My 5-year-old Danae is in Kinder. She goes to Kidvantage Learning Center, a school 10 minutes away from our house. We were always open to homeschooling, but seeing that Danae enjoyed her first tries at school so much and that she’s such a people person, we decided to enroll her in a regular school — a small school, whose teacher to student ratio is ideal (1 plus 1 assistant is to 12) and whose teaching styles, activities and results I am quite happy with, and whose teachers are very approachable. I believe a small school is the next best thing to homeschooling, because I can better monitor my child’s progress and growth than if she were in a big school. Oh and did I mention that I do not believe I am patient enough to create a lesson plan myself, let alone teach my kid daily? Funny thing is I used to work as a teacher, and I think I’m a pretty okay teacher. But reviewing for Danae’s exams this school year just proved to me that we should not YET do homeschool, for my sake and hers. Needless to say, there were times we both got exasperated and frustrated.
So why on earth did I ask her which she preferred between regular school and homeschool last week??? I wasn’t even thinking. Maybe I was expecting her to say something else, but man, was I unprepared for her answer! She actually told me that she wanted to do homeschool. She said she wants to just do homework, and that I should just buy the books. What!!??? I thought for sure she’d tell me she loves school and that she’d miss her friends. Instead she told me she wants to do what her friends Pablo and Jaden are doing.
I panicked in my head, knowing that I will not be able to pull that off so soon! I was set to enroll her for next year already. So I resolved to make a deal with Danae. WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE WILL TRY HOMESCHOOLING IN 1ST GRADE.
When I told my friends, they laughed (because they know me and my apprehensions) and gave me all the selling points of homeschooling — no more homework because all the work is done at home, no more tardiness, I can meet Danae at her level, our schedule will be more flexible, and so on. What solidified the decision to wait till and start in 1st grade was what my friend Michelle said. Her 3rd son Jaden will be in 1st grade the same year that Danae is!!! That makes me feel so much better — that I can ask help from a veteran homeschooling mom (she’s been homeschooling her boys for at least 9 years I imagine, since her eldest is now 12), and ride along her lesson plans and then learn from there. The task doesn’t seem as daunting anymore.
So as I gave my word to Danae, we’re homeschooling in June 2012. I have more than a year to prepare the curriculum, lesson plan, etc…to prepare Danae, and most especially to prepare myself. We’ll take it a year at a time. God help me! 🙂
Phoebe's Sari-Sari Stories 
22 years ago, we decied to give 1st grade a try with homeschooling…six kids later we are still at it! Good luck on your adventure!
wow, you must be a super mom, molly ann! thank you for visiting my site and for your encouragement. God bless you. 🙂
If for some reason we became unhappy with our boys’ school I would homeschool them.
parentingpassageway.com has some great homeschooling ideas, and some great parenting info too – it’s Waldorf based, so a truly holistic curriculum…if that’s what you’re looking for. Good luck, and have fun!
thank you karynn! 🙂
Good luck! Just relax, it’s actually a lot easier (and more fun) than it seems at first 🙂
thanks jennifer, for encouraging me and for visiting my site. i will do my best to prepare so i won’t be too overwhelmed when the time comes. 🙂
Wow! Good decision! We are here for you Phoebs!! you know that 🙂 Welcome to the world of homeschooling !
thanks ging! really appreciate your support. 🙂
Go, go, teacher mommy phoebe! Considering the quality of support you’ll get from your friends who are also into homeschooling, I have a feeling you’ll do just fine 🙂
Btw, about getting exasperated with reviewing danae for her exams, well… brace yourself for an even more challenging schoolyear ahead! I had a more difficult time with matt this schoolyear not because he was not studying well but more on the fact that his lessons were just too advanced for his age. The school knows this is a major concern and as much as they want to ease the pressure off their students, they don’t have much choice but to adjust their curriculum to the requirements of the “big schools.” Just stretch your patience 🙂
thanks for the heads up, che! planning to keep her summer productive, so she’ll be somewhat ready for prep. what’s your plan for matt this coming school year? staying or transferring? 🙂
you can do it. i had commented on thammie sy’s blog a few months back when she had made mention of wanting to homeschool saying: if God has called you to do it, He will give you the grace and strength and provision to do it.
i know because i am a full-time-working single mom (working in an office with a boss) but i have also been homeschooling for the past 6 years now =]
if i can do it, anybody can! check out abeka products…that’s what i use
oh my gosh, you’re a super duper mom! wow! true, God will supply all that I need to homeschool, including wisdom and patience. thanks for the encouragement, patricia. i’m a bit familiar with abeka books. they were my books in high school. thanks for the tip. 🙂
wow phoebs! go go go 🙂
I actually thought about this when ethan was less than a year old and someone told me: if you’re asking about whether it’s right for you or not, maybe it isn’t. But I guess what she meant for me to understand is it’s a calling? …and now that we’re 2 years old, yeah, maybe it isn’t my calling hahaha 🙂 that’s one of my “hopes” though but I don’t think I have the patience and discipline to do it.. 😦
another parent said it is super great joy when your child starts reading and you know you were the one who taught him/her. sarap lang talaga the idea that you are teaching your child. at least you can try by 1st grade. ako toddler palang i don’t even have the patience to sit and read for more than 15mins 😦
i don’t have the patience either, claire. but i think timing tlga. grade 1 is the right time for us to start. don’t close your doors yet. 🙂 but i agree with you, not every mom is fit to home school and not every child is a right fit for homeschooling. you’re the mom, and i’m sure you know what’s best for you and for ethan. 🙂