We’ve considered home-schooling. I’m not concerned about the educational side of it. I know that 1 on 1, or 1 on 2, I’d (we’d) be able to teach our kids WAY more than they’d pick up in a classroom full of 30 half-paying-attention kids.

My biggest concern is the socialization. 2 families we know home-school their children, and, don’t get me wrong, between home school co-ops, activity groups, and programs with the local public school, they DO get a lot of chance to socialize with other kids. I just think there’s a lot of character building in being forced to sit in a classroom with 30 kids you may or may not share a lot in common with, and having to deal with some lessons that move too slow, and some lessons that move too quickly, etc.

I get that sometimes the school environment can be so hostile as to create real problems for some kids, but that’s a bridge we’ll have to cross if we ever get there. (Our oldest is not yet in kindergarten)

Yeah it is amazing. My wife breastfed both of our kids unti they werel about 2 years old. I can help with bath and story time, but it means I miss the absolute best cuddles. There are a lot of advantages to not being tethered to the child, especially when bedtime isn’t going smoothly, but I’d give it all up for those sweet sweet cuddles.

The opposite hurts too. Last week I only got myself a little pizza, expecting to clean up at least 1/2 a slice from each of my 2 kids. They spited me and they devoured their pizza with a focus and drive Is never seen from them before.

I would much rather have a nap than a clean kitchen. Ideally, I’ll put the 1YO down for a nap, then lay in bed with the 4YO. (He naps in our room when the 1 YO is already asleep on their room). Then I’ll sleep for 20 minutes and sneak out of bed to go clean the kitchen. This has worked according to plan exactly once, and I’ve been chasing a repeat ever since.