There’s a certain stigma that comes along with homeschooling. You know the one: denim jumpers, socially inept, unaware of what’s really going on in the world. According to the Department of Education, homeschooling increased 62 percent over the last decade.
Growing up through the public school system, I enjoyed my education and still appreciate the teachers whose passions shaped my own. Going to a “big school”, as my kids say, gave me the chance to meet the friends who invited me to church. I came to understand the Gospel and learned how to share my faith. This served as a catalyst for my desire to stay connected to other believers when I went off to college.
I hadn’t thought much about homeschooling until after our first son was about three years old. My husband Matt and I started thinking about his education, and we threw homeschooling into the mix of options. The more we sifted through pro’s and con’s, the more we realized homeschooling would be the best choice for our family. Fast forward six years, and we’re still learning and growing into our niche. It's a far cry from setting my stuffed animals up as a little girl for a captive audience. Our kids are quite active and that’s helped shape our days, from doing flashcards on the trampoline to running laps around the house in between subjects.
Our children are the greatest imitators. We chose to homeschool so we could have an influence on our kids by spending the greatest amount of time with them in their younger years. For a number of years we get to be the loudest voice our children hear; teaching them God’s Word, helping shape their character and worldview, and preparing them for life beyond our doors. We parent and teach imperfectly. Ultimately, by God’s grace and at just the right time, our kids will come to know and follow Christ.
"For a number of years we get to be the loudest voice our children hear; teaching them God’s Word, helping shape their character and worldview, and preparing them for life beyond our doors."
Being a teacher was and still is somewhat out of my comfort zone. In my previous life I was a marketer and planned on running my family’s business instead of a household. I’ve yet to get as excited about my new curriculum as I do over a good branding campaign. But I’m so thankful for the opportunity to love and guide our kids.
Homeschooling is just one way to come alongside our kids and walk with them through their successes and failures, disappointments and excitements. Whether it’s navigating relationships, being willing to be interrupted, or caring about their little worries, we have many opportunities to disciple our children. Some of the mom’s I admire the most, mine included, didn’t homeschool and have had a lasting impact on my life. Each family is unique and equipped in different ways.
Recently, I was talking with a close friend about the many opportunities we have to enroll our kids in this or that. I’ve found these verses to be helpful when thinking through decisions we’re making for our kids; sifting through our desire to have them succeed versus which opportunity might be the best for them to thrive.
“Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
What is best for one family, may not be what’s best for another. God has graciously entrusted us with the lives of our children, and we are called to train them up in the way they should go, so they might not depart from it. We’ll either sow 18 years of their lives sharing truth and being an example of following Christ, or sow 18 years of other pursuits. Either way, we’ll reap what we’ve sown as parents.