One of the things that I love about homeschooling has always been the flexibility. Not just in schedule, but in the “hows” and “whens”. When we brought Austin and Brodie home from public school we took some time to just get in a groove with each other. Now, homeschooling is just how we live. Chase is in Kindergarten this year. Chase is the kid that we have always said is very appropriately named. We have been chasing him since he learned to move. He began walking at 9 months and was doing this by 18 months…
Needless to say, he has never been a sit down and lets color a picture type kid. I was a little freaked out over the summer as a prepared to start “real school” with him. Afterall, my others learned to read while in public school. What if I messed him up?
When we began school it became very apparent to me that he was not ready for what most would consider school. I freaked. Then I prayed. The answer I got was to play, read, do light stuff and wait. Just wait. Many boys are not ready for workbooks and such at age 5. I have told other mothers this in the past. I know this to be true and yet, I was freaking out that my son was so…well normal. So for the months of September – December Chase did a phonics program on the computer and the rest was play work.
We started doing a first grade phonics curriculum and some Kindergarten math workbooks a few weeks ago. It’s amazing how letting him have those few months to just be a boy helped. He is now able to sit..do his work…and move on.
It is validating to know that I know what my son needs and that I don’t have to follow anyone else’s timeline of when and what he needs to do. Most importantly he is happy, I am happy and his spirit wasn’t squashed in the process.
