So an issue that is always in the foreground for us, personally, is the flexibility of our homeschooling with regards to other countries. In other words, what we are doing currently fulfills requirements in the state of Washington, but do we have the requirements covered (and appropriate documentation) should we move overseas? Though there are some homeschoolers who have made their decision in an effort to fight the system in some form or another, this did not factor into our decision to homeschool, and should we move at some point, we would want to be in compliance with the local educational laws. This might include finding appropriate loopholes: if homeschooling were outright forbidden, we might leave the country frequently enough to legally remain visitors instead of residents, because we feel so strongly about the benefits of educating our children at home, but those are extreme specifics that could take up an entire post of their own. But the general idea is to follow the law, even if we move.
As for the likelihood of us moving countries at some point in the foreseeable future, I'd say it is fairly likely. For one thing , both Mr. A and I have a deep desire to see more of the world, and we feel that there is more to life than staying in one place. Also, we both have a major crush on a couple of different countries, and would love the chance to live in one of them. Also, if we moved it would almost definitely be to somewhere in Europe, where the smaller country sizes means a much greater proximity to other cultures and languages, and the resulting ease of travel that is invaluable for the children's education.
However, the greatest factor by far is that my parents and brother live in England, and though I really love Washington and feel very much at home here, I simply cannot imagine a long-term home for my family in which my own, natal family is not close-by. I told my mom on the phone the other day that we're a little too nauseatingly Hallmark, and I think that really sums us up, if I do say so myself! We're really close. And though I imagine we'll always be a drive away, there is a huge difference between a drive and a 30-hour, international air travel ordeal. Huge difference. Particularly as there seems to be an exponential increase in difficulty of travel with each additional child....and there will hopefully be more children at some point, so this long-haul travel thing is likely a picnic now compared with a few years down the line.
But I really, deeply feel we are denying our children by being so far away from their beloved Nana, Grandad, and Uncle Dan. And it seems to be showing already in Bear. He has sworn for a couple of years now that he is going to live on his Nana and Grandad's roof when he grows up. Of course, he also swears he's a superhero (up for debate), and that twirling his arms around at soccer practice helps him run faster (unlikely), and that his sister likes mushrooms (she doesn't, much to my dismay). So maybe I shouldn't put that much emphasis on this particular obsession. But the frequency with which he brings it up leads me to believe he's somewhat serious. He has also started a new one: for the past few months, every couple of days he gets all teary-eyed and tells me he just couldn't live without us being near him. And then he questions why I live so far away from my own parents. And then he tells me he is never moving out. I, of course, explain all the right things very patiently and lovingly to him, but it does chip away at my evergreen-state resolve every single time. Oy vey.
So these issues, combined with a few others, keep the possibility of moving high. Therefore, we need to keep abreast of the homeschooling situation in other countries; namely, England and Scotland, the two most likely candidates for our future. I have read several articles (can't recall any right now, sorry) about homeschooling being a bit tougher in England than it is here, and being tougher yet in Scotland. There are some helpful-looking resources, though, such as Schoolhouse and this rather comprehensive site, which I will definitely be checking out, should the need arise. Having said that, I read this article on The Guardian that talks of a great migration of English homeschoolers northwards, after the English government increased regulations. So it all sounds a bit touch-and-go on that side of the waters.
I was interested to find this story, about a London father who chose to pull one of his daughters out of public school, in favor of homeschooling her. He begins the article with news about Essex County Council (my peeps!) awarding some homeschooling families several thousand pounds, presumably for education-related costs. That sounds pretty fabulous to me, as being paid constitutes it being a job, and a job where I can hang out with my kids is the best kind of job there is. Essex, I may be headed your way after all...Just kidding. Not happening. But good job, ECC, on the vote to reward homeschoolers.
Judging by what I've read, I would venture to say that the potential move is not a common worry in the minds of most parents, but rather one that comes with little warning. Yet with the propensity for homeschoolers to run their own businesses, and the hardy, can-do spirit that runs rampant among us, I'm honestly surprised there isn't more coverage of such issues in the homeschooling books I've been reading. Not sure why, just an interesting thing I've observed.
On another note, a trend I've noticed in the books I've read is that, to the FAQ of "How do I teach my child [insert subject I fear and/or loathe]?", the experts generally advise one of two things: either that the term homeschooling does not really mean that all learning needs to be done at home, and that private tutors/community college classes can come in handy as supplementary instructors, OR that one of the main goals of homeschooling is to teach your children how to be self-motivated self-instructors who can teach themselves those subjects that are "tricky" for you. While I completely agree, both with the idea of using external teachers to supplement your teaching and with the goal of imparting the gift of self-motivation above all else, I think there is a major third option here: learning WITH your children.
I mean, I know that the everyday processes of homeschooling lend themselves to learning with your children; I have truly learned so much already, both in terms of random facts and in an overall, learning-about-my-children-and-how-people-work kind of way. But as for those tricky subjects, I literally cannot wait to study them WITH the kids! Like many people, I had a huge dropoff in my mathematical abilities at some point after long division....... addition?!......but I am eager to fix that. No, I could not possibly explain complex mathematics to Bear at this point----hell, I couldn't even come up with a realistic example of an equation that I could not explain. And don't even get me started on my arch nemesis Statistics, that I have now taken about 5 times, passed each time, but fear like the plague. But when we get to the point where I can no longer explain these things to my children with books and Internet alone, we will sign up for help---together. I can't wait for the day that I understand Calculus. Some of it at least! And when Bear or Belle wants to learn a language I do not know (i.e. the vast majority of them), I will most likely trip over my own feet in my haste to sign us up.
Aside from the personal gain and pleasure of learning these things over, what better example is there to set for your children than going to class together: no kids, I don't know everything (as if there will be any doubt by that point!), but I am not scared to admit it, and learning is such an enjoyable experience (as is being with them), that I am eager to take advantage of every possible opportunity. It seems like a win-win situation to me. Plus, if finances present a problem, there is always the possibility of auditing a class. This is a wonderful system, and is particularly well-suited to the homeschooling environment, where the grade received may be largely irrelevant anyway. I am sincerely hoping that my children want to learn about all sorts of bizarro, extremely specific topics about which I know nothing. String Theory 101, here we come!
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