Homeschooling

 I took a break from blogging in June and July. Now that we have started our homeschool year, it is time for me to get back to blogging.

Due to COVID-19 and the craziness that comes with it, homeschooling is a popular word these days. I have had several people ask me about homeschooling, and several people have mentioned they are interested or would like to, but.... and then I hear various reasons on why they can't or wouldn't do it well.

I try to listen and give encouragement. I share things that have helped me and my family. But it ultimately comes down to what you believe. 

Someone once shared with me that homeschooling has been likened to becoming a missionary or going into the military. There is a deep heartfelt cause behind the decision. Many people decide to homeschool for many different reasons. 

Homeschooling for us just naturally followed homebirthing my sons. In the early days after their father's death, homeschooling help us survive, heal, and then thrive. It gave security in a world that had been shattered. The journey has not been easy, but it has been worth it. All the sacrifices, sweat, and tears have been worth it. God faithfully gave grace, wisdom, and strength as needed. One son graduated a year ago and both of his brothers are highschoolers. As I look back, there are many reasons we began homeschooling and many other reasons that we stuck with it. 

Some of the core reasons we homeschool:

• My children are my responsibility. Their education is my responsibility. I take it seriously. I know my children; where they excel and where they struggle. God gave them to me. I am not perfect, but I love my sons and want what is best for them. And homeschooling is best for us. 
• Our faith is at the center of our life. Almighty God is not to be put in a box just for Sundays. He is very much alive and active in our world, in science, and in history. His presence needs to be acknowledged and revealed in my sons' education. A personal relationship with Him is essential and our academics nurtures this relationship. 
• Family is important. We are family. Time together, working, learning, worshiping, having fun is important. I gave birth to them at home because birth is a natural process. Sometimes it turns into a medical procedure, but it doesn't start as a medical procedure. Learning is the same thing. Learning is a natural process. Children crave to know about the world around them, to find out the how's and why's, and then share that with others. Sharing it all with family creates bonds that are powerful. 
• We enjoy our freedoms. I choose to homeschool because we can exercise our freedoms more freely. We are free from bullying, active shooters, censorship on what we write and say. We can pray outloud and read our Bibles unhindered. We have freedom in our schedule when a relative is in the hospital or a neighbor needs help with a fallen tree. We have freedom to sleep in the morning after a busy evening or double up days to finish the school week early. A student has freedom to spend two hours on a subject of interest or take a hour long break wrenching on a motor in the garage. 
• It provides great student-to-teacher ratio. My students get plenty of one-on-one attention. I might not have all the resources as public schools do. But I have a mother's deep love for my sons and can work one-on-one with them. We can slow down on difficult concepts or test out of concepts previously mastered. I am the same teacher they had last year and the year before. I know where they are independent and need to stay that way. I know where they can stretch and be more independent. I also know where they need the extra help, for now. 

I have always been thankful we homeschool. There are many hills and valleys on this homeschooling journey. But I am thankful for the freedom to homeschool and that God has allowed me to do so. 

This past spring when the pandemic and fear swept across our nation, we just kept on plugging away on our school year. We pressed on and finished early so the boys could all rock pick for area farmers. Like usual I looked over curriculum, prayed, and ordered the next year's materials. And we started the 1st Monday in August like usual. In all the unsureness around us, our home has stayed steady, an anchor in stormy seas. 

I have always been thankful we homeschooled. 

But in 2020 I have been the most thankful ever.