Many times of the last number of years I have had the pleasure of talking with moms that are just beginning this home school adventure...I have talked to them about my experiences and what the day-to-day looks like in our family situation and just what we do everyday.
Most of you would not know that I had the pleasure of being 'home-schooled' from grade six to grade nine....and my husbands family also 'home-schooled' his younger sister straight through high school. We have always had the support from both sides of our families in our decision to educate at home and this has been a blessing to us.
I have been asked many times why we have chosen to home school...after all it requires me to stay at home which means our family lives on one income. Our decision also means that we have to provide all of the curriculum for our children's education...there is no funding for this...so financially it doesn't make sense.
We believe that if we were to look at the home school decision based only on what makes sense on paper...we would be missing out on the most amazing opportunity that we have been given, to train up our children in the way they should go. When my husband and I started to have our children we started to talk about why we were wanting to home school. There is much discussion in christian circles about the benefits of 'sending our children out....being a light in our community...not sheltering them from the world...' and we just did not want to get caught up in the debates of the day. Instead we talked privately about who we wanted our children to grow up to be...and what we wanted them to learn...and from what viewpoint we wanted them to learn from. You see all education is taught from a viewpoint....I am not looking to shelter my children from hearing the other viewpoints I just want to be there to explain to my children the differing views and how that aligns with our family values. I want to spend the time with my children watching them learn and to be their encourager and biggest cheerleader.
If fact when people look at homeschooling and say things like...you must be a saint...or I couldn't do that....maybe they couldn't, but maybe, just maybe we are looking at it from opposite directions; you see I am looking at it from the perspective that I am so blessed to be given this opportunity. It's not some kind of drudgery to me....I get to be with my children, who God has so graciously given to me to raise...and I get to pour life into their souls...everyday...and I have the opportunity to choose curriculum that works for 'just them' not trying to fit them into the same box that every other 'jo' or 'sally' learns from. God made me to be the mom that he intended for these children...he has given me a desire for these children to succeed in both education and life....but even more important than that...He has given me a desire to see my children educated in the 'things of God' the everyday things. I feel that this was the right fit for our family...it might not be right for every family...and that's okay...really:)
If you are looking at home schooling and are unsure if you could do it...or if it will all work out, please know that there are many wonderful books out there to help answer those questions...and its okay if the questions might not always get answered....but if you have a desire to educate your children and you just know that is what is right for your family...jump in...it is the best ride of your life!
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