Two for two, WOW ;o)

Two posts, two days...who would have thought it? Have you ever been in a half sleep, you know that state just before you wake up in the morning? Not really awake yet not really sleeping? Well, I was there yesterday (Fri.) and like a flash a through flew into my mind from nowhere! I missed my homeschooling co-ops planning meeting! Don't ask me what made me think of that then, especially since I missed it on Tuesday, but there it was.

I belong to a very small co-op, about 20 families, 60 children. It's an awesome group of homeschooling christian Moms that love God and their children. When I first started homeschooling Joseph I didn't know anyone who homeschooled or even how to go about it. As I always do, I researched it like mad on the internet. What a blessing the internet is for so many things! I found out the requirements for my very unfriendly homeschooling state (New York) and what I had to do legally to start.

Disclaimer, firstly, let me make this clear, I am NOT saying anything negative about people who send their children to the public school, I am only being honest about my life experiences, that's all, nothing more or nothing less. You see, my two oldest children (Amanda 22 and Pasquale 19) went through the public school system. I have nothing against the public school system, I believe it depends on the children, parents and school system they have available to them. I had NEVER thought of homeschooling, like I said, I didn't know anyone who did and to be honest, I never thought I'd have the ability to do it. Amanda dropped out of school (that's another post in itself) and PJ (Pasquale) was still in public school when I pulled Joseph out. Joey was in first grade. He was always a VERY active child, but I never thought anything of it, he was just young. He used to get in trouble in kindergarten because he couldn't stay still or focus on the teacher, but what do they expect, he was only 5?! He was sent down to the Principal's office frequently, he was given a counselor (they thought since he came from a divorced household it may be causing issues), and he had a special ed teacher that tried different methods to keep him on track. My first experience with an IEP. First grade started and there wasn't any improvement, on the contrary, Joseph would get up in the middle of class and go to the play area. When the teacher asked him what he was doing he would tell her "I'm playing", when she asked him why he got up and wasn't listening he would tell her "We did this yesterday". When she would ask him to repeat whatever it was that she was teaching, he could repeat it without problem.

We had an issue on our hands. A VERY active, VERY intelligent boy who was already bored with school and we where only in the first month of first grade!!! A repeat of kindergarten ensued...principal, counselor, special ed teacher, new IEP, me volunteering in his class as much as possible, all with no effect. Joseph was starting to get labeled, "Trouble maker", "troubled kid", "naughty", "hyper", enough was enough! As per my usual, I cried, usually my first or second response interchangeable with prayer, (I know I should always pray first, but I admit I'm EXTREMELY flawed). After crying I prayed what God would have me do for my son. My husband and I prayed and seeked God's will for our son (really his step-son, but he has never looked at him like that). We were now attending a wonderful Baptist church in a small rural village nearby. This was my first introduction into God's family and my first introduction to people that homeschool.

Not everyone there homeschools, only a couple at that time, but I started to ask questions. Researched, prayed and cried for the son that God had blessed me with that others so misunderstood. Didn't they see his sweet spirit? His compassion for others? His inquisitiveness and intelligence? Didn't they realize he was confused and scared? Hadn't his birth mother and father given him up? Hadn't his adoptive father abandon him? He had a "new" father...when was he going to leave? Would Mommy leave too? Didn't they see the pain and confusion of this beautiful child, this gift of God, this much loved child of my heart? ENOUGH! He would NOT be subjected to any more things that beat him down! He would stay home with the mother and father that love him dearly, that understand him, that want only the best for him always. I would homeschool!

December was the last time Joseph was in school. He never went back after Christmas break. I won't say it was easy, on the contrary, it was extremely difficult. No one that is in my family had ever even heard of homeschooling, how could I teach my son, I wasn't a teacher, what about socialization, was it legal? After much explanation and a little time everyone was on board. We all know it was the best thing for Joseph, he has flourished! In 4th grade he was reading and understanding at a 10th grade level! He's now going into 6th grade. He's still about the same level reading, maybe a little higher, but we have also found some learning disabilities as well. He has some mild dyslexia, cannot spell (even simple words that he has no trouble reading) and we hit a complete road block in math! Bible, Language Arts (minus spelling and writing), Social Studies, Science, Health, Art, Music all no problem, he still can't write cursive (he can barely print legibly) and simple math still escapes him. I know he would have such difficulty in school, I am so thankful that I can teach him at home and find different things for him that encourage him, interest him and meet his needs. I'm also so blessed that we can study God's word in detail. We have a specific Bible curriculum and it is his first lesson of each day. We are trying to teach him that if you start your day with God things will go better for you. (Wish I could remind myself of that!).

Rambling yet again! Started out with my bad memory and finished with homeschooling! I plan on homeschooling Jonathan and Anah. It will be very different but I know God will give me the ability if it is His will. I am also open to sending them to a special school we have in the area. It's called School of the Holy Childhood. It is run by nuns, but is nondenominational, anyone may attend and they don't teach any form of religious education there. They are specific to children with developmental disabilities. Many of the children there have Down Syndrome and it is an awesome, loving, wonderful place. At first I was against a specific school for developmentally disabled children, I felt they wouldn't grow as much as they could if they were intermingled with typically developing children. I changed my mind when I went on a tour of the facility. My best friend (sister), Rona and her husband Jim have a daughter, Rachel. Rachel is also chromosonally enhanced! She was in the public school and her needs were not getting met, so I encouraged them to look at SHC and take a tour, it couldn't hurt to look, right?

From the moment the three of us walked in the door we knew it was a place of love and commitment to children. We didn't see one unhappy child, an adult without a smile on their face or a negative attitude. The love and caring that is in that school is evident. The children are so smart! They are all encouraged to reach their full potential, they are loved, they are accepted and mostly, realize that they are a blessing from God. There is a high adult to child ratio in each class. If a child needs a one on one aid they get it, no problem. Whatever OT, PT, ST they need, they get it, no problem. As they get older they are taught how to cook, care for a room/house, hold down a job and function as a member of society.

Ok, rambling again! Gee wiz, what I'm trying to say is, we all know what is best for each of our children. We need to seek God and pray, asking Him what His will is for each child, what is best for that child, after all, He loves them even more than we do! Each of our children is a gift of God, whether society agrees with us or not is irrelevant, we KNOW it, and with such knowledge comes much responsibility. I encourage you to seek God regarding each of your children and His will for them, I also ask you to remind me to do the same!

Have a blessed day!