I'm going to jump right to the point of this post. After much prayer and careful consideration, I have decided to homeschool Lucy beginning in September. I had written a VERY long piece about this, but decided not to publish it the way it was written. It was more about my journey to homeschooling, rather than my reasons for choosing it. And my decision isn't about me, it's about what's best for Lucy.
There are several reasons I'm choosing to homeschool Lucy. First and foremost are socialization and emotional concerns I have for her. She has really struggled to find friends at school, and it bothers her greatly. She is an extremely intelligent girl, and is quite a bit more emotionally mature than most elementary school students. My mom calls her "an old soul" and that is a very good description. She has friends in her Girl Scout troop and Activity Days (a girls' group affiliated with our church), but she spends most of her waking hours at school. I'm sure she feels pretty anxious and lonely.
Another reason homeschooling is a good fit for Lucy and me is that there are so many things she wants to learn and know, and we just don't have the time to focus on them because school really does take up most of our day. The homeschooling philosophy I like best combines study, work, and community service. So I'm really excited to learn and have new experiences right along with Lucy.
