All of these paths eventually lead to an organic process of homeschooling. Education at home is organic because it cannot be forced, and it must be constantly altered to meet the needs of an evolving family. I find the need to "rebirth" my instruction and schedule every semester. Unschoolers alter their routines constantly, if a routine is in existence at all. The design of the homeschool day cannot be forced by a school-driven culture, because life at home inevitably involves the daily, grounded work and demands of running a household. Hence, many families that try to set up "school at home" become frustrated or exhausted. Homeschooling has its own home-driven structure that cannot be removed.

We learn through our experiences at home with our children of their needs and our resources. From these we mix a combination of lessons and exposures that facilitates a life of learning for the entire family. A homeschool teacher discovers the hitch in the teacher myth: teachers don't know everything. Growing up in schools, we were taught of the omnipotence of our teachers: flawless, precise and unquestionable. Although teachers' knowledge is limited, they possess something much more valuable: research skills, resources, and instruction skills. These qualities exist in teachers to a variable extent per individual. Homeschool teachers develop these qualities in their journey and put them to work in curriculum and instruction design.

As parents, we have a connection to our children that is stronger and more enduring than most teachers have with their students. Once we can free ourselves from the culture of school and the teacher myth, this connection will serve us in guiding our direction. Because our children are each unique, with special needs and abilities, their curriculum and instruction is designed individually. Families have values and priorities that is the framework of the homeschool curriculum, but the child's needs and interests create a structure within that framework

Although I had explored homeschooling when my oldest daughter was in early childhood, I reserved homeschooling for when a need appeared, I expected, around early adolescence. So, my eldest proceeded to attend a neighborhood public school that fit our needs at the time. With a new infant in the home, kindergarten provided my five-year-old with daily exposure to peers, and a busy day of activity that I felt less capable of providing in the home. Fortunately, she had a very nurturing teacher. This was a requirement for my child. I wanted someone with a gentle tone and affectionate manner to teach her. If it hadn't been for her sweet teacher, my child's school attendance would have halted abruptly. Comforted, she slowly adapted to a five-day school week, often visiting the counselor for support in missing me. Her class was mixed-aged, so she continued with a teacher and group of students for two years. When a class promotion occurred in second grade, however, things had changed in the school. A new principle was hired to implement a test-curriculum into a progressive, grade-fee, 'avante guard' school. With these changes, came a lesson for me. The school district had no intention of serving my child's needs, and I owe my knowledge of this to her second-grade teacher. She informed me that my child's math skills would not be challenged that year due to the limitations of the test curriculum. Coupled with incessant behavioral problems in the classroom, abrasive cafeteria "patrol officers," an easily observable wasting of time, and a dull enrichment program, this realization allowed me to make a momentous decision to take over the education of my child.

For the first six months, the curriculum was piecemeal. I had committed to running a part-time preschool program in my home in order to afford to stay home with my infant. My energies to homeschool were limited. But my daughter took to reading with a fervor, and spent her time wisely with workbooks when she was uninterested in our preschool activities. She began to find her usefulness in the home, too. To this day, my eldest has never been "bored." I attribute this, in part, to our choice to live free of television.

As my child progressed through third and fourth grades, we used a core-curriculum guide and library resources to build a curriculum that would keep her up with her school peers, but we quickly discovered that in a day, we could go beyond the normal expectations. A curriculum-based day need only last a couple of hours to accomplish the expectations set in schools, and my daughter's interests in art and music flourished in the afternoons. We became involved in various lessons and cooperatives to meet her interests and social needs.

When we finally purchased a curriculum, we knew what we were looking for. As my youngest developed, I found the need for more structure paramount. I could depend on a curriculum to have lesson plans designed to progress through a subject area within which I felt overburdened. So, I began to focus more of my time on instruction and specific lesson plans for coop classes that I offered.

My girls blossomed, and continue to be challenged. I, myself, feel challenged in my role, as well. I find myself to be a guide and facilitator to learning, rather than a didactic "all knowing" teacher. Other parents may discover their own teaching style to be more traditional or radical, but they will find a niche that serves their family, whatever it may be. Eventually, the demands of the situation will change, and with it, a teaching style may erode or adapt. Flexibility is an asset that continues to serve our species.

Through our experiences, somehow we choose to homeschool. But this decision sounds outrageous to most family members and other parents. What makes us so different from them in our views? Why are we willing to step outside of cultural norms to this extent?

Certainly not for the money! There are no monetary rewards for homeschooling. Most homeschool families pay public school taxes, yet, our children are not directly served by the schools. Curriculum materials are expensive, and although a good library can provide complete resources for an impressive education, most families purchase curriculum. Lessons and coops all have their fees. But the most expensive aspect of homeschooling is in a potential wage earner's lost salary.

This requires a shift from cultural standards. Obviously, upper-class families have a monetary advantage in making this decision. Yet, affluent families face challenges to this decision. Changing from a dual-income family to a single one involves sacrifices. One may sacrifice their career dreams, or their luxury automobile, or their social status to stay at home. Middle and low income families have to face creative challenges to make ends meet when one parent is at home. Single parents may decide to live a life of poverty at home with their kids rather than a nine-to-five job with benefits and after-school care for the kids. A decision that is this paramount in scope and commitment must be made thoughtfully, and individually.

Somehow, in balancing the needs of a family, a parent may come to the decision that he or she can serve the family best by remaining at home.

This transition requires patience on the part of all family members. Questions will be asked from suspicious relations who desire a more "sure-footed" path to graduation, college and a job. The physical space of the home will suffer alterations as on-going projects, library books and art supplies move out of closets and into the family room. Children who are accustomed to the routine of schooling may initially slip into the mindset of "the endless weekend". A new homeschool parent may have to "restart" lessons to find a method of instruction that works. Social support, educational philosophies, materials and routine will all need time and nurturance to grow. Regardless of affiliation, nearly all homeschool families agree, that the first year is a major transition that requires an abundance of patience and levity.

Other homeschool families are your best resources. When beginning a journey, it is helpful to speak with those who are further along, to find out more about the obstacles and vantage points along the way. Established cooperatives, network groups and organized gatherings will provide a bridge to ties with other homeschoolers. Your children, too, will benefit from this contact, as they find peers and interest groups that can smooth their transition. Informed parents can recommend books and materials to help you get started. A diversity of homeschool methods and philosophies can be learned from talking with a heterogeneous assembly of homeschoolers. This exposure can bring you closer to finding your unique educational philosophy. Finally, other parents provide support for you because they are deeply devoted to homeschooling themselves, and understand the challenges of living outside of the traditional educational system.

Although we were pretty isolated during our first year, the few connections that we had served our needs and opened up our opportunities within the community. Once a week, we attended a soccer game where numerous homeschoolers gathered to play, talk and relax outdoors. Here, I made important connections in the community that proved helpful later on, when we became interested in building more relationships and joining an active cooperative. Our city has a great theater where homeschool classes are held during the school day. My eldest daughter began to develop her interest theater while working cooperatively with other children on play productions. Eventually, we met some families that have been our "core support system" for years. It takes effort to meet with other homeschool families, who often reside many miles apart, but the rewards can be great.

After eight years of homeschool, my eldest chose to attend a fine arts academy in the public school system. Her motivation to learn, nurtured at home, has continued to serve her, now in terms of academic success as well as 'learning for the sake of learning'. My youngest, now ten years of age, continues to school at home, and although she misses her big sister, the time that we spend alone together has deepened our connection. Her interests have taken the lead in guiding our schedule. Yet, she accompanies my husband to work, and enjoys meeting my clients when they come to the house. These experiences enrich her understanding of the importance of work, and how to balance it with familial responsibilities and personal needs. Someday she may choose to attend school away from her parents, and I will embrace her choice and support her journey. The time we spent at home will always be cherished.

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