HI there! I've been lurking on these boards since spring. I've maybe made 1-3 little posts, but thought perhaps it was time to introduce myself and say Thank you to all of you.
I am new to homeschooling this year, homeschooling DS9 after having him in a small private school up through 2nd grade. I was always "one of those moms" who admired homeschooling but felt like I couldn't do it (didn't have the time, organization, selflessness, etc.). However, toward the end of this past school year, several factors convinced us to take a hard look at homeschooling and after much prayer, thought, and research, we decided (with DS's enthusiastic agreement) to pull him out and homeschool. At this point, we're taking things one step at a time. We'll homeschool this year, and see how it goes, then make a decision for next year, etc.
By nature, I'm an over-researcher. After countless Google searches re: homeschooling, I realized that many of them were leading me to this community -- a treasure trove of experience, opinions, and help! I started with the idea that I would "have" to either use a cyber-school option or a school-in-a-box option, since I couldn't possibly figure out how to put together my own plan/curriculum. But that bothered me...One of our primary reasons for homeschooling was to allow DS to work ahead in areas where he's ahead and work at grade-level in the others...or at whatever level best suited him. So a one-size-fits-all approach seemed to defeat that purpose.
That's where these forums came in. I quickly learned that I had SO many options. At first, I was overwhelmed with the curriculum choices out there, and my husband will attest to the fact that I have spent an inordinate amount of time downloading samples, reading reviews, and...um...purchasing an abundance of options. :) But over the course of about two months, by reading many, many threads here, I began to narrow in on choices that I felt would best fit DS and me. I went from a temptation to order all Abeka (to "keep in step" with his former school, "just in case" he goes back next year), to feeling the freedom to truly match curricula to our goals and temperaments. (I have nothing against Abeka, and we are, in fact, using some Abeka products. My point is more that my initial leanings were to make curriculum choices out of fear, which is not a very good approach.)
In the process, I gained confidence, excitement and a real motivation to make this year a wonderful year. DS9 is excited and motivated, too, and even before we started school, I would catch him in our den, curled up with a Beast Academy book or one of our literature choices.
We just wrapped up our first week of school and though it's an adjustment (am I the only one who feels like I could use a nap every afternoon?), it has been fantastic! I love our time together, watching him learn, seeing the spark of curiosity.
So thank you, Hive. Thank you for your many reviews, shared opinions, encouragement, experience, and information. Our curriculum shelves are well-stocked, but even more than that, I feel like I *can* do this -- thanks, in large part, to all of you. I'm looking forward to being a part of this community and sharing our experience with others in turn.