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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone is now considering home education full time?

265 replies

PogTheDog · 05/03/2021 19:18

I know most people can't wait for their children to return to school on Monday. However, is anyone now considering (all already decided) full time home education?

I have loved teaching my primary school aged children and they have enjoyed it too. I will send them back to school on Monday as I'm not brave enough to make a commitment to it yet, but may consider starting in September. Anyone else?

OP posts:
unchienandalusia · 05/03/2021 19:46

See below

To ask if anyone is now considering home education full time?
Moonface123 · 05/03/2021 19:48

Life is the biggest classroom, not just school. It makes me smile when people say they are missing out by not going to school. I wish l had the courage to home school my son earlier. You will meet a lot of resistance especially after the recent forced home schooling fiasco. In my opinion school can be very limiting, home schooled kids are usually much better at socialising with peop!e of all different ages, not just those same age as themselves and are more open minded and able to manage themselves better once older. There is an old fashioned view that all home schooled kids live like hermits, in confinement of their own home, whilst reality is they have a much healthier, active and broader experience than their peers stuck within four walls six hours a day, five days a week. School wants you to fit in, rather than stand out, not everyone can do that, hence the massive surge in school anxiety and refusal.

PufferFishGoneWrong · 05/03/2021 19:51

@EdersonsSmileyTattoo

To quote something I saw in FB this morning.....
Brilliant answer Grin
gingganggooleywotsit · 05/03/2021 19:51

Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa..no.

Jobconfused · 05/03/2021 19:53

No fucking way

B33Fr33 · 05/03/2021 19:54

Yes I'd love to. But I have found the home school "community" to be very hostile so it would have to be a solitary venture. Which concerns me as the cost of tutors for what I can't teach is quite high. I know I can't replace a school full of teachers on my own.

Ellieboolou33 · 05/03/2021 19:55

@SittingAround1

They'd also end up overweight as they kept complaining they were hungry ALL DAY
This made me laugh as so bloody true!

In answer to your question ABSOLUTELY NOT, i also thought I'd be good as a teacher until I had a go at home schooling!

thelegohooverer · 05/03/2021 19:55

I’ve always wanted to homeschool my dc and I’m really very sad to realise that it’s not for us.

Dd is craving the interaction of the classroom. She has worked so hard but it’s been a difficult time for her.

Ds is anxious and almost a school refuser but getting him to do anything at all has been a mammoth struggle. I’m utterly worn down and barely coping. I’m a much better parent when he goes to school. I’ve realised that if he does get to the point of refusing to go to school, I’ll have to go to work full time to pay for a home tutor.

PufferFishGoneWrong · 05/03/2021 19:55

Not a chance in hell. If I wanted to be a teacher, I would have trained as one.

SimonJT · 05/03/2021 19:57

No.

I also can’t pay my mortgage, council tax or utilities with fresh air.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 05/03/2021 19:57

DS(8) is not going back.
We've just got official permission from the LA to homeschool.
He has ASD and ADHD and he just learns a lot better at home.
DD(5) is already back and much happier for it

crazyontheweekend · 05/03/2021 19:58

@Moonface123
I agree wholeheartedly with your post.
That is my experience at least. My children are very adept at talking to people of all ages and backgrounds. They have great social skills and are confident. They are rarely at home in normal times.

School can be very restrictive if you really think about it. You spend 7 years of primary school with the same 20-30 children day in day out. That narrows your social circle hugely.

Monr0e · 05/03/2021 20:00

Well it's not even close to being an option for us as we've both worked full time throughout the last year and continued to rely on the dc's schools to carry on their education. For which I am very grateful.

But to anyone who does choose to, good luck and God speed.

TeenyTinyDustinHoffman · 05/03/2021 20:00

Ignoring the fact that I need to work:

I've actually quite enjoyed homeschooling. But the fact that I enjoy it is a pretty poor reason to keep them away from their friends and actually qualified teachers.

Habbyhadno · 05/03/2021 20:01

Absolutely not.

SmokedDuck · 05/03/2021 20:01

I have homeschooled until this year, rather against the flow, and am missing it.

I would advise that lack of interaction isn't the problem people might think, under normal conditions, my kids have been missing their homeschool friends this year as they find the kids in school a lot less friendly.

crazyontheweekend · 05/03/2021 20:01

@B33Fr33
I’m sorry to hear you found the home Ed community hostile 😞
Thankfully that’s not been my experience although like anything in life you can get cliques. But no worse than the school gates (my eldest went to school previously).

Can I ask where you are?

ChikiTIKI · 05/03/2021 20:02

My children aren't in school yet but the school near us allows part-time homeschooling. I only know beause we met someone at the park who is homeshcooled on Fridays. This isn't a covid thing, just an option that's always been there.

I think I might consider that for the first couple of years of primary school, see how it goes. I currently work full time but will be trying out compressed hours soon so will have Fridays off.

We have 2 children. If we have more, I probably wouldn't consider it. Homeschooling while having a little baby I would find quite tough.

BrilliantBetty · 05/03/2021 20:03

Hell no.

My DC needs to socialise. And with a diverse bunch of kids. In school.

doctorhamster · 05/03/2021 20:03

Hell to the fuck no

EdersonsSmileyTattoo · 05/03/2021 20:04

[quote Dontstepinthecowpat]@EdersonsSmileyTattoo I came on to post the same. That made me laugh for ages yesterday![/quote]
I’ve been chuckling to myself about it all day!

I’m dying to be able to use it again!! 😂😂

LadyOfLittleLeisure · 05/03/2021 20:04

@B33Fr33 really? Are these local home ed communities you have reached out to? I home educate one of my DC and get so much support from my local group.

Rysimo · 05/03/2021 20:04

Yes, I deregistered my children in June with full support from the secondary but the primary took it very badly. None of them will return to school. They've never been happier.

1stTimeMama · 05/03/2021 20:05

We are home educators anyway, and there's definitely been an increase seen in the FB groups of people who are choosing to continue once schools go back.

Ylvamoon · 05/03/2021 20:05

I home schooled primary DC during Lockdown #1 ... It went ok in the end. DC definitely learned something from me hiding in the toilet with a Gin or GinGin

But when I announced that they can go to school as DH and I are both key workers and they can go to school if they wish,
their faces lit up with joy!
So no, Ylva Primary School has closed its doors FOREVER. 🎉