The cost of homeschooling looks so much different for us. 

I need to start this story at the beginning, so you can understand how we got to where we are now in our life. 

My oldest son Avery was in public school for years.

And I can honestly say it was not a great fit for him.

He learns differently than other children. 

My oldest son Avery is diagnosed on the severe end of the autism spectrum. 

But that does not tell you why public school was not a good fit for him. So let me explain. 

Our school at the time was not prepared nor ready for a child like Avery to attend that is such high needs. 

There was a time when I was angry, so incredibly angry that public school was not working out for Avery. 

Then just when school started looking a little better for our son Avery, my daughter Natalie just started into kindergarten. 

Something happened and at the time, I never knew it would turn our entire world upside down.

And I am sure I do not need to explain to you what happened, as we all live in the same world. 

But just in case you are confused, chaos broke out, the world shut down and my kids were all the sudden home. 

Home with me which at first we thought would be like 2 weeks, maybe 3 weeks. 

Oh how we were wrong! 

Months they were home. 

Which turned into two years and counting.

I say counting because our kids have not gone back into public school.

They are home with me as I teach them.

And yes I have no clue what I am doing and am not filled with shame admitting that at all. 

I was never prepared to teach them for a small time, let alone a long time. 

Yet here we are learning at home.

When I tell this story of how schooling came into our life, I always say I felt forced. 

Like we had no choice and option and if there was a choice, it was from picking between one horrible choice and one terrible choice. 

I have no idea if homeschooling my kids was the best choice. 

I know that I miss them in school, but our schools were not prepared before the world broke into chaos and I feel like now they are even worse. 

Let me just say, I have heard some things from some other moms that have their kids in public school and let me tell you it sounds chaotic. 

Homeschooling for us seemed safer, when we made the choice. 

And yes in case you were wondering, homeschooling came with a price tag that had no money value. 

Homeschooling costs me my day time sanity. 

When the kids were in public school, I caught up on life and made sure appointments were booked, things in our home were in order and life had a flow to it. 

Homeschooling also looks different for us, because now I am not only the teacher but I am mom. 

Teaching our kids has been no easy task. 

Every month I budget how much I spend on coffee and also wine. 

Let's just say the budget has been blown a few times in the last 2 years. 

You could say we are homeschooling in survival mode, just make it through the day and then the next, till the year is over. 

Many parents think it costs too much money to homeschool their kids and way too much effort and time. 

Those parents are probably correct. See I thought it would be a couple hundred dollars. 

I was wrong, it costs us over $3,000 dollars to homeschool. 

Between paper, paint, and all the crafting supplies, it was starting to get pricey. 

Then add into all of this curriculum books and last but not least flash cards and games. 

Why games? Our son Avery learns differently and that was how we were going to teach him in a different way. 

Homeschooling looks different for a family like ours and it costs us a lot emotionally and mentally each and every day, but it also gives us something. 

It gave us the chance to see our son Avery learning and growing, because he is being taught in a different way. He is able to learn to the best of his ability. 

Money didn't buy our kids an education; the time and effort we put into their learning gives them everything they need.