School vs. Homeschool

I just have to share this with you all.  Mr. Joshua had a hard time yesterday, not wanting to complete any of the (what should have been quick since he is so good at them) worksheets I wanted him to complete.

Mind you, these are not long handwriting worksheets (he hates those the most and since this is not something he struggles with by an means I minimize that work).

These are his new All About Reading worksheets that are pretty much all reading games.  (More on that later... I decided to switch things up after much thought over spring break.)

Anyway, we were having a good day yesterday and only had a couple more things to do so I let them take a break and then planned on finishing things up.  (Granted, this could all easily fit into one hour but I break it up into 15-20 increments.)

When it was time to finish he had a melt down.  He started telling me how he didn't have to do these things at his school...

So, I put everything on hold and we had a discussion.  I asked him if he liked homeschooling (because up until yesterday he has had nothing but good things to say about me being his teacher at home, park days, CBS, trips to Disneyland, etc.) he said that he did like it but he didn't like doing all the "work".  He went on to explain that he got to play all day at his school.  I said, "well, you're right, you did get to play at that school because it was preschool and that's pretty much all you do in preschool but now you're starting to work on kindergarten stuff, remember?"  (A short two weeks ago the kid looked at me and said, "mom, I think I'm ready for kindergarten stuff."  I said, "well that's good since you've been doing some kindergarten stuff."  to which I received a very large, warm smile :)

It was at this point that I decided to tell him how regular school is different, how their days are scheduled.  **Side note here: my goal is not to make school sound bad because they may eventually have to attend a school for one reason or another and I'm sure they'd do just fine.**  I went on to explain what a typical kindergarten day at school was like, complete with worksheets and coloring, recess, lunch and more worksheets.  I then explained that teachers send worksheets to do at home with their Moms and Dads in the evening.  He looked at me very seriously and said, "that's horrible!"

I have to remember that the picture he has in his head when he thinks of school includes playing with friends, having a snack and doing crafts.  He's never been in a classroom full of students listening to lessons and working on their assignments.

This is something that I need to remind myself of pretty regularly because, although we are all enjoying so many aspects of this new lifestyle and I still feel that this is exactly the path God led me toward, I doubt our decision sometimes.

I have read several blogs over the past five or six months and so many of these moms have shared how they had questioned these same things in the beginning of their journeys.  I know I'm not alone and I know that my husband is more than behind me in all of this; any time I voice doubt he tells me over and over how happy the kids are and how well they're doing :)  (I am a BLESSED woman!)

As with any decision we make as parents I know I'll face times of doubt.  Just as we doubt our decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate (or have an alternate vaccination schedule for that matter), or what daily vitamins to give them, or if they're eating a balanced diet.  If we were sending them to a school, any school, I would question if it was the right one or if they have the right teacher.  From the moment we know we're expecting these little blessings we worry; it never ends!

Just as I do with all of these other concerns, I will lay this down at the feet of my Savior.  At least I know he has everything under control!