He’s too smart to be homeschooled
Sometimes I feel like giving up; and I’ve barely just started. Over the past two weeks, I’ve encountered some interesting comments about my desire to homeschool. The Jibbers and I have been visiting friends and relatives in Toronto, and it’s usually the relatives who can’t quite get their heads around the idea that the Jibbers deserves something better than sending him to a stranger to teach him. He needs the love and nurturing and attention that only his parents can give. While many of the comments are well-meaning and curious, sometimes they just fall painfully on my own doubts about my ability to do this.
“Homeschooling is easy when there is just one.”
“But what about friends?”
“He’s a boy; he needs more than just his mother.”
“So when is he going to learn his letters and numbers?”
“He’s too smart to be homeschooled.”
That last one really hit a little too close to home. Perhaps through this endeavour I may mess him up. Maybe he needs to be doing all things that all the other kids are doing at all the ‘right’ ages.
And then I was blessed with a chance meeting of not one, but two veteran homeschooling mums. And it was everything I needed to hear to reassure me that what I am doing is on the right track. The first mum has two children, both almost in their teens, both homeschooled for much of their educational life. The second mum is the mother of five children, the first who is about to apply to university at sixteen years of age and the last a recent graduate of potty-training academy. All five of her children have been homeschooled, unschooled and everything in between. Their attitude and advice was just awesome and so timely.
“Unschooling worked for us at that time, now we have a more rigorous schedule. Do what works for you.”
“Go with your gut and trust yourself and your child.”
“Enjoy the journey, especially now when academics aren’t the big thing, and the Jibbers is learning through play.”
“Don’t let it stress you out.”
“Pray. A lot.”
“Connect with other homeschooling mums even if it’s just once a month.”
“My eldest learned to read at about 5-6 years old. My second one didn’t want to read, would cry and then within a week, when he was ready at 9 years old went from three-letter words to a novel. Now he’s the most voracious reader in the entire house and is writing his own novel.”
This chance meeting made me feel confident and reassured that even though this is not the path that many have taken, it is the path that a lot have taken. My fears, doubts and uncertainties are normal, but to trust in God, believe in my abilities, and love my child enough to know that this is right for him.
It is because he is so smart, rambunctious, mischievous, creative and funny that homeschooling is right for him, and me and us as a family.
black board, white chalk 
Great job! Few people aver find out about unschooling and it’s vast potential to the field of true education! I would also recommend checking out the Sudbury school method and democratic schooling. As someone who has just started homeschooling for the first time this year I’ve also been “unschooling” at the same time, I’ve been learning, french, History (real history) and Flash programming.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and for the encouragement. Unschooling has been an interesting journey, but also kind of fun; so different than what how I was taught. I actually wrote a bit about democratic schools and it was inspired by the Sudbury school method. I would love to check them out in person. Here is the link to that post: https://blackboardwhitechalk.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/education-theres-no-such-thing/
Good luck on your journey and I hope to hear more of your insightful comments. Thank you!