I just got tired of "thinking about it"

Earlier this spring, I began to consider homeschooling Mia and Chloe for 1st grade. There were many things that led me to start the Googling...it's a slippery slope when that begins.

At first, it was all about what I wanted to "shelter" them from...not-so-great-teachers (rumor has it that the 1st grade teachers are not stellar at our neighborhood school); the influence of certain "mean girls in the making"; conversations that I wasn't ready to have with a 6 year old (see this post); the knowledge that anything pertaining to Christianity in the public school is put on the back burner, if not mentioned at all (Mia and Chloe came home having learned more about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa traditions in December than Christmas); etc...

Then, after my Google-fest, I realized all of the things I wanted to have them learn...I want them to have a deep knowledge of core subjects, not just shallow learning to quickly move on because "we have standards and data that need to be met and test scores that need to be reached." I want them to learn that learning does not just take place in a classroom and that it doesn't occur only between bells.

I really like my girls and enjoy being around them. They are funny and are smart as whips.

And, like I've told all the folks in the neighborhood (talk about the "rumor mill"!) that are asking me about the whys and hows of my decision, I just got tired of thinking about it and needed to make a decision one way or the other. If it works out, great...if it doesn't, then they can go back across the street to our neighborhood school (I've heard the 2nd grade teachers are great!).

I'm not Amish, and I'm not trying to be one of the Duggars (which is what I thought homeschooling was all about)...I'm just trying to give my girls the best education possible.

I know that I will be as challenged in this new adventure as they will be, but I am excited to see where it takes us.