As I mentioned earlier, homeschooling isn't something I have felt very confident in pursuing. I thought I would share a little family history.
My oldest daughter is 12 years old. In just a couple months she will be turning 13!Her name is Mckenzie.
When she first became of school age, I did not want to send my daughter to public school, in fact I was a panic. The thought of sending my baby to the wolves?!? For them to devour her, and every value I ever tried to place in her fragile little heart? Ya... a panic. :)
I was very fortunate that my husband and I were able to afford private Christian schooling for Kenzie the first few years of her education. It was a blessing to see her confidence and friendships grow. To know that she was surrounded by Christian people, willing to put in not only the effort to help her achieve academic success, but spiritual success as well.
That brings me to my youngest daughter, Chloe! She is currently 7, soon to be 8! After she had become of school age, we enrolled her into preschool where Kenzie was currently attending. She loved it, she started school at 3 years old. It was wonderful to watch her excel and impress me time and time again with the things she was capable of learning and doing at such a young age.
The girls were able to live blissfully in this Christian school environment for another 2 years. After we were looking at having to afford not only one full day tuition, but 2, the budget began closing like a noose around our necks. I was once again becoming panicked, not wanting to have my only option be sending my kids to public school. But what other choices were there? For me, I just didn't have any at the time.
In the middle of my oldest daughter’s 3rd grade year, she joined the masses at our public elementary school. I found a little peace of mind in knowing that she was attending the best elementary schools in our city. To this day I can stick to that statement! I have had much success from their school, the girls have been blessed with great teachers year after year.
I always thought to myself that one day I would be able to afford having my girls in a Christian school environment once again. That's what God wants for them! (I just felt this in my heart!)
Fast-forward a few years to present day. Kenzie is 'graduating' from elementary school this year, and is on track to start middle school in the fall. Chloe will be going into 3rd grade. Once again I am faced with the dilemma of school choices and what's best for my girls.
I hesitantly started pursuing information on home school. Again, I never saw myself as someone that was qualified to educate my children. I suppose between past experiences, horror stories, and ignorance on the topic, I didn't have a real leg to stand on with my thoughts. So I started doing some research.
I was amazed at the information available out there! I always kind of thought of home schooling as an under ground secret society and I was going to have to learn the secret handshake if I ever wanted to find out anything about these people. I was so wrong! There are people out there excited to share their lives with the public! Also, I was amazed to find the plethora of materials and curriculum available, it's overwhelming in itself!
I still get nervous sometimes, but my confidence is quickly expanding. I am blessed to have a husband that is much more secure than I am. :) I started sharing my thoughts with him on the topic about a month ago. He was immediately open to thinking about it and exploring the possibility. I took him to a homeschool book fair with workshops this past weekend, and he was very much impressed. He too didn't quite realize the large and growing world that homeschooling is, and the opportunity that it offers to our children.
Of course, I've left out a lot of things I could share up to this point, but this pretty much sums it up. :) More and more I am seeing that I believe this is the path that God wants us to take for our family. As the doors continue to open up before us, and he plants dreams in my heart, I start feeling a little giddy. I can do this! Of course, I can do this! God gave me my children. And I love what I have read elsewhere. Why is it that after 5 years of teaching my children to walk, eat, talk, become the person they have become thus far, I am suddenly unqualified? That is an awesome thought! I never knew I had become so programmed by society. God gave me my girls with instruction to "raise up a child in the way he should go". That is my duty. I am already a stay at home mom. Dedicating my young adult years to blessing my children's lives, making them my top priority. And I am blessed by that decision as well.
Someone sharing at a workshop this weekend put it like this: Think of your children as a "Sam's Club" type warehouse. Full of high, empty shelves. These shelves will be filled by something and/or someone. They will be taught values and character by something. TV, Internet, friends, family members, rock stars, exc. Who do you want filling these shelves? You or these people?
This really hit home for me. No one is more capable to know and understand what my child needs than my husband and I. What a blessing it has been to begin to understand the fullness of that statement and the blessing I have been given in such a mandate from my heavenly Father. This journey is sure to change my life! I am excited and in pursuit!
My oldest daughter is 12 years old. In just a couple months she will be turning 13!
When she first became of school age, I did not want to send my daughter to public school, in fact I was a panic. The thought of sending my baby to the wolves?!? For them to devour her, and every value I ever tried to place in her fragile little heart? Ya... a panic. :)
I was very fortunate that my husband and I were able to afford private Christian schooling for Kenzie the first few years of her education. It was a blessing to see her confidence and friendships grow. To know that she was surrounded by Christian people, willing to put in not only the effort to help her achieve academic success, but spiritual success as well.
That brings me to my youngest daughter, Chloe! She is currently 7, soon to be 8! After she had become of school age, we enrolled her into preschool where Kenzie was currently attending. She loved it, she started school at 3 years old. It was wonderful to watch her excel and impress me time and time again with the things she was capable of learning and doing at such a young age.
The girls were able to live blissfully in this Christian school environment for another 2 years. After we were looking at having to afford not only one full day tuition, but 2, the budget began closing like a noose around our necks. I was once again becoming panicked, not wanting to have my only option be sending my kids to public school. But what other choices were there? For me, I just didn't have any at the time.
In the middle of my oldest daughter’s 3rd grade year, she joined the masses at our public elementary school. I found a little peace of mind in knowing that she was attending the best elementary schools in our city. To this day I can stick to that statement! I have had much success from their school, the girls have been blessed with great teachers year after year.
I always thought to myself that one day I would be able to afford having my girls in a Christian school environment once again. That's what God wants for them! (I just felt this in my heart!)
Fast-forward a few years to present day. Kenzie is 'graduating' from elementary school this year, and is on track to start middle school in the fall. Chloe will be going into 3rd grade. Once again I am faced with the dilemma of school choices and what's best for my girls.
I hesitantly started pursuing information on home school. Again, I never saw myself as someone that was qualified to educate my children. I suppose between past experiences, horror stories, and ignorance on the topic, I didn't have a real leg to stand on with my thoughts. So I started doing some research.
I was amazed at the information available out there! I always kind of thought of home schooling as an under ground secret society and I was going to have to learn the secret handshake if I ever wanted to find out anything about these people. I was so wrong! There are people out there excited to share their lives with the public! Also, I was amazed to find the plethora of materials and curriculum available, it's overwhelming in itself!
I still get nervous sometimes, but my confidence is quickly expanding. I am blessed to have a husband that is much more secure than I am. :) I started sharing my thoughts with him on the topic about a month ago. He was immediately open to thinking about it and exploring the possibility. I took him to a homeschool book fair with workshops this past weekend, and he was very much impressed. He too didn't quite realize the large and growing world that homeschooling is, and the opportunity that it offers to our children.
Of course, I've left out a lot of things I could share up to this point, but this pretty much sums it up. :) More and more I am seeing that I believe this is the path that God wants us to take for our family. As the doors continue to open up before us, and he plants dreams in my heart, I start feeling a little giddy. I can do this! Of course, I can do this! God gave me my children. And I love what I have read elsewhere. Why is it that after 5 years of teaching my children to walk, eat, talk, become the person they have become thus far, I am suddenly unqualified? That is an awesome thought! I never knew I had become so programmed by society. God gave me my girls with instruction to "raise up a child in the way he should go". That is my duty. I am already a stay at home mom. Dedicating my young adult years to blessing my children's lives, making them my top priority. And I am blessed by that decision as well.
Someone sharing at a workshop this weekend put it like this: Think of your children as a "Sam's Club" type warehouse. Full of high, empty shelves. These shelves will be filled by something and/or someone. They will be taught values and character by something. TV, Internet, friends, family members, rock stars, exc. Who do you want filling these shelves? You or these people?
This really hit home for me. No one is more capable to know and understand what my child needs than my husband and I. What a blessing it has been to begin to understand the fullness of that statement and the blessing I have been given in such a mandate from my heavenly Father. This journey is sure to change my life! I am excited and in pursuit!
You can do it and do it well! Your children already have an advantage over other children just for the fact that they are home with people who love them and want the best for them! Building character is more important than gaining knowledge!
ReplyDeleteI recommend you find out when your state is having the homeschool convention and go! I also recommend finding a great homeschool co-op/support group.