Homeschooling Chronicles - Middle School Years

Homeschooling is a tricky endeavor that requires the ability to adjust. There is always something new that enters into the equation. Just when I thought things were running smoothly, the middle school years arrived. Who knew that middle school would completely change our homeschooling experience? It was a bit of a shocker for me. However, adjusting has been difficult for my sixth grader as well.

As I look back, I think of homeschooling in the elementary years as being a time our family spent in a mystical, idyllic world. Snuggling in bed, I would read aloud to my children. Eventually, they began to read to me. When we cooked and our recipes flopped, we would call them science experiments. Math was often accomplished through games, or in counting things as we took a hike in the fresh air.  And it was all educational for the whole family. The younger kids would participate in their own ways, often destroying that which we had painstakingly built. Time has a way of putting a positive spin on memories, I know I am romanticizing, but I also recognize that there was a lot less to fret about.

All of a sudden, I am required to teach my child to write a proper paper. He must write essays, master advanced math, and learn all about western civilization. Suddenly, high school and college are looming, and so is the pressure to be sure my child is ready for them. Just as the academic pressure mounts, I am unexpectedly dealing with a young person who is often irrational and even neglects to employ common sense.

At these times, I question our decision to homeschool. When my child is capricious, I can be prone to reacting to him with immature behavior of my own. When he is focusing on the negative, I can find myself doing the same. I wonder if I wasted valuable time during the elementary years. Could I have done something differently to avoid this adolescent behavior? Could I have prepared him better for these more difficult subjects? Did we miss reading a valuable book? Obviously, second-guessing is not helpful for either of us. In reality, adolescence is going to be characterized by volatility no matter where my son does his school work. I need to remain calm and stable, focusing on the positive aspects of our situation.

There are some very positive experiences in these middle school years.  I have received hugs at the most unexpected times. And, since they are more rare, I value them. Together, my son and I have found the humor in our outbursts. Also, because our academics are more rigorous, our days are much more scheduled. The unexpected bonus is that we are finished in time for afternoon play or activities. We are no longer trying to finish our school work at the dinner hour. Surprisingly, my younger children are absorbing some of the material being taught to my middle schooler. I would not have thought to teach these concepts in elementary school. Finally, one of the best benefits is that my son and I are pioneering a new frontier together. The beauty of homeschooling is that I do not have to be on the sidelines, wondering what is occurring at school. I get to participate in this important developmental stage. Growing up can be fraught with unexpected twists and turns. I have found that as my son grows and learns, so do I. We are exploring middle school together.