tl/dr give it a try. It's worth the sacrifice.
JDUB
Fixer and A Net Full of Jello offered some very good insights and I'll add to what they said.
We've homeschooled all three of our since the first one was preschool aged starting in 2001. Our oldest is out of college, the middle just finished his freshman year at ETBU, and our youngest just finished 6th grade. So we've had a lot of experience. We would not do this any other way.
There are a few things to consider with homeschooling:
1) First and foremost, from a Christian perspective,
are you called to this? From a secular perspective,
is this the best option for you and your family? Every family shouldn't homeschool, but I think more would and should do it if they would open their minds to the possibility. If you think it is a viable option, then do it. You and your kids can (and will) benefit from it.
2) Second, if you homeschool, you must know this to homeschool,
somethings will have to be sacrificed. Likely, that second income. But not necessarily. Dual income families do homeschool. They find creative solutions. They work their schedule so someone is always home with the child. A grand parent does the schooling. We know one family that the mother owns her own business and the kids would go to work with her and do their schooling in the back. If you want it to happen, it will.
For, us, it was my wife's income. If she had worked, would we have had a bigger house, nicer more frequent vacations, and newer cars? Sure. But nothing is worth more than my kids. Also sacrificed for us the definition of clean. It's a joke in our house, but a constant state of mess and dust is normal. Oh well.
You have to decide what will go.
3) The
educational freedom is a blessing. My oldest hated science and math. If she had been in public school, she would have been that girl who struggled to make a "C" in both and would have fallen through the cracks. As it was, my wife could slow down in math and teach my daughter at her pace so that she could grasp and learn the subject well. In science, we could tailor her classes to her. She has always been fascinated by the stars, so she took astronomy in high school. I think her physics class involved Legos. Chemistry was a curriculum called "Friendly Chemistry," and my 6th grade son did it with her because he loved science. And math. But he hated writing papers. So my wife tailored his classes to him. My youngest loves rocks and geodes. So she will get those kinds of classes later on.
And the freedom is helped by a myriad of options. Co-ops. Online. Look at how MasonB teaches his son.
www.youtube.com/c/OkieSchoolofAdventure. (He posts on the Outdoor Board.) Find what suits you best.
4)
Family time is great. Like others, we take vacations when we want. We've been to Galveston, Branson, Hot Springs, Great Wolf Lodge, and Disney World during the off-season. Usually in May before schools let out. The prices are lower and the crowds are smaller. Disney World was a February 2015 trip. It was great. We even go to the movie on a Friday morning when no one is there.
Also, my kids have always gotten plenty of sleep. Back in March, my youngest had a track meet (which, a junior high track meet is one of the biggest Charlie Foxtrots I've ever been to), and we didn't get home to eat supper until 10:30. She got in bed at 11. Because of homeschooling, she was able to sleep until about 9:30/10 the next morning and then started school. I know there were public school kids at the meet who didn't get home until 11/11:30 on the bus, likely in bed by midnight, and out of the bed at 6:30 the next morning. That's a killer on kids. Even starting school at 10, she was done by 2.
5)
Socialization is a myth. And what do you mean by socialization? Do you mean cutting in line, bullying, pushing and shoving the little kids, disrespect of teachers and friends? No. My kid cannot do that and is not socialized. Do you mean raising a hand and waiting for his turn, opening the door for the person behind him, and saying please and thank you while carrying on a conversation with an adult? Yes. My kid can do that and is socialized.
A friend, when asked about socialization, says, "You're right. I'm worried about my kids' socialization. Between choir, dance, orchestra, soccer practice, swim practice, art lessons, scouts, youth group and volunteering at the church food pantry, I think my kids get too much socialization. We barely have time to teach." Can homeschoolers be weird? Yes. Can all other kids, too? Yes. I think some homeschoolers are more comfortable in their weirdness. (But I cringe when I see the homeschoolinators. Ten kids, stair-stepped in age from 14 down to new born, with all the boys in blue dress pants and white short-sleeved button-down shirts and black orthopedic shoes, and the girls in denim jumpers. Gah that kills me.)
Which think about this weird kids are bullied in a traditional school setting. But so are tall skinny kids (that was me), and short fat kids, and poor kids, and smart kids, and on and on. Homeschooling offers some protection from that. A kid can be himself at home.
"What about sports?" What about it? My son and oldest daughter are both black belts in karate. My son played basketball and football on homeschool teams. My youngest runs track and will likely do cross country or basketball, too, next year. Depending on where you live, there are homeschool teams especially in bigger cities. In Texas, public schools can allow homeschoolers to participate in every UIL sponsored activities. Other states have similar options.
"What about prom?" Really? Thirteen years of public indoctrination for that one night? Plus, I've know homeschool kids who have been to 3 proms in one year.
6) I've known a public school administrator, a public school principal, a science teacher, a band director, and an ag teacher who
all homeschool their kids. That says something to me.
I'm sorry I've gone on for so long, and congratulations if you made it this far. I'm obviously passionate about this. But investigate it more. It could be a good thing for your kids. If you want even more input, shoot me an email. jeffgage91 at gmail dot com.
Just an idea. But seriously, don't go it alone.