Back to School – Choices, Choices, Choices

In one week, my boys begin school. I thought I’d share a bit about our family’s educational decisions, because as you all well know, it’s not the easiest thing.

When my husband and I dated, we talked at length about how when the time came, we wanted to home school our children. My husband went to private Christian schools, was home-schooled and attended public school. I am a sole product of public schools, though I went through gifted education programs. All the “brainiacs” I knew, those kids really great at math and science, all had home-schooled in their early years. Who doesn’t want to have the smartest kids? They are the ones that will make the big bucks to pay for the fancy retirement home when I’m old, right?

My world began to change about a year and a half ago. It was spring and we were caught a bit off guard by kindergarten registrations – in January and February (for school that didn’t start until August). It was also about this time we were beginning to feel our life in the “big house” with all my in-laws was drawing to a close. (That’s a story for another day.) I had some hesitations about home-schooling our oldest child, so I began to pray about it. I prayed fully suspecting God would change my heart and I would get over my issues and go on with the home-school plan. I was wrong. The more I prayed, the more I knew we were supposed to send Yoshi (our oldest son) to public school. I didn’t want to, I don’t want to have to drag myself out of bed, play by someone else’s schedule and UGH… don’t even get me started on the whole PTA mom thing. That’s so not me. I argued back and forth with God for a while, begged my husband to pray about it, secretly hoping he would demand I homeschool. No, I was sure and he was sure, we had to send him to public school. Then came the housing issue.

We fell in love with our house at first sight. We were shocked when the realtor told us what school district it was in, because we thought it was a different one (district lines are crazy here in St. Louis, quite complicated). It was okay though, because it is still one of the best districts in the state. I waited until late in the summer to enroll my son, because I didn’t know any better. I seemed to be dancing to the wrong tune when it came to getting ready for school. The first weeks were horrible, I cried a lot. We had a lot of phone calls, issues with obedience, a whole mess of things.

In time, things settled, Yoshi turned things around an got into the groove. I made friends with the parents, volunteered a bit, worked things out. By summer, I knew it was a good thing, that we had met some families, that our family had a purpose and a place in this school community. It was hard, it was a struggle, but anything worthwhile is.

We are returning to the same public school this fall. Already we’ve had our first speed bump in the road. One of the families we met and grew to love this past year has suffered tremendous loss, the loss of a parent. We’re grateful that we’ll be sharing a classroom with the child again, that we get to retain that friendship. We know it won’t be easy, it never is. But life is about relationships; the good, bad and ugly, they are what makes life worth living.

I’m not saying everyone should attend public school. If I’m advocating anything it is that each family looks at each child and each school year individually and makes the decision that is best for the next year. Then, at the end, re-evaluate.It’s totally okay to one thing one year, and to change. Life is always changing, so why should we get stuck in a rut?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the details on our twins going to separate classrooms as they start kindergarten.