I taught for 10 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I taught at a treatment center for juvenile delinquents for 8 years where I was exposed to kids who came from a variety of backgrounds and who had committed a variety of crimes including sex assault. After 8 years I was starting to burnout but didn't want to stop teaching, so I went to a local school district.
During my first year at the public school, I witnessed many things that I didn't feel comfortable witnessing and knew that if I ever had kids, I wouldn't want them to witness it either. At the time, my husband and I were trying to get pregnant. In March of 2003 we found out why I was having trouble getting pregnant when I went to the hospital for emergency surgery after a torsion (I lost my left ovary and fallopian tube). After the surgery we went to a fertility specialist who after a few months determined I could not get pregnant. During our last course of meds, I did get pregnant but didn't know about until I was 15 weeks along.
Going from not being able to ever get pregnant to being pregnant was a major emotional roller coaster. Something inside me stirred and I started looking into school options - I didn't want to send my little one to public school and endure the things I witnessed. I soon found homeschooling and knew it was the answer I was looking for. I read many, many books that inspired me but the one that clinched it for me and I recommend to every new homeschooler I meet is The Well Adjusted Child by Rachel Gaithercole.
Update: I have now been homeschooling for 17 years. I love all the drama, the aha moments and even the screaming moments. I love them and I love to see them growing and learning every day.
I loved all the firsts I got to watch when they were babies and I didn't want to stop watching those firsts just because they turned 5. I haven't missed a first yet!
My 3
Cairn - the oldest. Cairn is graduating from high school and a local community college this May. She has earned her High School diploma and her 2 year Associate's degree in English. She is working at our local rec center, taking Taekwondo classes 6 days a week so she can earn her 2nd degree black belt before leaving for CSU in the fall. She is very busy and has a lot of her life planned out over the next 5 years.
Skylar - the middle one. Skylar has been taking college classes the last 2 years and has decided to attend school fulltime next year. She will be taking 2 high school classes and 3 college courses. She hopes to follow her sister and earn a 2 year degree before graduating too.
Andrew - the baby and the only boy. Andrew is very active in Navy League and playing video games. He especially loves to drive race cars and fly planes since he wants to be a pilot. Next year, he will attend a one day a week enrichment program as he gears up for taking college courses in high school.
All 3 kids started Taekwondo in 2014 and earned their black belts in 2020. Andrew, Cairn and I are working on earning our 2nd degrees.
