Why We Are Choosing To Become “Crazy Quad Homeschoolers”
I guess it’s time to answer the anticipated “What Are You Doing for Kindergarten?” Our local schools returned to a new school year last Thursday, but we weren’t quite ready just yet. We haven’t exactly {ever} been traditional, and this school thing isn’t going to be the exception.
It’s an individual family decision. We aren’t doing this out of disgust for the public system. We aren’t motivated to make our kids the smartest, or the most independent, the most sheltered, or the weirdest. This isn’t a permanent education decision for our family. It’s simply what works for us in the now.
For a variety of reasons, we are choosing a home-based/and part-time tutorage program for this year. Will we be life-long homeschoolers? Never say never….but highly highly doubtful.
There are multiple reasons that we’ve chosen this for our family this year, and I’m sure you will all agree with me that parents know their own children best, and that we made this decision with their best in mind.
A few that we are willing to share with you include:
- It works with our at home schedules. With Brad and I both working from home, our schedules remain more flexible, and this works well with home-based learning.
- We aren’t in love with the all-day, full-day only option for public kindergarten education. It might be optimal for most families, but we didn’t feel like it would be a good fit for our boys this year.
- A door {make that four} opened that we thought was firmly closed for the part-time tutorage program. Our boys will be enrolled in a kindergarten class that will cover subjects that will enrich their studies at home, as well as allow them to socialize with others their age, and receive instruction from adults who aren’t their parents.
- We are always up for a new adventure and challenge. Easy street isn’t a path we’ve worn down, so we’ll embrace this new adventure in stride. It’s going to take patience, time, and an extra measure of grace, but we’re excited with the possibilities.
- The decision of separating them into twos or four separate classes can be put on the back burner for another year. It’s a tricky decision unique to parents of multiples, and there’s no easy decision. It’s one I still dread making in the future.
- We have a unique opportunity within our family to parent and teach a small “class” of boys through hands on learning and more individual instruction. We’re hoping that this year will give them an opportunity to thrive as individual learners, and unify them more as brothers.
Is this what we think is right for every family? Nope.
Are there other unlisted factors that led us to our decision? Indeed.
Is it what we plan to do permanently? Uh-uh.
Are we/will we face criticism for it? You betcha.
Is it going to be overwhelming at times? Most definitely.
Are we going to make the best of this school year and this opportunity? YEPS!
{I hope I’ve communicated our decision in a most respectful way. Schooling is a very weighty and emotion-filled topic. It’s an individual decision for families, and we would appreciate your support and prayers as we continue to seek wisdom from above for parenting our four.}
Awesome. Somehow I was hoping I’d hear that from you 🙂 We’re halfway thru our kindergarten year here at home this year with our four – of course, I’m a little jealous your four are all the same age and you only have to think about one curriculum at a time, instead of occupying a kindergartner, a preschooler, a toddler, and a newborn 🙂
Amen! Very well written! Hope that it goes well for you and your sweet boys!
Oh Jen! Such grace here … and I love that you are keeping those boys home for learning this year. I cannot wait to read all the adventures you have and live vicariously through you!!
Praying for you all.
xo
So happy for you! You will love that time with them, and I know you will do an awesome job. You will never regret it. Homeschooling is a great option for busy boys! My twins are starting homeschool this year as well. My oldest just graduated and so I start round 2 of home educating.
God bless!
You are making the best decision because it’s the best decision for your family. I don’t have any kids yet, but even as someone who works in the public schools, I have really considered homeschooling mine when the time comes. It is going to depend on what our family is doing and looks like at the time. Enjoy it!
No worries! I was homeschooled until high school and absolutely loved it. You are making a FANTASTIC decision!
You are totally going to rock it! Also, can I send Nola to you? 🙂
Good for you guys! Happy you’re doing what works for YOUR family. I’m sure you’re following your mommy-gut and knowing what’s right for you all. 🙂
Love this post!! We haven’t made any official decisions about our kids’ schooling, but we very well may head down the same path!
And as someone who spent K-12 being homeschooled, I definitely appreciated all of the time that my mom poured into my education! On the rough days, just remember that someday they will thank you for doing what you feel is best for them this year!
Welcome to my world Jen! I wasn’t always an “on-board” homeschooler …but 18 years later and five kids still to go…I don’t regret it. Also, as a twin I’m glad for the “together school grades” I had with my sister as well as the times when we were separated. My mom didn’t asked the system to treat us any differently than the individuals that we were and I’m glad for that today.
Hooray! That takes courage, guts and a heaping amount of patience! I’m sure it will be a great adventure for you and the little men. Always trust that you know what is best for your kiddos 🙂
Jen, I’m so excited for you! I home schooled Kate one year, and I really want to do it again. My biggest motivation for doing it is just to have more time with them. I am so jealous of teachers who get more time with my kids than I do. We pray and agonize about school every year. May God bless you and Brad as you take this on. You’ll love it, and so will the boys!
FANTASTIC – Just the little I know of your family through your posts I think this will be a loving, fun, spiritual, educational time for all of you….. (and yes at times trying but hey, life is trying!!!)
My girlfriend’s son and his wife have 8 kids under the age of 14 and they homeschool all of them!!
Wishing you the awareness of God’s everlasting grace….
We were so grateful that our school still does half-day kindergarten when our twin boys were ready to start. For us it has worked best to supplement public school education with learning at home but we respect others’ school choices. Good luck! Wishing you heaps of patience!
Thanks for these well-written, tactful thoughts. I’m considering homeschooling for my kids for the same reasons. The question I keep coming to is – why not?
Thank you for this post! We are at this very moment making the same decision to homeschool our 4 year old son, and finding it a big leap to make. We worry about what our families and friends will think, and I love love love the way you laid it out here. I may be posting something modeled off this wonderful post very soon. Blessings and have fun with the homeschooling…I think it is going to be a huge joy in our lives!
Girl, you’ll never regret it! I have YET to meet a homeschooling family who morns all the wonderful years they are able to soak up with one another. It truly is a blessed life. xoxo
Your home school plan sounds awesome! Good luck, and I’m sure you will ALL have fun, learn a lot, and make some great memories this year. My twins are starting public school kinder this year (1/2 day) and I know it’s going to be a hard transition (for ME!) I am not a home school mom, but I can totally understand and respect your decision to do this. It’s something I’ve thought about (a lot), but just doesn’t seem realistic for us. I struggled, too, with the question of whether to split them up or keep them in the same class – we chose to request same class this year. I want them to get to experience life with their best-buddy/brother right at their side as much as possible, for as long as they can! 😉
I hope you and your boys have an amazing year together!
I decided to keep my twins at home for kindergarten..and they are still at home starting 7th grade this fall! I love the flexibility and I love having them around. You have been making the best decisions for your family thus far and God has blessed you for it. I wouldn’t expect too much criticism..mostly people will just be awed by you! It will bless you more than you know!
Seriously amaze me! Homeschooling is a very personal decision but I truly believe you’ll love it. The boys have such a bond that is worth so much. Good luck!
Very well communicated. We have taken one year at a time and have loved it more each year. There are always those who disagree and misunderstand. But when you’re doing what you believe God has planned for your family there’s nothing better. And northern Indiana is a GREAT place to homeschool. Lots of support and opportunities for enrichment. We’re getting ready to start 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades next week . Hope you have fun!
I love this post. It is something I have considered over and over being that I was home schooled, and am a well adjusted, un-awkward, more than able to function in social settings adult. 🙂 You will not regret it. The one thing that I ADORE about homeschooling is the chance to put the Lord into EVERY subject taught, which is the most important thing anyway. Bless you guys!
You are a great example of how to respectfully yet still sincerely share your heart and your life with people. I’m sure this will be an awesome adventure for your family!
What a wonderful post! Our two will be two within the next month and it’s been on my heart to homeschool (not so much the hubby’s, but we’re working on that…). I’m so happy for this decision, and just by following your blog, I’m not surprised at all! Those boys have that amazing bond and what an encouragement it’ll be to have them all together to learn from each other!
I will be curious to see how the year goes for you! Please blog about it! :~) Will be praying for you….for grace and patience. What a great reminder you and Brad are that family is so, so important and that time with the little ones runs short on us!
Blessings on your family and your new adventure!
I agree with the “not surprised at all”. 🙂
Wow So well written. I am wishing that I could some how wrap my brain around homeschooling, as I strongly desire to do so. I just don’t believe I have the capability to do so. I look forward to cheering you on through this year. And maybe I will learn from you and prayerfully be able (if it is the Lords will) to follow in your footsteps next year….
Agree, well written! I was saying, yes, yes, yes! the whole time I was reading. 🙂
I’m so happy our neighborhood school had 1/2 day 4K and then full day 5K. Seems too much to send them from being home all day to being in school all day. I loved your post because it wasn’t all about ‘everyone should homeschool, it’s the only way’.
We live in the same school district as you. 🙂
I totally respect your decision; as their parents, you know what is best for your children and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about the decisions you make for them, ever.
That said, I was a little intimidated by the thought of sending my kids into the local *big* school system….but we love it. If/when the time comes for your boys to go to the local public schools, I think you’ll be quite pleased with it.
My middle child will start kindergarten next year….eek!
Keep us posted on how the adventure goes in the coming year! 🙂
That is awesome! I love following your blog! Good luck with your homeschooling, I am sure you will enjoy it! We are starting preschool at home this year =)
woot – I just happen to know someone who homeschools ;p
Jen, I am blown away by how awesome our God is. God clearly lead Derek and I into a 2 month period of prayer over our children and their education. We too are homeschooling this year. I am overjoyed to play this crucial role in their lives right now. I would love to stay in touch this year and be an encouragement to one another. Praying for you sister!!!!!!
1. I love the heart behind this post!!
2. Welcome to the “we’re doing it THIS year, and we’ll reevaluate NEXT year” homeschool journey! I’m so there with you… this is what works for OUR family for THIS year. LOVE that we have the freedom to make these choices for our family’s best interests!
With God’s grace you will rock at this home schooling gig!
The question you forgot was “Will we receive incredible support if we homeschool?” The answer is a resounding YES! Just like you, I know a LOT of people. I have ONE person, in my life, who is very verbal against our homeschooling choice. (We’re on year 8, btw!) That is a great grandfather whose completely clueless about how my kids are doing, btw.
Anyway, don’t feel pressured to school your boys in whatever way God leads you. He’s chosen YOU and BRAD to be their parents and I know you’re seeking His will in EVERY aspect of their lives, just as you’ve done from the beginning.
I know you’ll do great and I will be very surprised if you don’t love it. I know it’s been the best decision we’ve made for our family. If God leads you to do something different at some point, then that will be just as awesome.
Yay for the freedom of schooling choices for our precious miracles!
Ugh! That should say “who’s”! That’s what I get for being in a hurry!
Enjoy! It is wonderful to hear parents make decisions that are best for their children even if it is a bit more work for themselves. We have never regretted our decision to choose an alternative school option for our daughter and we love the flexability as well. Children grow up so quickly that we need to enjoy them and let them enjoy life while guiding them on the right path.
I like your attitude. Never say never! That is how are family has approached homeschooling as well, we feel like we are in it till they graduate but we really take it year by year and child by child.
My mom homeschooled each of my siblings and I for kdg and 1st grade. By 2nd grade we were 8 and in PA you have to start submitting proof of what you are doing at home to the state once your child is that age so she sent us to public school starting then. I am so glad I got to experience both! We didn’t have any multiples in our family (although my brother and I were only a grade apart and were pretty close at that age) so other than the reasons you listed related to that, I would have to say your reasons are good ones and probably a lot of the same ones she had. The individual attention in those grades are great because it sets the foundation for future learning. And we got to have Bible lessons. And there are so many things you can do with a couple kids that are too chaotic to do with a whole classroom of kiddos (I’m a teacher, so I’m speaking from experience here 🙂 ). I remember neither grade taking more than half the day which is great for kids of that age. I doubt your boys are ready to sit for a whole day yet! I still remember many things from my 2 homeschool years and I’m thankful that my parents were willing to make some sacrifices to start my education that way. I also enjoyed my regular education years immensely once I got there.
Very graciously said! I’m happy for your boys and the family adventures ahead. We homeschooled 6 years in the “pioneer days” of that schooling choice. We are convinced that those days God gave us to be the primary disciplers of our girls’ academic lives, as well as their spiritual and emotional tutors, were key to who they’ve become and our family joys. Having personal experience teaching homeschool, private school, and public school, I understand God works through all venues and seasons. I’m happy for your family and hope you catch the serendipity joys of these days.
Well said! Wishing you the best! We are homeschooling our 5 year old this year, too, and at first I was nervous with many of his friends starting back to public school a few weeks ago. He even begged me to go on a bus to “real” school! But we are starting a new curriculum Monday and I can’t wait. We are all excited around here (we just have one 5 yr old, but he has two younger brothers.) I am looking forward to doing school as a family. Like you said, it’s what works best for us now, for this year, and we will get flack for it, but I am glad to be part of a support group.
Jen and Brad,
Today is the 1st time I’ve seen your site. Amen to your decision to home school the boys. Your decision was well thought out and prayed over so you know you’re doing the right thing this year. I too like it that you’re taking one year at a time. My daughter, Alicia, is homeschooling her daughter. She started homeschooling her for her freshman year of high school. It was scary starting home schooling at the high school level, but she knew it was best for Shelby. Shelby loves it! She is now beginning her junior year. She was in private school for all her other school years (her younger brother is still in private school). I help Alicia teach Shelby one or two subjects each year and she goes to a prep class for 2 classes this year. You have to do what is best for you and your children. You know them better than anyone else. You will not regret this special decision.
Sharon, it was so great to hear from you! Thank you for your support and prayers! Send our love to the family!