<p>alchemymom,
The work/business/homeschooling juggling act adds a whole other, impressive dimension to the wonderful education you provided your daugher! </p>
<p>I'm planning on working part-time & transitioning into full-time soon (to pay for older son's college!) and I thought I'd have to trade-off my dream of homeschooling my 6 year old (for at least part of her education). Maybe not, now.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experience. Would you have a second to explain how you managed the more constant/all day involvement w/your daughter (at say, 5-7 years old) with working? I'd be very interested, if you had time. </p>
<p>Btw, inspired by your story, my daughter & I spent an hour researching manatees last night (her new interest). Another homeschooling mom & I might sign the kids up for Berlitz this summer, too. :-)</p>
<p>"How many private school children have the resources to play the Irish harp?"</p>
<p>Chelsea's Irish harp cost $3500. Many private school children's parents can afford that. If not, they can rent one, or buy one used. If you investigate the Irish music scene, you will find that it is far from a rich man's sport! The year Chelsea first won the world championship, she went with a large group of kids she played with in the Academy of Irish Music here in Chicago. After qualifying and earning the right to compete in Ireland, they held fundraisers for months to cover the costs of the plane tickets and some spending money. In Ireland, the townspeople wherever the festival is being held open up their homes and let the musicians stay there. One can certainly pay for private lessons, and we have, but the primary way one learns Irish music is by attending sessions, usually at a pub, where musicians who love this magical music play together and teach each other the tunes. That costs no money, except maybe the cost of a pint of Guinness.</p>
<p>Irish music is very much a working class kind of scene.</p>
<p>I am a little surprised at the excitement over this. Of course, anyone getting into Harvard is a big deal. But I have known a fairly large number of home schooled kids that are in Ivies. This is just another one of that group.</p>
<p>It was a front page human interest story in a major newspaper. It's not taking away from the accomplishment of any other homeschoolers who get into Ivies or other top schools.</p>
<p>hikids: Also, I think that homeschooling of academically talented students is perhaps less prevalent (and therefore less well understood) in metropolitan Chicago than in some other major metropolitan areas.</p>
<p>I have seen many rich families not being able to utilize their financial resources and academic resources for their children because those kids do not have desires and passions like Chelsea. I think Alchemymom and Chelsea are exceptional people.</p>
<p>Congratulations, alchemy and indigo. This is "news" because the things you've accomplished ARE unusual and thought provoking. indigo, your post on this thread left no doubt in my mind that Harvard knew what they were doing when they pursued you for the class of 2012. </p>
<p>Too many parents and students on this thread interpret your actions as a threat to their own choices. Don't feel compelled to respond to each one. Enjoy your last months at home, and know you will soon be joining a group of peers who will appreciate who you are and what you've done, without feeling the need to tear you down or question your motives.</p>
<p>
[quote]
They were able to buy some amazing experiences, that most people would never even have the chance of getting close to and that is to be celebrated?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And, they probably will have to continue to buy more experiences by sending in those fat tuition checks. How unamerican that is ... taking a business and financial risk to fund a risky education! The ending of this story is a wonderful story of accomplishments, but what we do not know is the extent of the second-guessing by outsiders who are all too willing to attack any departure from the norm and from ... within the family circle. While parents who follow the typical path of public education could compose a long list of scapegoats to excuse a poor performance, this family could only point the finger at themselves. </p>
<p>Indeed, worrying for a business and worrying about homeschooling being a good choice is a sure recipe for the easy life!</p>
<p>And, for what it is worth, isn't it comparatively easier to "buy" more experiences by piggy-backing on a free public education? Should we not recall the story of Honorable Judge Louis in Morristown, NJ and how he manipulated a public system to pay for a variance of homeschooling for his daughter? Is parlaying the savings of avoiding private tuition fees into expensive summer activities and fabricated ECs less of .. buying experiences? </p>
<p>Why is it so darn hard to celebrate our differences and applaud the families that assume the risks and responsibilities of their decisions?</p>
<p>"Should we not recall the story of Honorable Judge Louis in Morristown, NJ and how he manipulated a public system to pay for a variance of homeschooling for his daughter?"</p>
<p>Guess I missed that story. What was this about? (xiggi or anyone)</p>
<p>"They were able to buy some amazing experiences, that most people would never even have the chance of getting close to and that is to be celebrated?"</p>
<p>I think xiggi is referring to the infamous Blair Hornstine of Moorestown, NJ, whose father, a judge, manipulated the public school system to ensure his daughter was the valedictorian. And then all heck broke loose when "she" sued after the district selected someone else. Was amitted to Harvard, which then rescinded its offer after it came to light she had plagiarized in columns she wrote for a local newspaper.</p>
<p>I'm catching up on this thread as I was away. Chelsea, I really enjoyed your post a few pages back. You also explained what you hoped might be gained from that article and I think those objectives WERE realized. I have also enjoyed the mom's posts as she has explained the motivation behind seeking an alternative educational path and how she did it. I applaud you for finding a way to meet your D's learning needs as she sounds like an exceptional girl and student. I think some read into it as if it is about what does one need to do to get into Harvard and I don't think that was the objective at all. It is clear to me that what you did was about how to best meet Chelsea's learning needs and style and she ran with the opportunities you afforded her. In terms of cost, yes, you were lucky to be able to afford the things you did but as you say, others have spent the same amount on their kids but for a different path. And of course, some families can't afford much for any of those paths. But to me, this isn't about money spent. Your D is exceptional and you put in time to figure out ways to educate her that worked well for her. I'm sure the goal wasn't to get into Harvard and no, people don't need to do this to get in. But your D has had a very fruitful learning experience and has run with the opportunities she has had. Just her Shakespeare classes she teaches impresses me. Anyway, the article did give a look at what homeschooling can be and why someone might do it and dispelled some myths and it also showed that someone who took an alternative path still can fare well (very well indeed) in college admissions and there is no one way to get there. Harvard saw Chelsea's gifts and like she says, they evaluated her in the context of the opportunities she had. They liked what they saw of Chelsea herself and I can see why.</p>
<p>I really appreciated Chelsea's post and I found the ones by mom to be interesting. Unfortunately, sometimes when you are the focus of a news article, it brings out public scrutiny by others who have different perspectives or who tend to put down those who are successful in some capacity and are critical. I am sure, just by virtue of my observations of the majority of posts on this thread, that most who read the article admire Chelsea. Being so publicly out there in the paper tends to sometimes invite those who will criticize, particularly anonymously. It can be the downside. But I do think that Chelsea's goals in agreeing to be interviewed were reached and so I hope you see that and also that many support and admire Chelsea's accomplishments. Have fun at Harvard, Chelsea!</p>
<p>I agree --- that is to be celebrated--this is a family who found a way to homeschool (really to educate their gifted daughter in a creative and open manner in which she learned best) and to juggle their careers--they should be admired, and while all may not have the same means, we all have the choice to discover what is best for our indl child and try to provide it to the best of our ability. wouldn't it be wonderful if we all simply took some learning from their experience and incorporated it into our lives. I reflect on how although I am a devoted and involved mom, I didn't/couldn't do as much as I would have liked in the way of creative educational experiences--I'm happy to take this awareness and put it to good use with my youngest, 12, a gifted and very funny kid, who was reading at 3 and whose exuberance for learning needs more expression and fuel. my older children have done beautifully but I would have loved to have known this family and been inspired earlier. congrats to chelsea and family and we await your gifts to the world...</p>
<p>alchemymom, have you thought about writing a book about your and your D's experience? It is a truly amazing story of raising a real global citizen!</p>
<p>Re: cost of harps. Musical instruments can be had for pennies on the dollar. Very few kids who want to play an instrument at 5 continue on to become music majors at 18, but quite a few well-off parents splurge on fancy instruments thinking that their little Johnny or Janey will become the next Yoyo Ma or Galway. And their flutes, harps, violas and cellos end up on E-Bay or at a local music shop in mint condition! At least it happens in my neck of the woods.</p>
<p>I will chime in here regarding the "how does one take care of a homeschooled child age 4-7, and run a business at the same time" general question if I may. It seems pretty certain, based on her mother's description, that Chelsea would rightfully be classified as truly gifted [IQ145+], not just bright. In the 8 years my son was lucky enough to be at a school that understood and accomodated the gifted, I found that some gifted children, like Chelsea, who learn to read at a very early age, do not require constant hourly attention to keep them on track or happily occupied. They are self motivated by their great need to learn, and are often happy inhaling information through reading books hour after hour. My son was like that when he was young. He decided on his own one day to see how many books he could read that day, and barely moved from the comfy chair in the living room while at his task. I'm guessing that was one, but not the only reason, alcheymom was able to juggle running her business by laptop while homeschooling Chelsea. All those who don't believe there is a real difference in the way the truly gifted learn, please don't jump down my throat. This is just my long distance 2 cents.</p>
<p>^^ Agree that schooling a "reader", whether at home or in school, is a LOT easier.</p>
<p>I admire and respect the success this family has had with an educational path I, myself, would never have been able to handle (as a parent OR a kid). The rewards are well-deserved.</p>
<p>Any criticism is largely a function of how easy it is to poke at people on an internet forum and thereby diminish the accomplishments of others. Those of us who are on here a lot recognize the "same old, same old", but it still can be disheartening to have one's joy at an accomplishment AND the recognition of that accomplishment be the subject of pot-shots. </p>
<p>Someone asked me about posting a column my son wrote which just appeared in a major city newspaper. It has to do with education, so is relevant, but I simply didn't feel like hearing all the cr#p, since his viewpoint is controversial.</p>