My mom stays home and schools us, in the states it's a lot cheaper than public or private school, so i don't think money is an issue, just make sure you get a really good curriculum, my family isn't rich but we take care of our money and get along just fine!
Answered By: tots - 12/24/2006 |
|
Home schooling your children is a fantastic idea. I home schooled for three years. We went through the California Virtual Academy, which is taxpayer funded and had no costs. It was the best decision ever made because I got to know my children, we had tremendous fun and I was the one to instill our values into them. Money, of course, can be the deciding factor. Before home schooling I earned an excellent salary as a Hospice Nurse. That money was not available anymore after I quit and we lived on my husband's modest teacher income. It's doable, if you want it to be. We had to go without a lot of things, but were blessed in ways unimaginable, such as free vacations etc.. My kids had many friends from bowling league, gymnastics, neighborhood etc.. and are fine citizens. The question about socialization is usually asked by ignorant people.
Answered By: Icantfigureitout - 12/23/2006 |
|
Making time is simply a fact of discipline.
As far as money goes. Curriculum can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. I choose as cheap as I want it to be lol. There are free resources such as the library, which also has book sales at times.
www.cbd.com has WONDERFUL prices on books and such.
Now to address the two incomes thing. For some we had decide if it's more important for us to have really expensive things to show off to the world or to homeschool our children. We had a fancy house for show and an expensive truck, but we downsized it all. We have what we need now and nothing in excess. The funny thing is we're happier and less stressed now, hehehe.
When a mom works, unless she's making ALOT of money, alot of her wages goes to childcare, clothing, lunch foods for herself and children, gas money, and car upkeep. So by the time you're done, those things have eaten up most of your paycheck anyways lol.
You can also weed out those luxury expenses and you'd be surprised how much money may be wasted. So don't give up the hope of homeschooling, you can definitely do it. Start checking out what your town and library has to offer now, so you'll be prepared when/if you do homeschool.
There are lots of low cost and free local places you can visit for occasional fieldtrips. Many free worksheets and information to print out from the internet. Share curriculum with other homeschooling parents if you know any.
Scocasso ! said: "Isn't that the whole point of putting the children in public school, so both parents can work (and support the 'economy'; help the rich get richer; etc.)?"
I disagree with that being the whole point. There are many who put their kids in public school and still don't work lol. Some put their kids there because either they want to, have no choice, or don't know they have the option of homeschooling.
Answered By: mycountryfamily - 12/23/2006 |
|
There's many great answers here! So here's mine. When I decided to have children I had already planned on staying home with them. I wanted to raise my children. I wanted to be there for their first word, first steps, all that. I was afraid If I worked and put them in daycare I would miss all that. I had children because I wanted them, so why send them to someone else all day. Not to mention that with the cost of daycare for 4 children there was no sense in me working because it would all go to daycare. We are in our first year of homeschooling. It would have been the first year that all of our children would have been in ps full time. I could have gotten a job and we could have had more. More material things. Instead I have more time with my children. My children have more time to explore their interests and more time to actually learn, not just try to memorize some facts for a test and then forget it. And amazingly, it is actually cheaper to homeschool than it was to have the kids in public school. There's so many resources to help with curriculum for homeschooling. Just do a search on free homeschooling, every day you will find more and more available. Follow the advise that's been given about making lists for exspenses and all that. It might amaze you. And what's more important? Your children or material things. Enjoy your children while you can. Once they are grown then if you want go back to work and get all those material things. Or teach your children by starting a home business together.
Answered By: busymom4_2003 - 12/23/2006 |
|
Answered By: sheblese m - 12/22/2006 |
|
We make the time and the money, well its the money you give up by not working, not the money it costs to do it.
I could have all sorts of nicer stuff if I went back to work, like the pool I would LOVE to have, but my kids are worth waiting and saving for it the hard way.
It doesn't cost me any more to educate my kids by buying materials than it would for them to pay for lunch and uniforms at the local school here.
Answered By: wornoutby3 - 12/22/2006 |
|
Home schooling takes organizational skills and strict financial planning in most cases. Although I have never homeschooled, I have several friends who have for various reasons---suprisingly, NONE are for religious reasons. In the cases that I am aware of, the children are usually special needs in one way or another. One is dyslexic and the other is ADHD. In each case, the parents have had to sacrifice luxury items in order to home school their children. In both families, the additional children are in either private or public schools. Although both families have to sacrifice financially, they are both absolutely sure that they have made the right decision for their particular children and their testing seems to prove them right. They also go out of their way in order to make sure their children have interaction with peers by keeping them active in civic groups (like scouts) and athletic teams. Swimming seems to be a favorite for homeschooled children.
All in all it seems to be a good experience and let's face it, homeschooled kids on the whole seem to be major achievers at the college level.
Answered By: Lori K - 12/22/2006 |
|
You should never even think of home schooling a child . They never learn how to deal with other children or people and there is no way you can teach a child like they do in public school. i have seen too many children running around town when they were suppose to be having school. For your child's sake send it to public school and allow it to get an education.
Answered By: roy40372 - 12/22/2006 |
|
Seeing that you're in Canada, I'm not sure why you need 2 incomes. Doesn't the Canadian government hand out some kind of socialist aid for homeschoolers?
Answered By: daryavaush - 12/22/2006 |
|
I say let the taxes you pay anyway pay for your kids education. I mean god, who has time to sit around and teach their kids anyway. they need to be socialized and made aware of other views and rules other than their parents. and who says that the one parent or both parents even are qualified to give their kids the well rounded education that they need to survive in this world? even if the parent(S) had a teaching degree, why waste ur time at home and not get paid when you spent all that time and money in school? Duh?
Answered By: SuzyBelle04 - 12/22/2006 |
|
Given the number of families homeschooling in Canada is rising every year, it's doubtful that many of the families have both parents working.
It is certainly helpful if one parent makes enough to support the whole family, but I know a number of homeschooling families where the at-home parent (not always mom, but usually) has some sort of job. Most often this is an at-home business of some sort--dayhome, editing, consulting, dog boarding, etc.--but I do know at least a couple of families where one parent works hours where the other parent is home. I also know of a few single moms homeschooling who have managed to have some sort of at-home work which provides enough for them and their kids.
One big thing to keep in mind is that we easily let ourselves consume/purchase way more than we need to. You might find a number of things you can cut back on that will help with finances. You also don't need to purchase specific school supplies every year, pay lunch supervision fees, you get to really choose the field trips and can make them free or really cheap, you'll be less inclined to buy more expensive clothes because your kids won't be complaining that everyone else at school is wearing Gap or Old Navy (this applies to electronics, too) and more. The way Canadian taxes work, too, the earning spouse can claim a certain amount against the non-earning spounse. This will reduce the amount of tax the wage-earning parent will pay--and if it moves him down a tax bracket, even better! Not that this is all equivalent to having the second parent work, but when you add up all the expenses, you're not 'losing' as much as you might think. (Just thought of work clothes that you'd have to buy for work, too. Another expense!)
I don't know that the point of school is for both parents to work--but a lot of parents definitely see that benefit from it!
No, there is no 'socialist aid' for homeschoolers. Alberta has a small amount of funding ($650 for an entire school year--not exactly replacing a salary!) and I've heard that B.C. does if you register in a certain way. AFAIK, none of the other provinces provide any financial assistance at all.
And ignore those who would try to deter you with only their opinions.
E-mail me if you'd like to discuss this more.
Answered By: glurpy - 12/22/2006 |
|
One parent must make enough to support the family, yes. But at what lifestyle? Does a family need 4 cars, 6 TVs, and an in ground swimming pool?
You should sit down with your spouse and make a list of needs the family has. Eliminate all wants. Draw up a possible budget if you went to homeschooling.
Is it possible for the stay-at-home parent to also work part-time in the home doing a small business of some sort?
Be creative. Cut corners.
It does take a little money, but homeschooling has so many benefits that it is worth it if you can do it.
Merry Christmas,
Sue
Answered By: newbiegranny - 12/22/2006 |
|
Wow! there is some fantastic advice here!!
we are going to be homeschooling our son again in a few weeks. he is diabetic. the hoops we get to jump through for the school because of his diabetes makes homeschooling easy!!
to answer your question:
TIME>>
take a real hard look at your schedule. how much time do you spend in the car in a week? take out a piece of paper and write it down! how much time do your kids spend in the car/bus? how much time do you spend on household chores that your kids could do if they had more time? laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cooking..... kids are capable of a LOT!
MONEY>>
on another piece of paper, jot down how much you spend on fuel, school lunches, daycare, outfits for the office, fast food, etc.
public schools ask for a lot, in comparison to what you receive. YOU can do a better job, for sure! :)
it's amazing what you can do financially when you have TIME to breathe. i have found that my bank account gets fatter the MORE i sleep in and the less i work. the lazier, the richer. hehe. why? i'm forced to use my brain. i'm allowed to use my brain, because it's not bogged down with stress about getting to work on time, answering the boss' questions right, picking the kids up from soccer, etc. etc. etc.!! also, when you shift your priorities from work to family, you don't need all the perks to keep your spirits up. your family is a perk! so you can cancel the TV bill, and stop eating out.... and start visiting the library and growing a garden!
there are many theories about why exactly we put children in school. they pretty much all come back to the economy. :) one belief is that school is a way of slowly putting people out into the job market. college became a "necessity" when the job market was crowded (too many old people working!), and needed even more time. drab thought! so i'm going to bypass all of this, and teach my kids that they can create their own source of income and ignore the job market altogether!!
oh, and--the "rich" do not support public education, for the most part. in fact, most of the "rich" want to see more people become rich. we have an abundance and the more wealthy people out there, the more wealth appears, and the more people you have to hang out with!! the public school is the fastest track to the poorhouse, in my opinion. :)
so, my suggestion to you: jot down EVERYTHING. time column, money column. what life is like now, what it would be like. plan of action>> figure out the curriculum for your kids, the structure of the day. your kids really don't need to be in "school" for 6+ hours a day. see if you can cut back your job to part time. and eventually, quit! do some experimenting during the holidays. see if you can stand your kids! :)
best of luck!
Answered By: gertieok - 12/22/2006 |
|
No you don't have to have both parents work. It could mean sacrifices, however what's the worst sacrifice you could make? Not doing what's right for your children. We recently traded down on our vehicles and purchased a more modest home than we might have, however it is allowing my wife to stay home with our two girls. After doing this I got a promotion at work has helped, but it also goes to show you never know what will happen tomorrow. Good luck and God bless. P.S. I truly believe someday you will look at your children and this is when you really see what your life has amounted to, cars won't matter houses, or what the neighbors thinks. Parents are only as good as we raise our children to be.
Answered By: jsph - 12/22/2006 |
|