This past year, I’ve fielded more questions about our decision to homeschool than any other time.
Our family of five has been homeschooling for about seven years. This year, our children turn 17, 14, and 13, and they will be the first to tell you that we are not perfect homeschool parents. So if you are reading this and feel overwhelmed because you are not doing this homeschool thing perfectly or you fear you could never do this homeschool thing at all, you are in good company.
Why we chose to homeschool
I never planned to be a homeschool mom. I’m a writer, novelist, and speaker. I never even considered home education as an option before we moved to Brantford, Ontario. We had great public school experiences up to that point in life, and we know and love fantastic public school teachers. Our choice to homeschool did not come as a result of a wound or a fear. Our decision to homeschool began as a practical decision.
My husband is a pastor, and we were in a transition year that took us from our public school in St Catharines to the United States for four months (where we were gifted private Christian education), then back to St Catharines to sell our house to land in Brantford, Ontario. Brantford would have been our children’s third school experience that year and fourth transition. We felt that was too much change and opted to homeschool the remaining four months. I thought that even if I were the worst homeschooling mother ever – they likely wouldn’t lose an entire year in four months with me. No one is more shocked than I am that we are still homeschooling all these years later.
Unexpected blessings through homeschool
Through homeschooling, I have grown closer with my children in a way previously unknown to me. There is a greater depth to our relationship, and it saddens me to know that I had no idea what I was missing before. My kids were gone all day with conventional school and busy with homework and sports/clubs at night, but I didn’t know anything different. I thought it had to be that way. Now we are together nearly all the time (which has its pros and cons), and I have grown to love their quirks, sense of humour, and personality traits more than ever before.
So much time together has been a blessing, but it has also been the most sanctifying and challenging experience I have ever endured. Nothing has exposed the sin in my heart more than homeschooling my children. God has used this to shed light on my selfish tendencies, my sense of entitlement, and a shocking level of personal laziness. When I went into this, I believed God would use homeschooling to grow and impact my kids, but I had no idea how much he would use it to grow and challenge me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I’m not alone
I’ve learned that my ability to teach my children rests entirely on God’s ability to keep His promises to me. It rests on God’s ability to bring about the changes in me that He desires. It rests on God’s ability to provide for our every need in Jesus Christ.
I’ve found the homeschool community to be a tremendous encouragement. Moms further along the path have encouraged me through difficult years and offered advice and resources. We’ve cried together, laughed together, and prayed together as we sought to raise our children to be responsible and God-fearing adults. As I near the finish line of homeschool, I am challenged to pour into those just beginning. I desire to be available to answer questions and share resources that I have found helpful.
Have questions?
I’m excited to be part of the 2021 Canadian Homeschool Symposium. If you have questions – this is the conference with answers. It’s affordable ($25), it’s accessible (ONLINE), offers several workshops and allows you to interact with the speakers.
I have the privilege of opening God’s Word to 2 Chronicles 20 at this online symposium. Raising our children in the ways of the Lord and educating them to be responsible God-honouring adults is an all-in, no-holds-barred, the-enemy-fights-dirty battle. Sometimes, even after suiting up in the armour, fear spears us right through the heart. At the conference, you can journey with me through 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 in Homeschool Hardships and Humble Hearts and learn how a teacher’s character shapes the student and how you can fearlessly lead your children through battles that belong to the Lord. Click the image to visit the website and learn about the other speakers, vendors, and help available.
I hope to see you there!