I’m at the end of my pregnancy, so I have license to get sassy… So here goes. Those of you that send your kids to public school and really feel like I need to send my kids to public school because of some rough patches or exhaustion, please think about what you’re implying. Do your children have no behavioral problems? Are you perfectly content with your own children when they are at home with you? Did public school solve all of your issues with your family dynamic?
I’m just going to go out on a limb here and GUESS (remember, I’ve never had my kids in daycare or public school, so this really is just a guess) that there are still times that your kiddo(s) can drive you absolutely nuts… that you feel like giving them away to the circus or packing their bags when they threaten to run away.
I am not sure how having to get up and take *one* of my children to school every day and pick her up would solve my problems with them. 🙂 Even next year when I have 2 school-aged kids. I prefer to stay out of that rat race and can’t even imagine how overwhelming the sheer amount of timing and scheduling that would require. Dragging out a toddler and a newborn each morning and afternoon – trying to figure out how to get to parent-teacher conferences without my other kids, how to volunteer in the class with all my other kids in tow, worrying about all the little purchases that come along with a public education or the effort I’d have to put forth especially for that one child (picture day, field trip money, lunches, etc)… WHEW! It makes my head spin!
I have nothing against parents choosing to send their children to public school. I believe it is a decision that each parent needs to make on their own with their spouse, if applicable. No, I don’t think the decision should include the child. Children need mature guidance and parents should be able to handle choosing.
Public school has never been an option for us. I am not sure if I have blogged it before, but I was half a semester and one semester of internship away from being certified as an EC-4 teacher (early childhood-4th grade). Through my experiences in the classrooms, discussing things with my professors (all of which were current or recently retired school teachers), and research about our public school system, particularly in my state of Texas, I decided that I was not going to be able to go through with that career path. I had no desire to try and fit into the system and no desire to bring my kids into it. At the time, I had an 18 month old and was about 8 months pregnant with my second child. I truly believe this was the best choice for us. (I know many of you will scream – PRIVATE SCHOOL! – but I can assure you that I don’t feel that it’s worth the cost, both financially and time-wise for OUR family.)
YES, I have rough patches. The whole thing that started this “discussion” on my Facebook was a frustrated post that said:
Terrific. Not only did Heath do all that damage (you don’t even want to know what all he ruined on Saturday, too!), but now I’m seeing the extent of the damage *Michael* has been doing to things. Coloring the entire bottom of a huge truck with black crayon, scratching the crap out of the surface of our very expensive dining room table *and* puncturing the leather in the also expensive leather bench seat for that table. Do you moms ever feel like your life is just a huge freaking To Do list of fixing crap other people screw up? I am so done with all of this and think that perhaps I should just run away!
Seriously, folks… Let’s be honest. Does this post scream, “DESPERATE HOMESCHOOL MOM!” or does it scream, “FED UP MOM (that happens to be 37+ weeks pregnant with 3 other kids to tend to)”. I chuckle to myself every time public school gets brought up when I have behavioral issues in my house and happen to vent on FB.
As I said in one reply on my wall:
I honestly don’t think it would help – not only would it be a scheduling nightmare for all involved, but I don’t have the time to fix the social issues I know they’d come home with – not to mention the closeness they’d lose as siblings that is so precious to our family. If they’re going to be heavily influenced by something all day every day, I’d rather be there to see it and guide them.
It does make me smile a bit, though, when that gets mentioned by folks that do use the public school system. 🙂 Do public school kids really not give public school parents the same set of problems? As much as I may complain, I enjoy not missing the full day with them. Plus – with public school, that only takes care of the school aged kids, which right now is only one of my children and she’s not the one destroying things. 🙂
Now I’m not trying to pick on my friends. I know that they mean well and didn’t really mean anything by the comment other than offering helpful advice. Believe me, I’ve heard this suggestion MANY times. In fact, any time I mention being overwhelmed to pretty much ANYONE, public school is the first thing out of the lips of anyone I might be talking to for the most part. My own family has mentioned it a lot, heck… even my own husband. Sending people away doesn’t solve any of the root issues. If anything, it would just be a Bandaid IF that.
When my friends have issues with their kids and their schools, I rarely say, “You should just homeschool! It would be so much better!” I certainly wouldn’t offer that advice unsolicited. Each family has their own struggles and their own comfort zones and needs. Homeschooling is not a feasible or desirable option for the majority of parents I know. I’m totally cool with that. If folks are happy with their decision, more power to them! I don’t think there *is* an easy fix. Parenting is hard!!
I really don’t have a point here, but I needed to vent it out because it’s such a recurring suggestion over the past few months that I wanted to address it.
Life is hard. Parenting sucks sometimes. Being in charge of several young children can really bite.
However, it can also be one of the most rewarding, sweet, satisfying experiences ever. Most of the time it is. No matter what choices we make as parents, life can’t be peachy all the time. I just know that I am happy with my decisions and will try my best to make each day as pleasant as it can be… even when it’s tough.
Love this! I had somebody once ask me, when I was having trouble getting my oldest (who was about 7 at the time) to do her work, “Wouldn’t it be easier just to send her to school????” I said, “It might be easier, but it wouldn’t be right.” The fact is that when my oldest started out in public school, it was a terrible experience for the very same reasons that you mentioned. I did not like the fact that the teacher had total control over our lives, not just during school hours, but on weekends and holidays, too. It definitely does not help keep the family close.
I think every family needs to make their own choice on the matter… I just can’t imagine it any other way for OURS!
I was home schooled…and survived…and loved every minute of it!! My mom home schooled myself and my 5 siblings. Each and every one of us has graduated 12 grades successfully and are either in college or have college degrees. So, poo poo to those people who say you NEED to have your children in public school. I don’t trust other people with my children. I just don’t. It is mommy’s job to teach her children and I am GLAD that you are taking that job seriously. Keep up the good work!! 🙂
Woohoo, a survivor! LOL!