homeschooling

A Good Week

April 2, 2009 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Homeschool

This has been one of those weeks. The kind where I think, Wow, I am really glad I homeschool my kids! I so often share frustrations and weaknesses to reveal God’s ongoing work in my life, and hopefully encourage you who may share the same struggles. Today, I want to share a couple little bright spots.

Yesterday, Soleil came up to me and plopped her Bible in my lap. “Can you read me Luke 14?” She said.

Well, sure. We read Luke 14, and she shared her thoughts with me afterwards. Why Luke 14? I don’t know. But the fact that my little girl can come up to me any time of day and ask for that, and that I can sit on my couch in the morning, reading God’s word is…awesome.

Then today, after a fun-filled park day, we went to get knitting needles and yarn for the girls. A young girl there at the park is teaching the other girls how to knit, and Ccoc and Soleil are very interested. Tonight, again on the couch, Coco patiently taught me the steps she’s learned so far.

“Just think, Mom,” she said. “If I wasn’t homeschooled I never would have learned how to knit.”

“True.” I smiled.

“Or have gotten interested in horseback riding and volleyball.”

“Yep. And Spanish.” I added. I played it cool, but I was beaming inside. This coming from my girl who was skeptical about homeschooling (to put it nicely) was a blessing indeed.

So, a good week. What can I say? I’m easy to please.

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Story of One Skeptical Mom

March 16, 2009 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Homeschool

A few weeks ago, the woman who does our homeschool group newsletter asked me to write something encouraging for the parents. I thought I’d share it with you all. Here it is:

A year ago, I sat with my husband watching a reality show featuring a homeschool family. The kids were not only odd and socially inept. They were weird. And the parents? Definitely off their rockers. We laughed and felt sorry for these poor kids and felt glad our kids were happy, well-adjusted children.

A few months later, I began to feel as if God were leading us to homeschool our kids. It had never even occurred to me before, and everything in me resisted. I begged God to not make me do this. Anything but this! Homeschool kids are odd and socially inept. Remember that show, God? I don’t want my kids like that! And when the pressing on my heart didn’t go away…Why, God, why?

Slowly, God began to change my heart and at the same time, people came into our lives that were homeschoolers. Wonderful, godly, amazing people. Wacky, for sure, but in an awesome way.

I became close to two women at church who happened to be homeschooling their kids. Happy, well-adjusted kids, in fact. I got to see homeschool in action, and it looked…fun. I began to imagine teaching my kids at home, and for the first time, it didn’t seem weird.

After much prayer, my husband I agreed to take the leap. We would bring our kids home from school and start a new adventure. I still wasn’t sure why God wanted this, but we no longer had doubts that it was His will.

Within a couple of weeks, we met more families that were planning to homeschool the following year. As far as we knew, we had never known any homeschoolers. Yet, after sharing our decision with friends, we found out that some people we knew casually were homeschooled as kids or currently homeschooling. Suddenly, we were surrounded by homeschoolers!

God could have used many means to get our attention. When whispers to our heart were questioned, when coincidences like magazine articles were easily put aside, He used people – specifically homeschool families – to steer us to this decision.

I thank God now that He led us to this place, teaching our kids at home. I still ask why. Why didn’t I always do this? Why did I ever let someone else raise my kids for six hours a day? Any why on earth did I ever watch reality TV anyway?

To those of you who’ve been teaching your kids at home, please know this: Someone somewhere may take on this lifestyle because of what you’re doing today. God might just use you to convince a skeptical mom.

Sitting in my living room watching that show a year ago, I never would have guessed that over the next year, God would lead us to not only get rid of television in our home, but to homeschool our own kids.

Today, I am so in love with homeschool that I barely recognize that agonized mom begging God to not make her do this. I pray that one day God may use us to help another family.

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10 Things That Surprise Me About Homeschool: Part 2

February 6, 2009 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Homeschool, MamaMusings

Yesterday, I covered 5 of 10 things that surprise me about homeschool.

I’ll admit I had some reservations about being my girls’ only teacher. Determined to follow God’s will for us, Eric and I clasped hands and started down this path, not knowing what was in store. I have been most pleasantly surprised to find that homeschool works really well for our family.

Some more surprises:

6. We have more time than we need.

I was afraid I would barely be able to cover the necessary subjects. There aren’t enough hours in the day to learn all I want to cover.

Somehow, one semester in, we’ve done not only the basics, but tons of fun stuff too. It’s mysterious…kind of like when you tithe and your budget doesn’t work out on paper but it somehow comes through every month. Life has a way of making room for the important things. If you allow it to…

7. I am flexible (AKA not a control freak)

I was a preschool teacher, so I knew I would have patience to let the girls learn at their own pace. But would I be able to handle shifting schedules, unexpected interruptions, and rabbit trails? Highly doubtable.

I like things somewhat in order, which is never good for a God-following gal. What is startling to me is that the little twitch I used to get when things didn’t go according to plan has disappeared. I am easy going and carefree, along for this ride called homeschool. Weird.

8. My husband loves it.

Although we made the decision to start homeschool together, I had doubts that Eric would appreciate our new life.

In spite of the mess and the relaxed schedule, Eric just loves having our kids home all day. He not only appreciates all this, he is involved and excited. Considering his first reaction was “No way!” this is miraculous indeed.

9. I still have a life.

I went into this homeschool thing with the expectation that I would sacrifice myself for the next thirteen years. How noble, right? Thank God that He did not require that!

As much as I love being with my kids, God gives me a little break from time to time so I can refresh. I still have interests, activities, and a personality outside of home. Very unexpected.

10. Little old me just might be the best teacher my kids will ever have.

Now this is the biggest shocker of all. How could I, like, teach my kids? I coasted through high school and only went to college long enough to get the job I wanted. I now appreciate that no matter how many degrees they have, no other teacher around will love my kids like I do.

What’s love got to do with it? Everything. My love for them is what drives me to find the best way to teach them what they need to know. And you can bet I’m not going to move on until they fully grasp a concept.

Best of all, both girls think I’m the coolest teacher around. Yeah, I’m the only teacher around, but I can live with that.

Whether or not you’re a homeschool parent, you can agree that life is surprising. I still don’t know what the next few years will bring but if homeschool has taught me anything, it’s that God gives you just what you need for each moment he’s brought you to. For me, that’s enough.

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10 Things That Surprise Me About Homeschool: Part 1

February 5, 2009 By Homegrown Mom Filed Under: Homeschool, MamaMusings

School at home has been full of surprises. We are beginning a new semester and I’ve been reflecting on just how different the reality is compared to what my expectations were. Today and tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the top 10 things that have me shaking my head in disbelief.

Even if you don’t homeschool, maybe you’ll find some of your own ideas challenged just for fun.

1. I’m not as smart as I thought.

I assumed English was my strong point, but a couple days into a grammar book taught me otherwise. I know where the comma goes, but how do I explain why? More importantly, why did I never learn this? And history? Another favorite in school, but all facts have somehow disappeared. Where did they go? And why? So many questions.

Thankfully, I also found out that….

2. I can still learn.

My perspective on understanding seventh grade math is so different from when I was actually in seventh grade. Instead of shutting the book and, like, totally dreaming about boys, I’ve discovered that if I just apply myself, I can get it eventually. Huh. Guess my teachers were right about something after all.

3. I haven’t wanted to quit.

Now, I love seminars, conventions, articles, and anything else that is meant to inspire homeschoolers. I did begin to notice, though, that they all assure you you’ll want to quit almost daily.

I understand they do this so you don’t feel guilty when you have visions of kicking your kids out the front door to wait for a school bus that may or may not be coming. So far, though, I haven’t yet seriously considered quitting. Now I can hear all you veterans chuckling….just wait, she’ll see.

4. I’m not bored

Sure, this sounds awful, but I imagined the day-to-day routine would become quite dreary. Stuck in the house all day, every day, doing the same thing over and over. I was a little worried that I would go insane.

However, not only does my day fly by; no day is ever just like the one before it. Learning is exciting and brings new challenges and sweet moments with my girls. Guess what? They’re not bored either. Wow! Homeschool is actually fun!

5. The Homeschool community is friendly and accepting.

I’m not sure what I was expecting except that I’ve experienced plenty of grown-up mean girls in my time. I was pleasantly surprised to find that homeschool parents don’t judge me for having my kids in school up to now. In fact lots of them are in the same situation. And although there’s lots of talk about what program or approach you’re using, it’s friendly, not critical.

The parents we’ve met are excited about homeschool, even the ones that have been doing it for fifteen-plus years. They’re eager to help newbies out in any way, but still assume you’re the best teacher for your kids. Astonishing!

Tomorrow, I’ll post the next five surprising things on my list.