I Have to Say is hosting Back to Homeschool Week to share why we homeschool and other fun tidbits. I may not participate in every day's topic, but I'll try to fit in one or two at least.
Today's question is---What led to your decision to homeschool? Why do you do what you do? What brought you to homeschooling? What factors played a part in your decision?When our oldest was 4 1/2, our thoughts turned toward school. Where should we send him? We were not in a good district as far as public schools, and we knew we couldn't afford private. I attended a forum at our church that was set up to help in the school decision. They had 4 moms on the panel -- one for private schools, one for public, one for charter and one for homeschool.
I was fascinated by the homeschool mom and her story. She had on a long flowered dress, wore her hair in a long braid down her back and no make-up. She had a serene way about her. But I discounted what she said. It was an interesting way of life, but not for me.
I listened closely to the charter school mom. I hadn't heard much about charter schools at that point. The more she talked, the better I felt. Here was a way to keep my son out of the nearby public schools, and also be involved in his day. They required the parents to do a certain amount of volunteer time per month. What that ended up meaning for me was that I stayed every day after my son's morning Kindgergarten to set the room up for the afternoon class. I also planned the class parties and the graduation. I was in his classroom every day. That was my way of not really letting go of him.
It worked, but it was still a struggle. School started at 8am and if I didn't get him there fairly early, the parking lot was so congested with parents dropping kids off (there was no bussing) that it took forever to get out. So I would wake him and my other 2 children (at the time, aged 3 and 1) very early and rush them out the door.
We did this all through 1st grade, also. Instead of enjoying my day with one less child, I missed him and felt like my time was not my own. School dictated what time we woke up, ate breakfast, did homework, got to bed. I couldn't spend the afternoon too involved with anything because we had to be at the school by 2:30.
During this time, I read a Christian book series in which a family homeschooled. Again, I was fascinated. And again, I knew it couldn't work for me. How did one even go about beginning to homeschool?
But the Lord kept the thought on my heart. By the end of the school year, it was a persistent feeling. I had a friend in Texas who homeschooled so I was beginning to see it was possible. I wasn't sure what my husband would think. But when I brought it up to him, he was very receptive.
Somewhere I heard about a big homeschooling conference coming to Denver. I signed up and there I experienced the most amazing 3 days. I was so convicted and knew this was what the Lord wanted for my family.
We've never looked back. Sure, there are moments of burnout. And self-doubt. But my husband and I continually pray that we are doing the Lord's will and he continues to convict us that this is what we need to do.
I love homeschooling. Our time is now our own. We can wake when we're ready. My kids are pretty early risers naturally, but if they are especially tired one day they can sleep in. If they're sick, they can take the day off and not worry about attendance or being behind the rest of the class. We can go visit the grandparents in the mountains for a week or more at a time. We can enjoy time with Dad when he has the occasional weekday off.
One of the best things is we can spend time together. I love watching my older kids with my 5month old son. He knows each of them well because he spend all day with them, not just a few hours at the end of the day. Sure the kids fight sometimes, but they would do that anyway. And this gives us more time for them to work through it.
But most importantly, we get to teach the children about God. He is the reason for all we do. Deuteronomy 6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
No, I don't wear flowered dresses or my hair in a braid. And most days I'm anything but serene. However, homeschooling has definitely been a blessing in our lives. I pray we our able to homeschool all our kids until college.
If it's the Lord's will.
