We more or less unschool. DS13 has a Maths lesson with a tutor once a week, mainly because my Maths skills are not up to teaching it myself. We also do English work and a lot of reading. Outside of that, DS does what he is interested in. Sometimes he works from textbooks in Science, History and Geography, but mostly he doesn't. It's his choice. We watch interesting things on TV sometimes which lead to research at the library and on the internet. We get together with other homeschoolers socially and sometimes for work, too. We visit interesting places......and we talk a lot

When DS came out of school, his English skills were already good and he was reading way above his age level, so we haven't had to do much in that area beyond stretching him with books and discussion. I believe that if the foundation of good English skills and love of books is there, the world is your oyster.

I do have the odd crisis of confidence, though! If DS was in school, he would begin his examination courses this September. I have always been open to to him going back to school, if he wanted to at any point, and sometimes he has wavered. If he doesn't go back by this September, before the courses start, he will never go back. Although I am quite happy about that, I have a little panic about the fact that the other kids will be taking 10-12 examinations at age 16 and DS won't. Then I remind myself how much happier he is out of the school system. He is free to be himself.

As for my own school years, I hated them! I still shudder. To me, the whole experience was about having no control, no rights and no voice. I am glad that DS doesn't have that experience now and therefore is being valued and treated so much better than I was at that age.