I do homeschool my kids, and have since they were born. All parents are homeschoolers, without realizing it. Who teaches your child to eat, to walk, to go potty on their own, to clean their rooms, to be a part of a society (family) and respect others? You, as a parent, do. Most people just don't see it as "homeschooling" though.
Sam, you asked: What exactly is the benefits of home schooling your child? I believe that most stay at home moms do this, but how do you have the patience? Let me try to address them, and I hope my answers will help you understand.
The benefits of homeschooling are numerous, so I won't give you an exhaustive list. I'll just give you my take on the subject.
First, each child has a natural "bent" to their personality, and this includes the way they learn best. My oldest son is very "kinesthetic" in his learning. He wants to "DO" things, not just read them. He wants to be an active participant in learning. This isn't looked upon very well in public school systems. They want the kids to ALL sit still, do as they're told and not question anything the teacher tells them. He was in kindergarten for the first 9 weeks of school and was constantly in trouble for not staying still and quiet. It was obvious if he stayed there he would continue to have problems. He couldn't just sit all day, he wanted to be doing something. Does that mean that he has ADD and just needs medication to make him "compliant" with the teacher's wishes? No, it means he was a normal, active little 5 year old boy. Remaining in public school would have lead to confrontations, because they would have wanted to medicate him, and I refuse to let them do that.
My other son, who's 6 now and has never been in public school, is an auditory learner. He loves music and sounds. He is active, too, but he can sit still if he has to.
He might have done okay with public schooling, but why make him a carbon copy of the child in the seat next to him? That's not the way God made him, and I surely don't think I know better than God!
Each child is a unique personality, but that's not what the public school system wants. They want each child to fit into the mold that they have for them. Basically, all they are doing is preparing them to be good workers for society. They aren't encouraged to think for themselves, just to take the information they are given as gospel and be able to regurgetate it to the teacher on a test. It's not truly learning. If it were, why do the students have to spend the first 4 months of the new school year "reviewing" what they "learned" the year before? If they truly LEARNED the subject, they wouldn't forget it so easily. They learn to test, that's all.
With homeschooling, a child has the opportunity to learn about the things that interest them, instead of HAVING to learn that man is descended from apes (which I believe is false). They can spend as much time learning about dinosaurs as they want, using subjects you would cover in a public school, but using the topic of dinosaurs as a springboard. If they want to spend a whole year learning about dinosaurs, great! In the process, they're learning science, history, language arts, reading. But, the difference is, they're interested in the subject, so they're going to retain more of what they learn.
Another benefit of homeschooling is that I get to pass on my values and morals to my child rather than having them being taught things that are against my belief system. Case in point, (and I realize this might be controversial, it is NOT meant to demean anyone.) children are being indoctrinated to the thought that homosexuality is okay. I personally do not believe that, therefore I do not want my children to be taught that. I don't believe that we descended from apes, therefore I can teach my child about God and creation instead of the "THEORY" of evolution (which cannot be proven in any way, shape or form). Yes, I will teach my children that homosexuality exists and that this is why I believe it is wrong. I will also teach my children the "theory" of evolution, because they will have to know about it if they choose to go to college, however I have the opportunity to teach them from a Christian perspective and tell them WHY I think it's wrong. They will be allowed to make up their own minds, whether I like it or not, but at least they'll be given both sides of the story. Not just the one that the public school system deems is "TRUE."
One of the other benefits of homeschooling is that you're not stuck in the public school schedule. If our home business picks up and my husband can quit his "job", we'll have the opportunity to take a vacation whenever we want, not just travel during the summer when everyone else does. We can sleep later if we choose, can take off on a field trip when the mood strikes us, and we can enjoy being outside when the spring is just beginning to bloom instead of being stuck inside a building and told to sit still.
There are so many benefits to homeschooling, and these are just a few. I'll be happy to answer any questions if you want to send me a PM.
In regard to having the patience to homeschool, I have to be completely honest. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I wish they were in school so I could have some time to do things I want. However, I didn't sign up to be a mom to push the responsibility of raising my sons off on someone else who doesn't have my values. I may not be perfect, and I may not always respond to the frustrations I face with patience. I do, however ALWAYS respond with love and desire for the absolute best for my children. Will a teacher be able to say they truly want what's best for my child? Will they try to understand their individuality and encourage them the way I can? No, they have 30 other students to deal with, my child is just another child to them. They can't get to know and love my child the way I can. They can't understand the things that make my child go wild with enthusiasm, nor will they encourage that "spark" and let them run toward those things that cause them to go, "I see, I want to know more."
Is homeschooling for everyone? No, it's not. It doesn't take a supermom (or superdad) to be a homeschooling parent. We're not perfect, we make mistakes, we probably fail more than we'd like to admit. However, no one knows my child or loves my child more than I do. I felt led by God to homeschool, not everyone does. Is that okay? You betcha! I want what's best for my child, and I feel that homeschooling is the best choice.
Does that mean that in the future my child will never go to public school? I don't know. I don't know what God's plans are for my child, any more than I know God's plans for my life. All I know is that at this point in time, homeschooling offers the best opportunity for my child to grow to be all that God has created him to be be. Things may change, and my child may ASK to go to public school for whatever reason. At that point we'll discuss it, give him the options and guide him to make the best choice for him. It may turn out that in the future public school is better for him. Until that point, I'm going to enjoy every day I have with my boys until they are ready to go out on their own.
Hope this helps, and I'm sorry it's so long.