Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Continued...

I found some time tonight so I thought I would continue with my thoughts from earlier:

When my oldest started kindergarten I found myself wanting to go to the school and peek in the windows to see what she did all day, if she was making friends, if the teacher was nice to her. At the time I felt that was crazy! "Let her go," I remember telling myself! "She has to grow up" But it continued through 1st grade too! This year she is in 3rd grade and at the beginning of this year I didn't have these feelings any longer but I do remember feeling like I was losing touch with her a bit. We also sent our middle daughter to kindergarten this year. She is in school for just 1/2 a day so my feelings of losing touch with her aren't as strong.

This year our oldest (Sissy) has been having some trouble in her class. She says the class is very loud and the kids don't follow directions and it is very distracting. She also doesn't like that the entire class gets punished for the behavior of a few kids (who can blame her?) I have also noticed that she has been struggling with spelling this year. In December I called the principal about the behavior in class and the fact that Sissy was asking me to not make her go to school anymore because she was angry that they were missing subjects (like computer lab being cut short because of bad behavior, or missing Social Studies for the same reason). The principal informed me that she would take care of things but nothing changed. At this point in time I was feeling a leaning toward learning about home schooling. A friend of mine home schools so I knew I could ask questions but I honestly was fighting it! I don't WANT to home school. I want all my girls to grow up a bit and start school and then I can get a job during the day and make some money and get my life back. But I began realizing that the kids are my life and maybe that role isn't supposed to change already.

In Jan. I called the principal back and told her that Sissy was still saying, "Don't make me go back to school mom! I can't even think in that class!" So, I sat down with the principal, teacher and school counselor. They were all very attentive but I left realizing that no matter what the adults tell a class, you can never make them all behave and you can never gear learning toward all 30 kids and have them all succeed. I started checking books out from the library on home schooling to become educated about it and I was praying like mad! I promised God and my dh that whatever God prompted me to do, I would listen. Even if I don't want to!

So, the day of that last meeting I told my husband that his wish will come true! We'll begin home schooling our soon to be 4th grader and 1st grader in the fall! Sissy knows and is excited! I haven't told the kindergartner because she can't grasp it anyway. I'd rather wait till school is over to this year to explain it to her. I'm actually excited now and can't wait to see how our family grows and changes as we continue to listen to the Lord.

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