The perk of traveling while other kids are in school (in the low season) is a bonus of worldschooling.
Last week we went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We walked on to Hagrid’s roller coaster without waiting. I rode the Mummy with my son Lucas 5 times. The kids rode Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges 15 times (Henry talked his way into staying on the ride and not having to re-enter the line). They were soaked from head-to-toe and smiling from ear-to-ear. Grandma, grandpa, Michael and I took turns riding The Woody Woodpecker roller coaster with the boys for an hour. The two days we were at the parks were incredible.
The joy on their faces was priceless and we want to be around to see that joy as often as we can.
Going to theme parks in the off-season is not the only reason we decided to take our kids out of public school and travel full time.
Life is moving too fast.
My husband had cancer twice before the age of 40.
In Atlanta, during the week, we saw our kids for about 15 hours and those hours were spent getting ready for school, making dinner, running errands and yelling because we were always rushing to the next activity.
The weekends were spent running more errands, doing yard work, cleaning the house, and going to kid activities.
It was a fine life, but we were going through the motions and not connecting as a family. We were checking off boxes. We were doing things because our neighbors and friends were doing them.
We have been homeschooling Lucas and Henry now for about 4 months. We went from spending about 40 waking hours a week (7-day week) with them to about 84 waking hours.
It is not easy or always fun. There are ups and downs, but I do not want to be anywhere else right now.
We chose to homeschool our kids because we will not get the chance to spend this much time together ever again.
We are choosing to take a mid-life retirement from corporate America to spend more time with our kids and pursue other opportunities. Corporate America will still be there when and if we are ready to go back.
Many people may not understand our decision, but we are happy with it and we are happier as a family.
It is also awesome to go to theme parks when it is not crowded and not 95 degrees outside.
