I have had people ask me why we chose to home school and I decided to
write about why. In the summer of 2011 my oldest child was heading
into 2nd grade. We had the privilege of going out west and visiting
DeSmet South Dakota and Walnut Grove Minnesota seeing the Little House
museums and then headed to the Badlands and Custer State Park in South
Dakota. We headed out into the Bitter root Valley in Montana to visit
some friends. On the way home from this amazing vacation I said to my
husband, "Wouldn't it be fun to home school and travel the country!" My
husband and I discussed it on our long trip home. We didn't know of any
home schoolers at that time, except a family in the town I'm from, but
they had 12 kids and she did not have to work at all. I have to work 1
day a week to help my husband with the finances. My son said even
though we love our school he would love to home school. So we ended up
sending him to public school for 2nd grade so we could pray and pray and
pray. Every time we prayed God answered prayer.
On Sunday before church I would say, "Lord please make it clear today," and he would give me the story of Noah and how people thought he was crazy for doing what he did, but he listened to God anyway. I cried out to God that I didn't know anyone that home schooled and he sent so many people in amazing ways. I told God I was scared of what people would think of me and God said, "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." ( Deuteronomy 1:21). He also said in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Then I cried, "Lord, what if I do not teach them what they need to know?" God replied in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. I was afraid of them not being socialized, which now I think is for the birds. There are so many ways to socialize without being in a public school, and again, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world....."
The Lord answers prayer!!! So 3 days before Tough Guy's 3rd grade year my husband said, "Jen, God has told us very clearly what to do." So we did it! I cried going into the school, but they were very understanding. We made sure they knew it was not anything they did wrong we just felt God called us to do this. We still have a great relationship with the school. So two years later we have home schooled 3rd and 4th grade and are getting ready for 1st and kindergarten.
As I look back on the last 2 years, what I have observed from being on both sides with ps and hs, Tough Guy is excited about learning. We just ended school for the year and he said, "mom, I cannot wait to start school, do we have to wait until August?" He loves reading and he loves history! Learning has become fun! We have flexibility and although we work very hard during the school year overall, we do not put in quite as many hours as a ps has to. I have grown to love the freedom and I really do love being with the kiddos. Yes, there are days, but even in ps there are days and I know you know what I am talking about:)
Someone said to me, "I am not patient enough to hs." I replied back,
"neither am I!" I am not super mom, I just have made this my full time
job. Some days are amazing and some are not, but again no matter what
the job not every day is perfect. What helps me have great days are
when I get up and exercise and spend time with the Lord before my day
starts. It is amazing how that works, but whenever we follow God's
plan it does work. I know not everyone is called to hs and that is ok,
because there are amazing teachers out there, but I know that we were
called to hs and as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!
On Sunday before church I would say, "Lord please make it clear today," and he would give me the story of Noah and how people thought he was crazy for doing what he did, but he listened to God anyway. I cried out to God that I didn't know anyone that home schooled and he sent so many people in amazing ways. I told God I was scared of what people would think of me and God said, "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." ( Deuteronomy 1:21). He also said in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Then I cried, "Lord, what if I do not teach them what they need to know?" God replied in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. I was afraid of them not being socialized, which now I think is for the birds. There are so many ways to socialize without being in a public school, and again, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world....."
The Lord answers prayer!!! So 3 days before Tough Guy's 3rd grade year my husband said, "Jen, God has told us very clearly what to do." So we did it! I cried going into the school, but they were very understanding. We made sure they knew it was not anything they did wrong we just felt God called us to do this. We still have a great relationship with the school. So two years later we have home schooled 3rd and 4th grade and are getting ready for 1st and kindergarten.
As I look back on the last 2 years, what I have observed from being on both sides with ps and hs, Tough Guy is excited about learning. We just ended school for the year and he said, "mom, I cannot wait to start school, do we have to wait until August?" He loves reading and he loves history! Learning has become fun! We have flexibility and although we work very hard during the school year overall, we do not put in quite as many hours as a ps has to. I have grown to love the freedom and I really do love being with the kiddos. Yes, there are days, but even in ps there are days and I know you know what I am talking about:)
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