Why are we homeschooling?

Well, I've always dreamed of homeschooling my children, even before I was married - I dreamed of a big family and we'd ride around in a VW bus touring the country and learning all kinds of wonderful things. It didn't exactly happen like that, but even though my son came about in an unconventional way, doesn't mean I can't homeschool anyway.

Second, attachment wise, I just think it's better for Andrei, and me. We're all learning how to be a family, and I didn't think that bussing him away for 8 hours every day would help that. Why not spend as much time as possible cuddled on the couch with a good book or a movie, conversing and getting to know each other. Focus on the connection and the relationship, and the academics will thrive.

These things had been pretty much decided before we brought Andrei home. When he actually did come home, it was clear that he was not emotionally or socially ready for a school setting. Age-wise he's 7 but emotionally I'd say he's still around 3-4 (but improving daily). Sitting still all day, quietly, would be literal tourture for him. He would waste the teachers time and his own, and I would not learn a thing. Plus, coming from an institution - I've seen how he acts around other children - it's Lord of the Flies in his mind. He befriends the younger and tries to beat up the older (and fails). He would not make friends.

I also have friends who are ELL teachers, and they kind of gave me the run down of what would happen if we put him in PS. He would be put in all ELL classes his first year. Each year after that they would assess his learning, and slowly transition him into mainstream classes one at a time, all the while having a counseler to help him with problems he encounters with directions or homework or whatever. Also, my friend said he'd take about 10 years to be fluent in English. I didn't think this would be best for Andrei. The ELL classes have no Russian support and he would be alone among other children who had their own culture to befriend.

So, he's home with me. He's been in America for 9 months and we're taking it day by day. I'm proud of him and how quickly he's learned, and roll my eyes at the seemingly easy things he hasn't quite gotten yet. But maybe today, we'll have to see.