Our Homeschool Challenge

Electronics.  When, how much time, what kind, which software, where do we put it?  Ughhh.  Being a parent is tough in this electronic age.  Both Eric and I use electronics for volunteer work and career, so it’s a part of our lives.

One of our children, Greg, will most likely study and work in a field saturated with electronic devices.  He started young and just never lost his fascination with all things computer and electronic.  It’s been a challenge figuring out how to encourage his enthusiasm without letting him go overboard, and yet figure out how to keep him interested in the ‘more boring’ (according to him) subject areas involving literature/English, writing skills, history, geography, music, art, etc. 

He likes science, but takes forever to work through his chapters.  Math, thank goodness isn’t hard for him, but he’d been stalled on a topic for over a month because it challenged him and he couldn’t figure it out as easily.  I don’t think it would have stalled him this long if he’d have spent a consistent amount of time on the topic each day, but I could NOT find a way to encourage or motivate him.  At his age, I cannot make him physically do tasks.  I cannot make him learn!  He has to want to do these things.

I suppose he’s been what you call a challenging child or unmotivated learner (when it doesn’t coincide with his purposes) or a difficult student.  And he is.  However, he is intelligent and none of the above mentioned subjects are hard for him.  I’ve seen him write A+ papers and do it in a short amount of time.  He can read well and make his way through what he refers to as ‘the most boring book’ he’s ever read and then write an essay…all without taking notes.  (Not that I haven’t encouraged note-taking, he just doesn’t agree.)

We’ve tried an endless variety of ideas, strategies, and the like to ‘change’ his attitude and study/work ethic.  They haven’t worked or only work for a time.

He’ll be a senior next year.  While I rejoice with relief that he’ll soon be graduating, my husband and I also find ourselves thinking of all the times he’s helped us with electronic/computer issues when we didn’t want to take the time to correct problems ourselves.  He’s much quicker, anyway.  Also, I find myself thinking about the days when I won’t have to struggle EVERY SINGLE DAY to motivate him!  I have wanted to give up; I really have.  But, I haven’t.  I’ve threatened so send him to public school, but I haven’t.  It it really an option? 

Eric has encouraged sending him to school; friends have encouraged sending him to school; and grandparents have encouraged sending him to school.  Yet, he remains here in our homeschool.  Even when I felt our relationship was at an extremely low point, homeschooling still presented itself, in my heart, as the best option. 

Home is the best place for him right now.

Greg knows this; I know this; his dad knows this.  Some days he listens better than others.  Some days are pure torture for one or the other!  This homeschooling route is really hard; I couldn’t do it without grace. 

Regardless of the obstacles, Greg and I continue to work on our relationship.  It’s evolved over time, thank goodness.  I thought we’d forever be stuck at opposing ends and he’d never want to come home after leaving for college, but I don’t think that anymore. 

And that is awesome.