Mine are in their 20s now, one in college still and one a college grad with a really good job. It wasn’t smooth sailing. I briefly considered home schooling, but I didn’t think I had enough knowledge to do so, especially once they were beyond algebra and basic science. I could have done a far better job with history and social sciences than their teachers did, but not with chemistry, physics, biology and higher math. I also didn’t want them socially isolated, and while being around students who weren’t as academically motivated was sometimes frustrating (raised by parents who weren’t academically motivated), overall my kids’ school experience was positive, a good mix of races, classes, religions, values, different backgrounds, etc. They learned to adapt to difficult social situations, stand up for themselves, and stand up for others. By high school their teachers were true subject experts and they learned more from those teachers than I could ever have taught. If I had subpar schools locally, I’d have worked harder to figure out an alternative. Our schools were excellent.
The time you spend with them is irreplaceable though. I don’t regret my years of less backpacking, fewer adventures for me, to attend their soccer games, their art shows, ski lessons, or even just going for walks with them and the dogs. And I loved the driving time, which wasn’t a lot for us; they would always talk to me in the car and it was such a good way to connect. We also took a couple of family trips to Europe, which if I’m honest we couldn’t afford, but did it anyway. We stayed in hostels, mostly made our own food, and took public transit. So worth the experience for all of us! I’ve gotten my time back now that they’re grown, and I’ll always be glad I had the opportunity to shift gears for a while. I hope you enjoy the next few years you spend with yours Sarah!
