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Homeschooling from the Perspective of a Girl at 17

So before I start this post written by my 17 year old daughter, Missy.....I want all you Moms to know that even though our family loves homeschooling (especially the HOME part) we know that it isn't for everyone. Please take our excitement of it for what it's worth and just know that we encourage you to choose what works best for you and your family and leave the guilt behind. ;)

Alright, so many of you guys know that my mom homeschools us kids. She absolutely loves it, but I always think it’s nice to have the products opinion too. So what does yours truly think about this whole weird homeschooling thing? *Big grin* Gosh, you’re in for a treat!

Before I was old enough to be put in public school, my mom felt like she should homeschool. I guess my dad wasn’t as excited about it. Let’s just say she got him on her side. And so it began. I didn’t really know what was going on. I’d always been at home, I didn’t know anything was supposed to change. My mom started to teach me how to read. We got involved in a co-op group, where I made friends there that are still some of my besties to this day. That’s all I really remember about the beginning.

Eventually I realized that I was weird just because I didn’t go to “Normal School.” But as I recall, everyone was more envious than anything else. And darn, they ought to have been! ;) My mom eventually learned about TJed and not a bit too soon. She learned about the Keys of learning:

Classics, not text books.
Mentors, not professors.
Inspire, not require.
Structure time, not content.
Quality, not conformity.
Simple, not complex.
You, not them.

- Oliver DeMille

Kinda different from public school. Mom decided to give it a go. Much to my thanks! I guess she was a little nervous, though I’m not sure why. She began to fill our home with the best learning resource ever. Books! Not just any books, good books. The best books. Classics. She inspires us by doing what she loves and encouraging us to do the same. It’s so simple! She mentors us even if it’s not really her doing the lessons. She provides wisdom, help and support.

I lived off of Little House, Dr. Suess, The Boxcar Children and Louis L'amour for the first few elementary years of my life. Soon adding in other things as I got older. Like Little Women and anything having to do with history. Now I read a little bit of everything. Scratch that. A LOT of everything.

Books are my primary sustenance. Have been for as long as I can remember. Give me a few good books, a stack of notebooks and an endless supply of pencils and you’ll never hear from me again. Books, isn’t all of it though. I’ve taken lots of online and live classes where I can speak with other mentors associate with like minded people, where I can learn outside of the pages of a book.

I don’t know what I would do without any of them. As I’ve gotten older I’ve wanted less play and more study time. My parents actually have to tell me to quit studying. By leaving me mostly alone I’ve learned more than I ever would have with a super stiff and structured schedule at home or at school.

My mom loves homeschooling. She loves it not just because it’s so easy for her, it’s so easy for all of us. We are getting the quality education each of us kids need individually. We can focus on what makes us great. I’ve always wondered why we cram a bunch of kids in one place all day long teaching them all the same thing and then say we are all different and no two people are alike. Home educating individualizes it for the mother, father and each child.

Homeschooling allows me to be myself without having to be afraid of anything. It’s so adaptable that it works for any family. Words can’t accurately describe how much I love homeschool, and hey, words are my thing. When my public school friends say their school is fun and I ask why the only answer I get is the social aspect of it. Yeah...I’m not going to go into that one. ;) I have friends. Pinky swear.