In March 2020, the world came to a screeching halt. Families with school-aged children were scrambling to navigate remote learning while parents worked from home. When the school year ended, there was a collective sigh of relief and the hope schools would reopen in September.
That didn’t happen, and for most families, the struggle continued for another year.
For my family, this new normal wasn’t new. We had been navigating remote learning for three years prior to the pandemic.
Education through illness
My son became ill at the end of fifth grade. Because his illness was sudden, he missed the last two weeks of school and was unable to return in September to begin middle school.
In addition to the obvious concern about his illness, I worried about his education. He was a great student and loved to learn, but how would he do so without attending school?
Thanks to the support of his school's administration and teachers, we developed a plan to continue his education at home. For three years, teachers and tutors came to our home when he was well enough to meet. In between, my parents and I worked with him to cover the necessary material each year.
Three years after the onset of his illness, high school was upon him. While friends were visiting schools to determine where they would attend, we were visiting doctors out of state where he was receiving ongoing treatment. If you haven’t read the article about my son’s illness and the journey for answers, you can read it here.
While his health was the priority during these years, the concerns about his education kept me up many nights as well. I registered him at the local high school and hoped we could make it work.
I soon realized that would not be the case. Despite lengthy medical reports and educational assessments that detailed his illness and how best to meet his educational needs, few attempts were made.
For my son, who never struggled with school before his illness, adjusting to new limitations was difficult. Trying to learn in the traditional way quickly sucked the life out of him.
Within weeks, I saw my curious, intelligent child lose the desire to learn or even to try.
It was difficult to watch him battle his illness daily, but watching him lose his desire to learn was worse. An avid reader who devoured books and loved history lost all interest in anything academic. His confidence was shaken as the school expected him to perform as a healthy student.
It was by far the most difficult time in my life as a parent.
It was disheartening on so many levels, especially as I had advocated for months, meeting with the Superintendent of schools regularly to ensure we had a plan that would work.
I came to understand that, like his illness, it was ultimately up to me to find a way forward educationally.
Four months after starting high school, I made the decision to unenroll my son and register him as a homeschool student.
It was a leap of faith and a decision I did not take lightly. The road forward was filled with bumps and potholes, but my son and I learned to pivot and adjust together.
Each day started with a plan for that day. I couldn’t think past that. We continued this way for more than seven years. He is now getting ready to graduate from high school with a home school diploma, on time, and with the class he started with many years ago.
Hindsight is 20/20
When I look back at the decision to homeschool, I realize it was the best decision we ever made.
Not only did my son regain his curiosity about life and the opportunities that lie ahead, but he also had the chance to explore his interests and talents in a way that was previously impossible.
He developed skills he never knew he had and fine-tuned his strengths. He wrote two science fiction novels and began developing finish carpentry skills.
While researching the settings, characters, and plots of his stories, he gained knowledge that exceeds many aspects of the high school curriculum.
Despite missing many months of school over the years due to medical treatments and illness, he is now ready to continue his education in college and looks forward to having his books published.
Homeschooling made me realize that the traditional education system in the US is not what every student needs.
In fact, the US education system is failing many students. Declining test scores are just one of the many metrics that support a need for change.
What are the benefits of homeschooling?
Parents have the freedom to customize a child’s education and create a curriculum that meets their individual needs.
Typical learning pathways can be redesigned to bring out the best in their children.
Parents and students can build innovative partnerships with educators and provide new opportunities to learn.
Customizing a child’s education allows the child to uncover their strengths, interests, and talents by exploring the world around them differently.
Parents have the freedom to create an educational experience that encompasses the academic, social, and family values important to them while working within schedules that fit their needs.
Families can expand their definition of education to include shared life experiences beyond academics and ‘book learning.’
Children expand their curiosity beyond the structure of course outlines.
While homeschooling is generally done at home, many families take their learning on the road, providing their children with even more learning opportunities.
Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, not every state is friendly to homeschoolers. Parents must understand and follow their state’s homeschool laws and advocate for their children’s rights if there is an issue.
More than 3.1 million students were homeschooled in the US last year, and more families are making the decision to homeschool every year.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
I never planned to take an alternative approach to education, but I’m reminded that the best plans are often those you never intended.
Is homeschooling an option for your family?
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Thanks for sharing your journey, Tracey! Although I was familiar with alternative approaches to school, we were reluctant home learners, too, 30 years ago! It's been an honor to see your family grow. I've loved seeing your son's dimples again and the light coming back in his eyes. Even while ill, helping him focus on his strengths and interests reawakened his curiosity and desire to learn.
Looking forward to seeing what the next chapter looks like :)
Thank you for sharing his educational path. You totally ROCK for making this happen & have his love of learning return!