The One Word I Think of When I Hear Homeschooling

When I used to hear the word homeschooling, the thoughts weren’t always good. Now, for me, the one word I think of when I hear homeschooling may surprise you.

When I first started homeschooling I did it simply because I felt led. Through the years homeschooling has become to mean so much more to me. Used to, when I would hear the word homeschooling I would think “weird” or “Not for me”. Then, I began to think of it as “different”.  My first year or two I thought of it as “flexible”.

Now, one word comes to mind.

FREEDOM

Yes, for me, the one word I think of when I hear homeschooling is FREEDOM.

Freedom to work at our own pace.
Freedom to do things the way we see fit.
Freedom to raise our children OUR way.

Freedom to set standards that work for OUR family.

Freedom for my kids to just be kids.
Freedom to “do school” when we want to

Freedom to break away from the rigid schedule of public school

Freedom to NOT test if we don’t think it fits one of our children.

Freedom TO test based on our own CHOICE not because someone said we have to pass at a certain level.

Freedom to teach TO the child, and not TO state standards.

Freedom to teach our religious beliefs.

Freedom to avoid common core

Freedom to have school outside

Freedom to school year round

Freedom to travel when everyone else is in school

Freedom to follow our own interests

Freedom to learn because we WANT to, not because we HAVE to

Freedom to take days off because we want to

Yes, when I think of homeschooling I think of freedom. A freedom that I didn’t know was available before we began homeschooling. The freedom that had NOTHING to do with why we even began homeschooling. But, the freedom that I now know and love, and will NOT take for granted.

When I first began homeschooling, I had no real understanding of the history of it. I had no clue that years ago homeschooling parents literally HID from authorities. I had no clue that years ago homeschooling wasn’t even LEGAL in the United States. I had no clue that parents, like me, had to FIGHT for their right to homeschool.

Fast forward 6 years, and I truly appreciate the freedom I have in this country to homeschool.  The freedom of homeschooling means getting the government OUT of our homes and allowing us to CHOOSE HOW to educate our children.  I am so thankful for our homeschooling freedom, and for us, it is the one word I think about when I hear homeschooling.

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