled.

"Precious" is a nine-year-old boy who's ADHD-Hyperactive. He's energetic, persistent, and can be very emotional and emotionally impulsive. He's also homeschooled, and while he's a lot of fun, he's also quite an exhausting adventure to be with!

"Little Guy" is three years old. If Precious was hyperactive, Little Guy takes it to a whole new level. He's fun, energetic, impulsive, and an accident waiting to happen! He can be very domineering or very sweet, depending on his mood, and while some of that is expected at his developmental level, he most definitely shows all the signs of ADHD himself.

Then there's "Bitty Bug". He's nine months old now and as easygoing and gentle as Angel Boy was. He's more social and engaging than Angel Boy was at that age, always smiling and soliciting response and responding to others. Time will tell how he responds as he ages, but we'll see what happens!

So that's us! Considering the prevalence of ADHD in my family, it's likely that I have it myself. I definitely show some of the signs of it, although I've never bothered trying to be diagnosed.

My husband, on the other hand, is Mr. Stability! He keeps us all stable and tries to help encourage us all to behave like "civilized" human beings, whatever that's supposed to mean! ;)

We invite you to join us in our journey. We'll be homeschooling, struggling to keep the house clean, moving around with the Army, raising babies, and living life. But be forewarned: It's going to be a wild ride!