I home educate - my DS has never been to school - AMA

[OvertheUnicornRainbow]

My DS is almost 13, always been home-educated and is thriving. Ask me anything

One thing I've always wanted to ask parents who home educate is...do you ever just need a break from your child? Sorry if that sounds really selfish and just focussed on the parent but I think I'd find it really intense to spend all that time together.

Why?

What is your plan for ensuring your child has excellent academic qualifications and is confident in a variety of social settings?

I'm considering home educating for my son...though he is just under two so have a little time.
Please can you tell me:
what qualifications / certificates you aim for by the end of his education.
Have you had to give up work?
How much apart from loss of earnings do you think it has cost?
What does an average day look like?

Thanks

What made you take the decision in the first place and has anything ever made you consider changing?

Do you plan for him to take exams?

Did you and your childs father go to school?

I.never understand home schooling. How do you reach the level of proficiency needed for each subject?

Do you follow the curriculum?
Have you ever been worried that you were doing the wrong thing?

I was home educated and sick of the sight of my mother by the time I was 16.

I did not get gcses in maths sciences or a foreign language because of her.

I don't want to ask you anything

But I'll tell you to stop being so controlling and let your child have a life away from you

The reasons I'm considering are the pressure kids are under mostly in high school....too many subjects that are tested rather than learnt for knowledge and skill. The social pressures of high school.
The vast amount of homework..I want my boy to have his childhood but still have all options open to him in case he wants to further his education later.

Any tips on ensuring they don’t miss out on social life ?

No questions, we’re home educated parents educating our children the same way, just here to say good for you!

@Surfer25 this reason puts me off it....so hard to decide. Did you ask your mum to enrol you in school?

If we try this way my son will always have the choice to go to school.

Do you work?

Do you think your a better parent than everyone else because you gone educate. Only asking because I know a few home educating parents from the circles I’m in (I don’t home educate due to circumstances) and most of the time they make me feel like shit for sending my dc to school with their goady comments and stealth boasts and show offy posts about how much fun learning through child led play and visits to museums is.

What are your qualifications that enable you to home educate him to a standard that will not leave him disadvantaged in the wider world?

Surfer. Can you do an "i was home educated ama?" I almost did home ed with mine (and glad I didnt) but its often the mothers that rave about their chouces evangelistically, id love to hear from adult home ed people...

*home educate , not gone educate

What is the best thing and what is the worst aspect for you

User, I still mix with some friends that home ed and gosh yes - the self congratulatory and false comparisons with schooled kida which is set up as an evil in some circles.

Everyone, chill out a bit until OP comes back and clarifies. Her son may have special needs and be totally unsuited to school.

Do you take a structured approach or do you unschool?
Will they be doing qualifications?

Have you noticed that many home educated children start to come out with the same opinions as their parents? This was my main observation from going to EO groups as a kid. How will you ensure your child has the ability to form their own opinions and is exposed to external influences?

Why do you and do you revisit the decision regularly in case it is no longer appropriate?

I don't really want to be questioned on it as it was so utterly miserable.

No friends, no contact day to day with people other than family.

No privacy away from mother...she saw and was involved in everything.

I still see groups of teenage girls in uniforms laughing together on the streets after school and it still makes me sad that I missed that simple normality even though I am a grown woman.

As for wanting your child to miss the social pressures of high school...how else do they learn to cope?

Social pressure exists every where at school, at uni and at work.

As for uni seeing everyone have groups of friends from school and I had no one.

What does 'thriving' mean to you in an educational sense?