Standing Firm: Remembering Why You Homeschool
May 23, 2018
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From the beginning of time, our enemy questions us about what God has said. Did He really say not to associate with fools, or to come apart and be separate, or to crucify ourselves to the world? Did God really say to teach our children so that they will teach their children? Let’s see:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:15).
“
He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).
“The fathers to their children shall make known the truth” (Isaiah 38:19).
It can be easy to forget why we are homeschooling due to the daily stress, and the emotional and physical demands of the job. We need reminders so that when the tough times come, our homeschool will not collapse.
During those days where we only see the sacrifice and not the blessings, here are a few reminders:
- God blessed us with children and trusts us to be a good steward and train them up in His ways. I am trusting that as I pour His Word into their hearts, they will be prosperous and successful (Psalm 1).
- At home, day and night, we can teach our children the things of the Lord. We can build their thinking Biblically so that all they need to know in history, science, literature, etc., is based on a Biblical worldview.
- Secular education is based on a humanistic, hedonistic philosophy based on the tradition of men and the principles of a secular world. We are called to come apart and be separate. The holiness of God warrants a people set apart and separate for His use.
- We are to be strangers, just passing through, living a Biblical worldview. We are to be those who boast in the cross of Christ, not in anything else this world boasts in. We are to be in the world but not of the world.
- Our children are not left on their own to defend themselves against the attacks of the enemy. We are right there with them, protecting, sheltering, and training them, so that they will be able to face the world on their own and advance His kingdom.
- We are living in the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7-9).
These children are not ours to do with as we please; the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. We must determine to raise our children for His glory. Only God knows what they will become to shake the enemy’s kingdom as they represent their King.
God blesses parents who are willing to lay down their own desires and who give their all to teaching the next generation. Be strong and courageous as you remember why you are keeping His children
Home Where They Belong.
~Deborah
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Every single day, while teaching and playing with my 4 children, I am reminded why I homeschool and why it is the best choice for my children. Many reminders are small. For example, when my 3-year-old learns the parts of the tulip she just picked and when her little brother not even 2 can point to those parts just from observing the lesson, I am reminded why I homeschool. Sometimes the reminders are big, such as when my oldest son completed grade 8 when he was only in grade 6 or my oldest daughter earned an 82% average in high school.
I am reminded why I homeschool every time we go out as a family. I am always being complimented on my children’s manners and social skills. As soon as all my children learned to talk, the first words we worked on were “Please” and ”Thank you.” We also worked on other grace and courtesy lessons. By the time my children reached the age of 3 they all would use their manners the majority of the time without being reminded. In addition, they all knew how to shake someone’s hand upon meeting them and say, “It's nice to meet you.” Every time they do that I am reminded why I homeschool.
Am I saying my children are perfect? Absolutely not! Do they have bad days? Of course, they do even we adults have our fair share of bad days; but when you're homeschooling, you can help them work through it by teaching them appropriate ways to manage their feelings and behaviour.
I know that children all learn at their own pace. I understand that some children might need more or less time on a certain lesson and that’s ok. I know that young children need and crave repetition; so I allow my youngest children the opportunity to repeat lessons and activities as many times as they need to until they are ready to move on. I know that my older children need more space and independence to grow and learn; so I give them those opportunities. Homeschooling allows us to have that flexibility and reminds me why I homeschool. I have never regretted homeschooling my children, I love teaching and letting my children explore their world around them. I get just as excited as they do when they learn something new or master a new skill.
The way I have always looked at homeschooling is that as a parent/teacher I only have 18 years to do my best to raise, teach, and prepare my children before they become adults. When you think that most people these days live into their 80’s or longer, 18 years is not that much time. It will pass by in the blink of an eye, and that’s why I proudly stand firm—always remembering why I homeschool.
Katie Furlong is a busy homeschooling mother of 4 children. She is currently parenting at every stage: toddler, preschooler, tween, and teen. She has an Early Childhood Education diploma, is also a trained Montessori Teacher, and a certified Neurofeedback Practitioner. Katie and her 4 children live on a hobby farm where they keep bees, ducks, chickens, 2 lazy cats, and a big yellow dog. When she is not chasing children, she likes to fix up her 159-year-old farmhouse,
write
, and cook to create new allergy friendly recipes. Katie may also have an
essential oil
addiction and need an intervention.
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Watch for the winners of the contest to be announced here!!!
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In today’s world, there are so many distractions. It seems there is fear, pressure, and advice on how to raise children from every direction. Just because we homeschool doesn’t mean we’re immune to the so-called “mommy-wars.” And at the end of a typical school year, we can be left wondering if we’re making the right choice to homeschool.
While there may be times when homeschooling isn’t the right choice or even a possibility, most of the time any doubt about homeschooling is unfounded and based on worry.
- Worry comes from comparison.
We compare our homeschool to the seemingly perfect family at the support group meetings, or that homeschool blogger we follow, or the ones in the books. We know all the dirty details and frustrations that go on day-to-day in our home. We only see the highlight reel of other families. They have the same frustrations we do, but it’s hard to see; so we wonder why we can’t do it like they do. What’s wrong with us that we aren’t that “perfect” family? Nothing’s wrong—they aren’t perfect either.
- Every homeschool is different.
What works for one family may be an utter failure for another. Not all of us thrive with the predictability of structure, and not all of us succeed with the spontaneity of exploration. But if your kids are enjoying a delight-directed, unschool-y approach, then don’t try to force them into a school-at-home system, just because you think that’s what you’re supposed to do.
- We compare our homeschool to the public school system, too.
We can be worried that our kids are “behind.” Or that we’re failing them with a lack of social opportunity. We focus on what our kids don’t have—recess, school plays, band, or sports and we forget what they do have.
- Homeschool allows for so much more flexibility than public school.
As a mom of 6, my kids are close in age, but even closer as friends. If they were in school, they wouldn’t even see each other, let alone have a relationship. We also get to do so many more things than if they were in school. My children aren’t exhausted by a 6 hour school day; so we can do evening activities without being concerned about not enough sleep.
- What are you comparing your homeschool to?
When you start to waver about your decision to homeschool, consider where the doubts are coming from. If there is a concern, usually you can solve it without having to stop homeschooling. But most of the time, you simply need to pull your eyes back onto what you have. And practice gratitude!
Sarah is a single parent of 6, from infancy to teenager, including two special needs children. She and her princesses live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where they enjoy homeschooling, playing, and growing together as a family. She runs
XeraSupport.com
,
a virtual business support agency from home and helps other women start businesses. Sarah blogs at
www.RaisingRoyalty.ca
and you can find her on Facebook or Twitter
@RaisingRoyals
, or on Instagram or Pinterest
@xerarose.
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Standing Firm: Remember Why You Homeschool
I like to say that Rachael and I got started on our homeschooling journey with a providential two-by-four over the head. We were reluctant, to put it mildly. In other words, homeschooling was not part of our master plan or anywhere on our radar screen.
So I’m not necessarily urging you to remember why you
started homeschooling. The reasons you continue to homeschool are probably not the same as those that convinced you to start. I hope to encourage you to stand firm and remember why you are homeschooling
now.
I don’t have to tell you that homeschooling is hard work. It requires big sacrifices of time, money, and energy. I’m sure there are days when you wonder if it’s worth the effort. Maybe you worry that you aren’t teaching your kids everything they will need to succeed in the real world. That’s when you need to take a moment and remind yourself of some of the reasons why homeschooling is awesome.
When homeschooling, you enjoy extraordinary freedom to schedule your days (and school year) to provide for time to rest and reflect on things that are eternal. You can customize class schedules and tailor your curriculum to individual interests, thus allowing each child to thrive, to love learning, and to master a chosen field of study. You can even make spiritual growth and family relationships a high priority.
If this is one of those days when doubts are creeping in and you’re believing lies from the enemy, I urge you to stop, stand firm, and remember that home is the ideal environment for your children to learn. After all, you love and care for the well-being of your kids more than any stranger ever could!
So keep up the good work. Your children are depending on you.
Walking by faith and enjoying the homeschooling adventure of a lifetime!
Davis is the president of Apologia Educational Ministries, the #1 publisher of Creation-based science and Bible curricula. He is the author of five illustrated children’s books designed to help kids learn a Biblical worldview. He believes that if there were ever a time to homeschool, it is now!
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You’ve prayed and planned, budgeted and bought new curricula
, dreamed and dug in, then . . . Life happens. It may be a loss of a job, a new baby, ridicule from a family member, a death, elderly parents who need care, a child’s rebellion, or something else that has come into your life unexpectantly and thrown you to the floor to cry out to God, “How do I deal with this and homeschool?”
We homeschooled through my three major spinal surgeries and long recoveries, moving every year or two, parents not supporting us, learning disabilities, a rebellious teenager, and the birth of twins. Was homeschooling a challenge? Yes, but it also allowed us to experience life together and impact our children for Jesus in the midst. Because of these situations, my five boys are adventurous, compassionate, and servant-minded, and they still made good grades and graduated. We often had to remind ourselves why we chose to homeschool. We wanted to be consistent in our boys' discipline and training, impact their lives by living God’s Word daily, and simply enjoy their childhoods together.
There are three steps to weather the storms of life:
- Confirm God’s calling for your family to homeschool.
- Consider options for a time.
- Commit to being obedient no matter what God calls you to do.
First, you need to know that you know that God has called your family to homeschool. Then you rely on His promise in Hebrews 13:20-21 to equip you for the good work He has called you to do. Then you look at the obstacles and begin to pray that God will lead you to options that will work for your family. It may include hiring outside help, putting off extra activities for a time, changing to a more student-guided curriculum, or cooperating with another family for meals or teaching. Finally, pray and seek God’s guidance for each year. Seek His peace in homeschooling through the tough times. When you know what God would have you to do, follow through one step at a time being obedient to Him who called you.
Remember that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. God doesn’t promise that He will keep us from being uncomfortable or from having unfortunate things happen to us. He does promise that He will be there with us always (Heb. 13:5). And that’s enough.
“Character over curriculum” was one of our family’s sayings. The times that math and science got sidelined for more pressing needs were times that we saw our boys step up and pitch in and realize that the world was bigger than just their needs. We all learned to
Bloom Where We Were Planted
and to be content. In the end, our family flourished in relationship to one another and to God, and they all still managed to graduate and grow up to be men of God.
Dara Halydier is an author, speaker, and mom of five grown boys! She homeschooled for twenty-one wonderful years and is now encouraging other homeschooling families. She is the executive director of Abiding Truth Ministry and the author of the Practical Proverbs series and other books. Dara has learned life’s lessons the hard way—experience! The lessons she shares come from truths that she has learned from dealing with chronic pain, having moved thirty-three times, having four boys with learning disabilities, and having overcome a past of abuse to proclaim God’s grace, forgiveness, and freedom. Find out more at
www.abidingtruthministry.com
.
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Hey Mom,
I hope you’re wrapping up this year’s lessons right now because you need to be gearing up for summer. Ahhh…it just sounds so good to even say it. I’ll be speaking at Prince Edward Island at their first ever homeschool convention on this Thursday night and then in New Brunswick this weekend. Would you pray that it would be a great week of encouragement for them? If you happen to be in the area, stop in, and be the first to ask, “Did you bring your Toque?” to win a FREE copy of
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We wrote this easy-to-read book because family IS hard . . . homeschooling is hard. Everything worth doing is HARD. That’s just the way it is. People come up to me and often say, “I must be doing something wrong because it’s so hard.”
I usually answer, “You’re not doing something wrong . . . you’re doing something right because good things are HARD.”
My fear in all this, as it applies to homeschooling, is that in all the hardness you’ll forget about all the goodness. Because although homeschooling is hard . . . it is GOOD. Being a mom is hard . . . but it is GOOD. Being married is hard . . . but it is GOOD.
That’s why we homeschool. It is GOOD. It’s good for our children to be home. It’s good that we get to be with them all day long. It’s good that they get to learn at their own pace without the junk and pressures that come with the school institution. It’s good that they get to be best friends with their brothers and sisters. It’s good that they’re not surrounded by peers and bombarded by ungodly philosophies.
If all you do is focus on the hard, you will be miserable and give up. You need to focus on the good just like Jesus did, “who for the joy set before him, He endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2)
So stand firm Mom . . . and cling to the good . . . that’s WHY you homeschool. And . . .
. . . be real,
Todd
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Distractions are more numerous than ever today. This makes establishing a long-term vision for your homeschool more important than ever before.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish. . .” (Prov. 29:18a)
The time may come when your (and your students') enthusiasm will wane. Perhaps you are there now! Having explicit, written (and posted) goals will be incredibly important if this time comes.
I am reminded of the admonition to “fix these words . . . in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Now, I’m not suggesting that you tattoo your goals to your face or hands! But why not define and post them where you will be reminded each day of the reasons why you are homeschooling? Here are some questions to ponder:
- Who or what will be first in your student’s life and heart?
- What kind of work ethic do you want for your student as an adult?
- What kind of spouse, parent, child, neighbor, or friend will your student be?
- How will your student use gifts of leadership, influence, and opportunity?
- How would a different educational path affect the fulfillment of these goals?
When our oldest graduated in 2013, his sister (who was only 16 months younger) was, in many ways, just as ready to graduate. They had completed many of their core classes together, after all. Partly for this reason and partly because we were hosting an exchange student who would attend the local public high school, we gave our daughter a choice: she could graduate from homeschool like her brother, or she could spend her senior year in public high school. After much deliberation, she chose to try the high school.
That was an eye-opener.
I won’t exaggerate and say that the experience was all bad because it wasn’t. There were many aspects of public school that my daughter enjoyed: she got a role in a school play, joined the newspaper staff, took several AP courses, and enjoyed clubs, sports, and games. She thrived academically and began a passionate pursuit of French language and culture that I expect will endure for a lifetime. And yet . . . on our daughter’s graduation day, we had this conversation:
“Do you wish you had started [public high school] sooner?”
“No.”
“When did you begin to grow tired of it?”
“After the first semester.”
“Why did you tired of it?”
“It felt like prison.”
As a former public school student AND teacher, I understood her perfectly. Responsible, self-motivated students have to ask for a pass to use the library, to visit the restroom, or to retrieve necessary items from a locker. Students compete for limited opportunities and resources. The message often feels like “You get what you get,” and “You’re not that special.”
Meanwhile, students are exposed to more numerous and serious temptations and poor influences.
I asked for my daughter to speak to her siblings from her experience in the public high school setting. Her message to them was simple: “You aren’t missing anything!”
I can’t say that I totally regret giving my daughter a choice for her senior year. Her academic success was a satisfying confirmation that
the homeschool environment provides for an excellent education. I'm glad that we didn’t send her sooner, and I don’t feel the need to ever try it with her younger siblings. ;)
With two teenagers to go, I
expect to have moments when my enthusiasm will wane. I expect that theirs will, too . . . and that’s okay! Eyes on the goal. (That, along with humor, grace, and frequent deep breaths will do it). “He who began a good work in [us] will be faithful to complete it!”
Caryn Hommel, homeschool mom and author, earned a degree in Spanish Language and Literature from
NCSU
and taught Spanish in public schools for ten years. Her successful experience with
Total Physical Response (TPR)
and
Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS)
motivated her to develop
Excelerate SPANISH
, a unique DVD-based curriculum to help other homeschoolers to benefit from wonderful, brain-friendly approaches to foreign language instruction. The Hommels have homeschooled since 2003 and have graduated two students. She continues to teach her younger two children, and thinks that celebrating life and learning as a family is the most fulfilling way to spend your days!
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Contest Corner
For the month of May
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Recently, we had the opportunity to use
The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective, by Gina Ferguson. (
. . .) The student text of
The Master and His Apprentices contains 19 chapters on art throughout history, plus an appendix with additional information. Every page has at least one full color reproduction or image related to the topic; most pages have several color images! I was blown away by the quality of the graphics and appropriateness of each image chosen.
The introduction to this text explains the author's philosophy of God as the Master and all other artists as apprentices. Right away you can see this will definitely be a text written from a Christian perspective. The author explains how timelines will be used throughout the book to allow the student to relate various artistic periods to historical events and to the
Bible. The book was written after the author experienced the need for a more family-friendly approach to art history, where nude works of art are excluded, making the text safe to use in family lessons. Still, the book does not suffer in its ability to provide proper high school level art history instruction.
Even with the Teacher Guide, the author states this text is not intended as a comprehensive art history resource, but as an introduction. She encourages students to research further their favorite artists and periods. Even as an introduction, The Master and His Apprentices covers a good deal of art history in the 19 chapters of the book:
- Ancient Cultures, including Ancient Near East, Egyptian, and Aegean
- Classical Antiquity, including Early Greek, Etruscan, and Roman
- Middle Ages, including Early Christian and Byzantine, Medieval and Islamic, Romanesque, and Gothic
- Renaissance
- Baroque to today
- Non-Western Art
The text is organized chronologically and includes a good deal of history from the time frame and geographic location being discussed. One might even say it is a history text written from an artistic point of view. Each major era includes a timeline that compares the major Biblical events with the comparative world and art events. Then, a complete timeline for all eras is included in the appendix. Major works of art have headings that list the type of work and the estimated, or known, date of completion. Nearly all types of art are covered in this art history text: architecture, sculpture, pottery, painting, mosaics, engravings, and illuminations. (
Read the rest of the review.)
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