Yeah - I know - I'm posting the question to a bunch of homeschoolers hoping to hear affirmation of my decision.
My kids (now 11 and 8) have always been homeschooled. I actually still work from home a few hours a week in my old profession, but let's face it, the cash I bring in doesn't cover DH's taxes.
This summer, my kids are doing a play with 18 other kids. The vast majority of them have 2 working parents. And granted, we're about 50 miles from Wash., D.C., so the salaries are higher here. But these kids have soooooo much stuff. One just back from the Bahamas, one just back from Hawaii, one is on their way to Jamaica, two are going to Scotland in a few weeks. Where are my kids going? Camping.
These kids sit around during rehearsals texting on their blackberries (I'm hoping they're really Mom's that they lent in case they needed to call home). They have new clothes and their parents have new cars and the moms wear make-up and have their hair done. I wear jeans with a small spot on them and always seem to have a stray piece of chicken bedding in my hair. DH and I have enough money saved up to cover one disaster (just one). Our retirement fund is a joke.
And these other kids seem nice enough. They seem well-adjusted and get along with their parents. They seem smart enough.
I'm wondering if I gave up an awful lot of financial security and life enjoyment for ???? what exactly???? Maybe my kids would be happy, healthy, well-adjusted, and popular in public school just like everybody else.
Inchy
My kids (now 11 and 8) have always been homeschooled. I actually still work from home a few hours a week in my old profession, but let's face it, the cash I bring in doesn't cover DH's taxes.
This summer, my kids are doing a play with 18 other kids. The vast majority of them have 2 working parents. And granted, we're about 50 miles from Wash., D.C., so the salaries are higher here. But these kids have soooooo much stuff. One just back from the Bahamas, one just back from Hawaii, one is on their way to Jamaica, two are going to Scotland in a few weeks. Where are my kids going? Camping.
These kids sit around during rehearsals texting on their blackberries (I'm hoping they're really Mom's that they lent in case they needed to call home). They have new clothes and their parents have new cars and the moms wear make-up and have their hair done. I wear jeans with a small spot on them and always seem to have a stray piece of chicken bedding in my hair. DH and I have enough money saved up to cover one disaster (just one). Our retirement fund is a joke.
And these other kids seem nice enough. They seem well-adjusted and get along with their parents. They seem smart enough.
I'm wondering if I gave up an awful lot of financial security and life enjoyment for ???? what exactly???? Maybe my kids would be happy, healthy, well-adjusted, and popular in public school just like everybody else.
Inchy