1. We start when we are good and ready! There have been times where schedules are tight and we have a set start time for our schooling day, but even then if there is illness or appointments or we were just up late the night before, the morning start time is completely flexible! Our typical start time is around 8:30 or 9, but with no bus and no dress code that means the kids can easily sleep until 8 daily if they wish. Love it!!
2. Like our daily schedule, our calendar is 100% flexible also. My goal is to do a minimum of 180 days of school each year, and most years we exceed that considerably.... but we start the year whenever works for us and take vacation days whenever we like. Many years we have taken 3 weeks for Christmas break, which I love! With eldest in college, homeschooling means that we can set our schedule here to better match his college schedule, maximizing the limited time his brothers can spend with him. Military families especially love this flexibility, because they can take vacation around dad's deployments and trips, without the hassle of obtaining "permission" from anyone else, or doing makeup work, or having grades penalized.
3. We study what we want, when we want (for the most part). Eldest had an interest in the World Wars, so we devoted a semester to focused study on just that topic. When we lived in Japan, we did a semester of Japanese history. We aren't limited to class offerings by the local school--granted anyone can do "after school" lessons in outside topics too, but we do it as part of our regular school. And we can repeat topics or focus on skills as much or little as is necessary... at home every single child has his own "individual education plan" automatically!
4. The kids have so much more time to pursue their individual interests when they are not spending hours each day on the bus, in lines, and doing pointless busywork. Granted my kids are pros at wasting time sometimes, LOL, but free play time is important too imho! And when they do take fire to build something or join a group or volunteer, they are almost guaranteed to have the time to do it.
5. We eat what we want when we want. I remember the year my elder son took several classes at the public school which put him in the school every other day. The high school set the lunch period for 1 p.m. (on a school day that began at 8!). That was his hardest year food-wise, when he was rushed for early breakfast, and stuffing granola bars in his pockets to eat in the hallways. Thankfully we lived next door to the school at that time, so he could come home for a good lunch. That year really made him appreciate what he had on the alternating homeschool days, being able to eat a hearty breakfast and lunch when he got hungry instead of when the institution told him he could! I know well the argument of "well, when he has a job he'll be on a schedule and be rushed for eating too"... but he'll also be an adult then, without the greater hunger (and nutritional needs) of a growing teen!!
6. If something isn't working, we can throw it out (or pass it on) and get something else. Granted this does up the expense at times, but that freedom is something many of my teacher friends have wished they had! It's nice to have the freedom to customize around each child's learning style and ability.
7. We aren't tied to a school building, but education goes with the child. With increasing expenses and sometimes decreasing budgets, many school systems (both public and private) have had to severely curtail field trips. Of course finances and availability limit us also, but we have multiple field trips every year--and even a trip to the store can be a field trip (math, nutrition, economics, etc.)! Best of all, if we need to move during the school year or take a long trip to help family, our education doesn't stop or falter--the books just come along with us! Same teacher, same curriculum, same classmates (siblings), just a new location!
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