beingcoreybayless

Okay, so let’s get real about things.

I was determined to never homeschool my kiddos; it just wasn’t for me. I in no way wanted the fate of the education and intelligence in my hands. I just didn’t know that I would be able to give them all the attention and balance all the many subjects and things and truly do right by them. I wanted a trained professional to be there to lead and guide them in their education, and leave the life lessons and things like that to Dad… I got that!

Now, I have met many different homeschool families, and everyone has their reasons and perspectives. That’s kind of why I feel the need to share. I know everyone does it for different reasons, and everyone finds themselves in situations they could’ve never imagined themselves in. Meanwhile there are others who want their lives in a different place and not sure how to get there or if they are equipped for it… let’s get into it…

As I mentioned, this was not the life I initially had planned for myself or my family. I “knew” I would not be homeschooling…it wasn’t for me. Here I am a homeschool Dad.

It was not the government, the world, fear, control, or any of the typical reasons people assume I’m doing this… It’s so weird how quickly people make their assumptions about why I am here and why I am doing these things. I have had family members and friends who I would think know me pretty well that make statements to me, “Oh, if things were different in my situation, I’d be right there with you, Corey. I get it. I want to homeschool my kid because of all the crazies out there.” Others will commend me for “doing the right thing” as if I need their pat on the back and as if we see things the same when we do not. They say, “Corey, you and Kimberly are doing the right things to protect your child from the school system.”
Let’s clear that up… That is not what I am doing and those of you who are unable to have your children at home with you or choose to have your children in a school system somewhere need to be doing your job to protect your children anyways.
Our boys were in an awesome charter school STEM Academy back in Austin, TX, and we loved it. I made sure I was involved as much as absolutely possible. I was active in the PTA and kept regular communication with the teachers and the rest of the faculty. Everyone from the principal to the teachers, to the coach to the librarian to the cafeteria workers to the janitors… they all knew me by name. It only took an hour or two a week to be that involved. Seriously, get involved at your kids’ school so you know what is going on there and you have advocates for your children and help to keep them safe and protected.

Also, be involved in the PTA and get involved with the other parents and the school board. Every school board has designated seats for parents/PTA members. It is your children’s school; you have a voice although so many would have you believe otherwise. You have a voice. I knew what my children were being taught and so can you. If you are unable to have the time or availability to get involved enough to sit in one of those chairs on the school board, be sure you are good friends with other parents and you know their stances on things, and they know yours. We always took turns sitting in that seat as it wasn’t necessary that it be the same person…just two seats just for parents.

So to wrap that up, I had no fears or concerns of my boys being in a school… I knew better than to be fearful.

Now, Kimberly took a job as a travel nurse and we thought that it would be a job that lasted a few months and we’d be back in Austin closing on our house and back at our old school. That did not happen… as it approached the new school year and as I was texted to set up our “meet the teacher night” we realized we weren’t going home yet. We decided to contact their school letting them know and moved forward with homeschooling our boys. Again, we believed this to be temporary…just a moment in our lives based on circumstance…we’re on the road going from town to town, a new contract for Kimberly every few months. We needed school to come with us.

After now being in it deep on year three, I know this is the life for my family. I am not able to rationalize sending my boys away from me for hours every day. They are my boys and meant to be here with me and Mommy. I work from home and Kimberly is working hard as a nurse but we are presently working towards getting her to transition to working from home with me as well… We desire our family to be together. This is the drive behind us homeschooling.
We went to an uncredible homeschool convention that gave us a lot of insight and resources to help us along the way. Meeting so many other parents and educators who were doing it helped give me perspective and help me realize this is the life for us… I am capable of doing this!!

It is not always easy but it is the life for the Bayless Family.

I say all of this to give perspective to those out there thinking they aren’t ready or able to do it…You are and you can!

If you love your children and desire them home with you, there are resources to help you along the way. Please let me help if I can.
If anyone has resources or thoughts or tips, please share them in the comments so we can all help one another… Be sure you are subscribed to my blog as I will continue to post thoughts and insight to my experiences here as well.

If you want to do it, you got this! Let’s go!