homeschooling - the path ahead

This past autumn, and all through winter break, I have been thinking a lot about homeschooling and the path ahead. As any good Waldorf-inspired parent, I have thought a lot about the children in front of me, where they are now, what they need, and lately, meditating a lot on where they are going.

This month, I will be attending a number of information sessions for high school. While I only have a 7th grader at this point, I feel as though the light of high school started gleaming brighter at the end of a much shorter tunnel when this school year began.  As someone who tends toward anxiety and can overthink things, I am trying to proactively explore the options for Lala Bug while simultaneously seeking out support that we may need to help us along the way.

As homelearners, we have taken a year by year approach and I never expected to be homeschooling this long. It has been good for the highly sensitive child of mine, so while we will explore the high school options locally, I will also be learning about the options for homeschooling high school in our area.

Another homeschool mama friend and I were sharing our current homeschooling anxieties and  I realized something really important in a new way.

There are many, many paths to becoming an educated individual.

The typical route that I took, and that M took, and that many (most) other kids take through schools and into college is just one way. There are others. As I consider these other paths, such as homeschooling high school, I fret about things like science labs. As a biologist, lab was important for my path. But it suddenly occurred to me that science labs aren't Lala Bug's 'thing' anyway. If I had let go of what I "should" be doing, would science have been the path I really chose? I don't know. I do know that I want to give our children a chance and input (with guidance, of course!) on where they see themselves going and how they think they are going to get there.

Going to college is just one option after high school. For many people, it isn't an option at all. It is a privilege. College isn't the only route to becoming a self-sustaining, successful adult. As I thought about these things, it really dawned on me...my children may not want to go to college! Can M and I be okay with that? He and I both saw college as a necessity to a successful career.

These are just thoughts and realizations as I puzzle through how to help support my still-child navigate what is coming ahead (when she still doesn't see it coming), but they were important steps for me in letting go a little more. When I meditate on my children, when I focus on Lala Bug and how her life might be when she is grown, I only see a successful adult. That girl has focus, determination, hard work, and skills...when she is passionate about what she is doing and learning.

I am holding onto that image as we explore the possibilities.