Thank you so much for sharing this. My son, who is 8 years old, is so much like his biological father, who hates reading. I truly believe that this is because he was forced to conform to the public school standards and was not at all ready. He can definitely read, he proves it every day (it still takes him longer to read than his peers), but there is no LOVE of words in him. My daughter, who is 6, is the complete opposite. I have not hindered her love of the written word, but I have not forced reading on her. She has taught herself much of what she knows, just by listening and playing with her friend's educational toys. I am constantly comparing my children to my roommate's daughter, who goes to a private school (pre-k), even though I know my children have different challenges. She regularly brings up their delays as some sort of reason I should not be allowed to homeschool my kids. How is it better to force a child to do something that goes against their brain? Why is it fair to compare two widely different children on the same subject when there is no true comparison because every child is different? I am guilty of worry, yes - I always worry that I am not doing enough for my children, that they won't make it if they should ever have to, or choose to, attend mainstream schools. I am constantly reminding myself that though I use a curriculum, I let much of the lesson follow my children and their interests and their levels.

Thank you again for sharing this. It has truly centred my mind, at least for the time being, on whether or not I am bringing enough to the table for my children. <3