Back To Homeschool, Hello Preschool

Here we are – it’s back to homeschool 2021/2022. The reaction to this decision has been relatively divided – understandably so. Why on earth would I go back to the craziness that was 2020? The truth is – though it was a bumpy year, in more ways than one, we finally found our footing. We figured out how to homeschool… 

However, the x factor that made things a little …. sticky, when it came to distraction, unpredictability, and creating more than a handful of regrettable moments of choosing to homeschool my then Grade 4 kiddo – boils down to a mere two words. 

THIS guy. 

HELLO PRESCHOOL!
I never thought I would be sending the eternal baby-of-the-family-even-when-he’s-already-in-his-50s to school at the ripe young age of 3. Believe me, sending my littlest little out of the house and keeping my biggest little home – was definitely NOT part of the plan. But we knew it had to be done if we were going to attempt this adventure of getting back to homeschool with my now Grade 5 star (and only) student. 

It’s only part-time, but it will give Little Mama and I, a decent block of hours each week, to get into the nitty gritty of current events and fractions.

And let’s face it – I don’t think this big little of mine is hating on the idea of having some Mama-and-Me action for a few hours a week – just like old times.

I would be lying if I denied that the Pandemic and the sudden rise in Delta Variant cases had no bearing on our decision to homeschool for the second year in a row. Full disclosure – It absolutely gives me a sense of relief to know that I can have my kiddo safe at home. However, the real reason why it was virtually a no-brainer to keep her home this year – is written all over this face of pure bliss right here….

One-on-one learning for my typically distracted and reluctant learner has been virtually life changing. I know many parents and families out there who may not see the benefits of homeschooling their kids. Some, may even find this seemingly unorthodox method of learning, detrimental and potentially damaging for their little learners. Admittedly, I was one of those naysayers once upon a time. In fact, in the fall of 2020, this decision was far from easy. I doubted my own abilities. I questioned the social impact of denying healthy development of day-to-day peer relationships. I was inundated with curriculum choices and alternative learning styles. And if my already screen-obsessed kiddo had yet another reason to have her face glued to a laptop but this time, for learning purposes – I was completely not all about it. 

But then the Pandemic happened, and we were all forced to hunker down and do our best to continue education at home. The choice was inadvertently, made for us.

And wouldn’t you know…. it worked out swimmingly! I mean – yes – it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but the pros unmistakably outweighed the cons. Gone, are the days of after school meltdowns. Gone, are the days of my introverted reluctant learner sitting by herself at the school picnic table drawing her depiction of the kids playing around her. Gone, are the days of hurried mornings, only to come in consistently late to class with my not so little Grade 3 girl kicking and screaming. Truth be told, life became even a little less stressful – for me….

I’ve come to realize that some kids learn optimally with one-on-one instruction, in the comforts of their own home, with flexibility and freedom to learn at their own pace. My daughter is unquestionably, one of those kids. She is finally thriving, eating better, sleeping better, learning better, and most importantly – SHE. IS. HAPPY.

Not surprising, however, focused learning with Little Mama, means more distraction all around, more song and dance to keep everyone stimulated, fed, and thriving, and less one-on-one time with the other sponge in my life...

Unlike his big sis, this guy thrives in a social environment, aches to learn at a fast and stimulating pace, and in keeping up with his reputation and hair – needs the carefree and uninhibited interaction of peers. Snuggles, stories and snip-its of learning with mommy, in between 30 minute homeschool with big sis, just doesn’t cut it for him. For this reason, we believed he needed to attend Preschool and meet some little humans his size. 

Maybe, just maybe, he’ll stop climbing the walls, and start swimming through the alphabet.

Finding out what fit best for our family’s lifestyle, learning styles, and personalities was KEY to deciding if we were going to go back to homeschool or enter the fun and murky waters of brick and mortar. It’s humbling to know that I can’t do it all, and that we really just have to roll with the punches when it comes to the little people in our lives. 

All I could ask for when it comes to my kids’ learning, is that they are having at least some element of fun (I mean, let’s be real – fractions and the rule of superlatives are a far cry, but I digress), that they’re absorbing information in whatever method they need, they feel confident and empowered, and mostly – that they are completely themselves. 

And that…. they are!

Happy Back to homeschool, school, and preschool to all your littles and big littles!