Kathy and Steve: we're the parents of this happy bunch, married in 1988, to create and raise a family:
We knew that we didn't want a state institution raising our
children.
Government school takes up half their waking hours between the ages 5 and 18!
That's why we teach them at home: to raise them ourselves.
This page is our chance to say we homeschool, share the great experiences we've had, and hope for
positive input!
Our experience has been excellent and we'd be glad to answer Qs people have about homeschooling.
We think homeschooling is great, it's not an educational choice, it's a whole different lifestyle:
Our family is closer because we homeschool.
At least for right now, parents and children spend more time
together. There's a lot of joy in watching our kids grow and learn daily.
Our kids play together better because they don't have the attitude common in government schools: that kids of a different age group are unworthy somehow.
From Carl Sagan'sThe Dragons of Eden (Ballantine, 1977):
"Particularly today, when so many difficult and complex problems face the human species, the development of broad and powerful thinking is desperately needed. There should be a way...to encourage, in a humane and caring context, the intellectual development of especially promising youngsters. Instead we find, in the instructional and examination systems of most of these countries, an almost reptilian ritualization of the educational process ..."
You can find a lot of info about homeschooling by reading
newsgroups at dejanews.com; or add your own "two cents" worth :-).
Married not marred w/Children
Kathy's the homemaker does most of the childrearing,
housekeeping, and homeschooling.
Steve slaves and toils away to pay for food, shelter, and hopefully a few extras; has returned to Marine Engineering which actually seems to give him MORE time so spend w/family than working ashore.
Their tasks sometimes overlap: Kathy keeps the budget, Steve helps out with homeschooling.
Pre-parenthood we were regular people with our own bathrooms and
we dared to eat candy in the open!
Kathy tutored at the University of Michigan writing lab--now she
tutors her kids! Steve, marine engineer, tries to involve himself as much as possible in family life.
Kathy started taking piano lessons along with our three oldest. They're having a great time!
A few photos for our family and friends to check out: