Homeschooling Experience: As an Adult, Looking Back

Oh, the irony! He didn't even like school. Nothing about school was enjoyable and he definitely didn't like being homeschooled. Maybe, he was just embarrassed that it wasn’t cool enough. I don't know what it was. He always seemed like he wanted something different. I could tell that Mom and Dad got frustrated with my brother at times. Even though I was a good bit younger. I felt some of his distaste and disdain for some of the life choices that our parents had made. I saw the sacrifice that our parents made, but I wondered if he did as much growing up. Why couldn’t he just be okay with what Mom and Dad felt like was the best form of education for us?

It's just funny how people think so differently. I was perfectly happy with being homeschooled. He just wasn't happy then, but now, he's a doctor of physical therapy!

People are just funny. They change. I wish I was more like him sometimes. He's got this brain that is so logical and matter of fact. He’s kinesthetically oriented. He always enjoyed exercise. I didn't really enjoy exercising as much. I just felt awkward. I got married and ironically, my wife had such a mixed view on her homeschool experience too. I think it was because she was made fun of by people during her homeschooling years. She did have a lot of friends that went to public school. Maybe she felt like the odd person out most of the time.

I just embraced the culture of homeschooling. It allowed me to be independent, yet free. It gave me structure. I felt as if I had full control of my education and I felt like I was in control of where I was going in life. I knew that if I didn't invest in my education then I wouldn't reap very many benefits and that's why I gave everything I had into the process. I put everything I had into it. I spent all my extra time reading. I opened up a retirement account at the age of eighteen. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do career-wise. Going to a state college, just kind of changed my way of thinking a lot… It’s just funny how serious I was in high school and then college made me a bit less focused or long-term-minded. Basically, in college I did whatever I needed to just get A’s but there was less motivation to challenge myself beyond the grade of an “A.”

I know that being homeschooled prepared me for college academically. I think it's neat that I ended up marrying someone who was homeschooled kindergarten through twelfth grade. I specifically wanted to be married to someone who had grown up with similar experiences and backgrounds and indeed that is what happened.

Now, as I have a daughter who’s four years old, it's difficult thinking what is best for her should we send her to public school? Should we send her to private school? Private school is expensive. Should we homeschool her? Could my wife who's a college student currently herself handle that? Honestly, I don't know how my parents did it. How could they afford it? I have to say homeschool families are incredible for that reason. Generally speaking, they live with only one household income. It’s typically the father who works outside of the home.

Anyhow, in this day and age, there are more schooling options than ever before. It can be overwhelming when deciding what schooling option is the best fit for your child or children. I didn’t expect to get so stressed about deciding what type of school would be best for my daughter. What was your grade school experience like? If you could go back in time and do something differently, would you?