Jennysmama

All of the above--especially the close relationship we've been able to build with this child for whom we waited and prayed all those years--plus: 1) My daughter has learned real-life, hands-on, practical application of many skills, especially those pertaining to running a household. 2) She has had wonderful experiences during school hours, such as helping the mother of an autistic boy by playing with him while the mom got some time to do household chores or some much-needed rest, and taking daily after-lunch walks with an elderly diabetic neighbor whose doctor prescribed the walks but who didn't want to walk alone. If she had been in school, she wouldn't have been available for these experiences. 3) When an area of study captures my daughter's full attention, we can spend as much time on that topic as we like. We spent months one year playing "The Oregon Trail" game. Another year, she became fascinated by the story of the Titanic and life in that era of history, so she spent much more time reading about it than would have been allotted in a classroom setting. 4) This fits under Stephanie's "flexibility" topic, but it's important to us that we can plan our lessons & schedules around my husband's work schedule. We can take off when he takes vacation time, and can plan family outings for his days off each week, which we could not do if our daughter were in school. 5) My daughter has become an independent thinker, formed her own personal values, developed a strong sense of right and wrong, without the constant pressure of peers to conform to their ways. And this has not made her incapable of making right choices when faced with them in "the real world", due to lack of experience, as some feared would be the case; she knows what she believes and why, and she can stand up for those beliefs when the need arises. All that, and she can do her lessons in her pajamas, too! Who wouldn't want that kind of education?

Wow, I bet the pantry shelves in many of our Mrs. S members' homes are at any given time more well-stocked than those, Darlene! Thanks for posting the pictures as a little reality check...

I have added Devin to my prayer list, SisZam. ~~Loretta

Misty, that has to win the prize for the most innovative use of duct tape ever! ~~Loretta