Remember that long list of things you (before having a baby) said you would never do as a parent? Now, after reality hit, remember the short-list of things you said you would seriously never do? Homeschooling was on my short-list. Yet here I am, blogging about my upcoming year as I attempt to HOMESCHOOL my preschool-age child. Yes, I’m officially eating my words.
I’m not necessarily opposed to homeschooling; I think that it is sometimes the optimal educational experience for a child, depending on the circumstances. But I always believed that homeschooling wasn’t for me. I want my kids to socialize with other kids on a daily basis, experience the trials-and-tribulations of school (to a degree, it builds character), and learn from adults other than me or my husband.
However, I also live in NYC, am a stay-at-home mom and am not “part of the 1%”. Last year, for a number of reasons (mainly due to the birth of my 2nd kid), our older kid went to nursery school. She loved the experience–the teachers were amazing, she formed close bonds with her classmates and I really noticed an increase in her verbal skills. The major downside is that it was expensive. She went to school 2.5 hours a day, twice-a-week, for 9 months. Her annual tuition cost more than the average annual tuition at a Canadian University! So, you can only imagine how much it would cost to send her to an all-morning, 5-days-a-week preschool.
As I spend the next few weeks planning (I’m using that word loosely) the curriculum, I realize that I am fortunate to live in a city like New York. In many ways, this city is an educational experience in itself. There are a number of playgrounds, libraries, children’s bookstores and museums that I can incorporate into my “teaching plan”. Plus, NYC is huge–I’m sure I’ll find a preschool homeschooling community in my own neighborhood. Hey, if naked ping pong can thrive in this city, anything can.
MOM TEACH ME NYC 