Tracy...to homeschool or not. That is the question!

On the Homeschool Blogger the following question/comment was written. I had a few things to ask her. Read on after her question for my answer to her.

Dear Minute to Minute Readers,
I am a homeschooling mom of two. My daughter is 7 (almost 8), and my son is 5. I am feeling guilty for enjoying a few hours break from my children. Okay, here is my predicament. I have been homeschooling my children from the beginning, but just this summer I have let them attend a couple Bible study summer day camps. Also, my daughter has been attending some art classes through the local art museum. She had so much fun and is eager to attend more as they come about. I enjoyed them too as this was the first time I have been away from my children since they were born.

Now, I'm wondering if I am doing them a disservice by homeschooling them. They are both very social and really enjoy being with other kids. They are enjoying all the art and interaction that they are getting, as well as the time away from me. And yes, I have been enjoying a little bit of freedom from them, too. Time to myself, which I never get.

I think we are all enjoying this new found freedom, and I hate giving it up now that the summer camps are over and life has gone back to the normal school year. Any suggestions on how I can get time for myself? I do belong to a homeschool group, but they are a long way away; almost an hour's drive from my home. We are the only homeschooling family within my neighborhood block, and it seems like I am the only stay-at-home parent within that area, too. It gets really lonely here at times. Thank you for your advice.

A Homeschool Mom Seeking Alone Time,
Tracey

Tracy, Instead of giving you advice I am going to pose a several questions/comments for you to think about.
1. Why did you homeschool to begin with? Get out you philosophy or your why sheet and review them. If you never wrote
them down, then this is the time to do that.
2. Have you accomplished the goals you set up for you and the kids during homeschooling?
3 Other then friends, what else will the schools have to offer them that is better then what you are offering them now?
4. Do your kids have friends and other activities during the regular school year? If not why or why not?
5. You really have only begun homeschooling. Why would you want to give it up now? Have you really given it enough time
to make such a decision?

Ok, look I have a 6 and 3 year old and have been doing this for only 3 years (just beginning too). There are days I want freedom and question myself about it too, but God gave us the responsibility to RAISE our kids. I have yet to find a verse in the Bible where God says to give birth, keep them until they are 5 and hand them off to anybody else to raise.
I am sure you have a certain amount of things you want your kids to learn and I am not talking about scholastic.

6. My last questions...Will they learn the things YOU want them to learn about Character, God and Manners etc. or will
they pick up on the other 200 students character, Godliness or lack of and manners?

I will keep you and all the other moms out there with the same struggle in my prayer. I pray that God will help you to make the right decision. Pray about it before you do anything! Good luck and God Bless!!!