Homeschooling/Unschooling

First grade is approaching and I am nervous. One reason I won’t put my children into public school, is because I know that I will get told that they can’t sit still and they need medication. Who can sit still for 8 hours, I couldn’t do it. Trying to get my sons to sit for more than 10 minutes at a time is torture, unless they are doing something they want to do of course.

THAT is the issue, even I have trouble reading a book if it doesn’t grab my attention. How am I supposed to expect them to do it? So, I am wondering how to make learning fun (for the most part).

I have been researching both homeschooling and Unschooling. Homeschooling I am the teacher, Unschooling the kids learn on their own and we learn along with them. The problem is that the boys are stuck on super hero mode, all they want to do is fight bad guys, which it would be okay if it wasn’t the only thing they’d want to do. 

I have actually taken away superheroes on school days so they can use their imagination playing with other things, but they ask over and over when they can play with them again. I would love to get rid of superhero everything, but my husband says that is extreme. I know that I just need to put my foot down and just not let them play with them on school days, which I do, but it sometimes it is just frustrating.

Another worry I have is curriculum. I’ll have to report to the school this year, so I am wondering how do I report a curriculum, if I am not planning on buying one. I just think, why do I need to buy a book to teach him to tell time and read a thermometer when I can teach him that by just having him do it with an actual clock and thermometer. I can make my own worksheet pages, just like I learned on school before printers and copy machines were used.  I just am not sure of this.

Socialization is important to me, but I am not worried about it because my boys play with their friends a lot and their cousins. Plus, one thing I get complimented on is on how well my children can carry a conversation. They are polite, make eye contact, they listen and think before they speak.

Although…a homeschooler’s schedule is hectic. Soccer here, swimming there, play dates here…it’s almost like living in I your vehicle. I wish there was a way to ease that up without compromising activities. It makes me more tired than when I worked banquets and 14 hour shifts. 

Final thing I am concerned with is music and art…I want my children to appreciate both. I also want them to create both…so I really need to move to a bigger place where they can have their instruments out. My big guy wants to play the drums. So off I am to try to find him a place to get him lessons.

Do you have any pointers for me? I will love you forever!