As parents across the Southeast consider homeschooling as an option, the uniqueness of each family’s situation is being brought to light.

“I’m trying to homeschool my kids,” says Brazilian immigrant Eduardo Lobo, “but our biggest challenge is that I have to work and my wife also has to work.”

Lobo says he trusts the educational system and thinks the government is doing all it can, however, he feels he has no choice regarding homeschooling.  “I would love to homeschool my kids,” offers Lobo, “but we have to work and they can’t stay at home by themselves.”

That sentiment is seconded by Val Poschner-Gross, but for very different reasons. “I personally cannot homeschool my children. They require somebody special.”  Poschner-Gross has four children, three of whom have special needs. “They require different things,” she explains, “and I can’t do it. That’s why I’m not a teacher.”

On top of her children's special needs is the social aspect of their daily lives, something that Poschner-Gross feels passionate about. “Right now, we’re really unsure what’s going to happen in September for them.”

For Jesse Nickel, there is no uncertainty. “My plan is to keep my daughter home and to homeschool her for the foreseeable future.” Nickel’s daughter is going into grade two and though she admits that she will lack some community being at home, she just does not feel the school is prepared to handle the demands placed on it.

“I just feel more comfortable having my child in my care all day long,” says Nickel. “There are just too many uncertainties. Too many things that they just don’t know.”

Listen to all of the interviews on the MIX 96.7 Drive Home With Kenton Dyck podcast:

None of these concerns are being considered by Celesta Thiessen who has been homeschooling her grade-six daughter ever since grade one and seen another one already graduate.

Thiessen administers a Facebook page gauged at those interested in homeschooling in and around the Steinbach area and says it acts as an informational group.

“People come there if they have questions about specific subjects, curriculum, or grades.” she explains, “and we used to arrange field trips. Obviously, this year will be different with COVID.”

Thiessen says her group hosts hundreds of homeschooling parents from a wide variety of communities in the area and should anyone have any questions, there are a lot of people there who can answer them.

“I think there’s a lot of hesitation, maybe even fear,” says Thiessen. “Some people who are just starting out don’t think they will be able to teach the same things that are taught in public school because if you buy a curriculum, the topics aren’t going to exactly match up.”

To this point, Thiessen says it ultimately does not matter because the kids do not need to learn certain lessons at certain times, as long as they eventually encounter the information.

“The most important thing for kids is to learn how to learn and to enjoy learning,” says Thiessen, “The topics don’t matter as much as the love of learning and being immersed in an educationally stimulating environment.”

Thiessen believes that a number of parents had homeschooling “in the back of their minds” previous to COVID-19, but now they are considering it seriously. A “hard and kind of messy” end to the last school year is essentially what Thiessen offers up as an explanation for all of the homeschooling interest.

“I think they just want something in place. That they know if they have to do it themselves, then they’ll be ready and have everything planned out. They don’t want to have to worry.”

For those interested in learning more about homeschooling, you can ask to join Thiessen's Facebook page here.