We recently found out that Jeff got a promotion (Yay!) and that we will be spending our summer in Montana (Double yay!). He will be the pitching coach for the Missoula Osprey, a short-season rookie team that runs from mid-June to the beginning of September.
We are thrilled about this opportunity. It’s great for Jeff, and who can be upset about spending the hottest months of the year in Montana? Not us.
Because we won’t be back in Phoenix until September, the kids will be starting school late. Most baseball families I talk to work with their local school and teachers to get the materials they need to keep their kids caught up. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a school not working with a baseball family’s unique calendar.
Which is why I was shocked when I got a firm “no” from our current school. They aren’t willing to work with us at all. Frustrating. So now I’m weighing our options.
Option #1: See if our local elementary school would be willing to work with us. Joe will be in 2nd grade and Leila will be in Kindergarten. At our current school, they would have both been in school from 7:30-12:30 which I love. Having them both gone from 8:00-3:30 (the local school hours) doesn’t sit entirely well with me.
Option #2: Homeschool. Honestly this option half freaks me out and half makes me giddy with excitement. Half overwhelmed (where do I start?) and half wondering if this might be best for our mobile baseball lifestyle. What I do know is this: At this stage in life, being together as a family is more important than rushing back for school.
I have only just started to think about this, and I don’t feel pressured to make a decision soon. So that’s good I think. Lots of time to figure it out.
I go back and forth between the pros and cons. More flexibility for our family, especially in the offseason would be nice. But could I ever stay organized enough? Our kids have friends and activities outside of school already, so I don’t anticipate any social suffering. But am I a good enough teacher? I have a hard enough time balancing life as it is, would homeschooling make it better or worse?
These are just some of my initial thoughts. I would love to hear your thoughts on schooling. Do you homeschool? Public school? Charter school? I would love to hear from some baseball families too. How do you manage school and baseball?
Also, am I crazy??
Pray! Pray! Pray about your decision. Homeschooling is HARD… but so rewarding! You can also check to see if your local town has any charter schools that you can plug in to (which can provide curriculum and more for free). Check to see if there are homeschool co-ops in your town/church where you can plug in and ask questions.
Homeschooling your kiddos will give you the flexibility to travel, go and see, and enjoy the every day life of your children.
And… who is to say you can’t homeschool your children until you return in September? 🙂 Then reenroll them late? 😀
I think you have to know yourself and know your kids. Before I was ever married, had kids, etc, I was a teacher in an underpriveledged public school system. I loved teaching and loved my students. Although I am confident in my teaching capabilities, I know I would not be a good homeschool teacher. Organization is my pitfall, and my kids would suffer because of it! My sister-in-law is also a former teacher (now SAHM), and she laughs that she could teach any kids except her own!
I’m not a homeschooler, but I have friends who are. And honestly, I think if you are at all considering it this is the perfect age to start them. You can learn your routines and figure things out while the course work is still simple. And if it doesn’t work out, no big loss…kids are at so many different levels at this age that if you teach them ANYTHING they’d probably pick up regular school again with ease.
I know nothing about homeschooling but I’ve had these same questions myself only because of the awful things I’ve heard about the Phoenix Public school system. So we’re considering both charter & home school options. Good luck, and I agree pray.
We have really enjoyed the charter school experience which makes it such a big bummer that they won’t work with our schedule.
You know I was homeschooled my whole life, right?? It was fun! ESPECIALLY K-6 ages. There’s really nothing you can lose out on or mess your kids up with during that time. If you decide to go with it, it’ll take a bit for the kids to adjust to the new style of life (you too!) but it’s so worth it. Don’t get caught up in trying to find the most perfectest curriculum–they’ll be able learn and grow and do things they actually care about (which, actually, helps when you’re trying to make a career decision later on in life).
I didn’t know that Alisa! Thanks for your perspective.
Being a baseball family, we spend a lot of time on the road as a family. But I don’t homeschool my kids. Their school does work with us so that is surprising and disappointing to hear. I would not homeschool my kids bc I absolutely loved going to school myself. All the different experiences (mostly high school for me) they cannot and don’t get at home i.e. student council, homecoming, prom, DECA, drama, etc. I have a Bachelors of Arts in Social Work so I clearly did not go to school to be a teacher. I actually find it insulting to teachers that any sue, mary and ellen think they are qualified to teach. Teachers have worked hard for their training and degrees. And it is also infathomable to me that some think these children aren’t being handed a huge disservice when they go to college by hindering their coping skills and ability to work around someone else’s schedule. Or a normal school schedule for that matter.
I envision my kids going to high school, although that could always change. Since they are only in 1st and PreK right now I have a lot of time to think about it. I loved school too, but everything is so much different these days.
We are a homeschooling family and love it! It definetly is hard some days but we wouldn’t change it. I was also scared/worried at first but then I found K12 which is a free online school. They supply everything you need to teach your kids. They also assign certified teachers to help you, along with an online group class for your kids. Yay…some of the pressure off. 😉 This school works for us but again there are so many options out there!
I absolutely LOVE my morning snuggles instead of rushing the kids out the door. 🙂
I definitely can’t weigh in on the schooling because I don’t have kids (yet), but I definitely wish you luck. I have no doubts you will do well with whatever choice you make. I just had to tell you I love all of those pictures!
I have homeschooled my children since 1982 – the oldest is 38 and the youngest 17 and in her last year of “school”. I cannot imagine any other life, and all of my children either are or are planning to homeschool their children, which is, I think, about the best endorsement there is! It is NOT like public school at home, if it is done right… it is a lifestyle that you embrace every day, not just M-F during “school hours”. We love it, and if you research the facts, homeschoolers have higher test scores than any other type of educating. Contact HSLDA for all the state laws, and go to your states homeschool convention. There you will begin to learn all the ins and outs!
I was homeschooled with my brother until we were both juniors in high school. It can be hard, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Our oldest daughter (age 7; 1st grade) is enrolled in a university-model school. Two days of school on-campus; three days of homeschooling. It is such a good fit for our family! Perhaps there is a similar school in your area?