As Ben is fast approaching four and as I’m preparing myself to stay home, I can’t help but start making plans for the things I want to do with the kids, and what I want them to learn. I guess it’s a really good thing to have made the decision to stay home and homeschool them next year, because all of a sudden, I’m thinking, breathing and taking full responsibility and accountability for what will fill their waking hours and how they can develop and grow. I mean, if I’d continue down the full-time working path, I’d just leave them in the care of their teachers and hope that they’ll do a good job training them and developing their potential. Mentally, I’d probably not feel the urgency to fully take charge of their learning. I’d also probably not feel so panicky as I do now. I’m not panicking because I’m a kiasu mom; I just feel the heavy weight on my shoulders to start making good decisions and plan meticulously for these early childhood years, which I’ll have the privilege to spend with them.

So on my to-do list to ensure that we make good these three to four years together, I intend to:

1) Properly plan the homeschooling curriculum, teach good learning habits and impart godly values

2) Hunt for a good kindergarten programme which would support my homeschooling curriculum (I do not intend for it to be the other way round – it’s going to be homeschooling first and kindergarten learning as enrichment, particulary for Chinese)

3) Sign the kids up for sports education

4) Introduce music education and have them learn a musical instrument

5) Schedule field trips of discovery and exploration (which should include taking public transport, going to the zoo to study one animal at a time, playing barefooted at parks and making sandcastles at beaches)

With that, I’ve started my research and reading up so I can be more ready to stay home next year. I’m starting a series of learning more about each item on my to-do list this November. We’ll start with item #4 tomorrow. Join me as I discover the homeschooling momma in me.