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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm in an amazing point of opportunity in my career, and have two young kids. Really have a chance to excel within my organization, but it's not like, a passion, I guess. But I think I could do a better job raising my kids than anyone else, and don't believe the education they'd get at public school would be good quality, and private school is very expensive and [b]still probably not as good as home schooling if I devote all my energy into my kids[/b] instead of my high demanding job. But giving up my salary would mean a significant impact on our quality of life/what we could save. We'd be able to do it, but without my 100K incomes, we'd be making about 140k (this includes rental income). How to make this decision? Nothing more important to invest in than my kids, right? [/quote]

I'm in education. It's incredibly hard for any one person, no matter how talented to replicate what a school does. A school allows your children to establish relationships with a large group of diverse peers. To learn how to build on others' ideas, negotiate, discuss, debate, and communicate to people who may not see eye to eye with you. To work with various adult role models, who model different ways of being in the world -- different modes of coping with problems and life situations. Homeschooling means limiting your children to your own perspective on things (supplemented occasionally by various outings and classes, which don't substitute for the kinds of relationships they would have in school. It also risks depriving them of finding a peer group to which they belong. For elementary aged students, belonging to a community beyond the family is a very important step of development. I think if you have a church or something like that in which you're raising the kids this might be a different story, but otherwise I think a decent school could do a much better job on all fronts.

I also sense a bit of all or nothing in your post. I think you need to step back a bit and look at whether your ideals in either domain, work or home, are realistic. I know several homeschool parents who find the job rather high burnout, especially if they have sky high expectations of replicating an entire mini-culture or world in the confines of their home. I understand your frustration with the educational options available to you. I suggest investing your money in a really good home library, developmentally appropriate art area, and outdoor play area. Most homeschoolers I know have their kids reading and/or playing outdoors most of the day anyway so by providing that enriched environment you are showing your children that you value their education. [/quote]

Great response!![/quote]

+2[/quote]

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