Why I Home School

After starting my son's Senior year I have been looking back a lot lately.

Why, did I start homeschooling? Some people really have these big stories of how the Lord called them to home school.  I have no doubt that it is a calling but in the beginning that was just not my story.
I started for selfish reasons....I just did not want to give up my child for x amount of hours a day.  I loved being with him.
I wanted to enjoy the moments of time that someone else would have gotten.

When I started, I thought just Kindergarten.  We will see... I was scared to death.. scared I would forget something, scared there would be holes in his education. The year went by so fast and I loved every minute.  Honestly, I can say every minute because I really did.  I loved teaching him all the fun Kindergarten stuff. Taking care of his baby sister and taking them on fun field trips.  The topper was when I taught him to read.  I felt like a million bucks.

After Kindergarten graduation I knew this was for our family... I did not doubt it until around Jr High  again, I got scared.. am I doing all I am supposed to do.. am I doing it right?  What about high school??? Scary words, right??

The Lord graciously gave me more time with them.. I learned, we learned...and we all grew and are still learning.  In fact that is really what it is all about... a  lifetime of learning.
I really know my kids... not always pleasant but I really know them and they really know me.. again not always pleasant.
I have learned a lot!  A lot more than I did in school.. maybe because I have done the grade several times after teaching the kids.

One of the biggest thing I learned was there is NO formula! What works for one family may or may not work for the other family.  And please homeschoolers, dont judge.  Everyone is differernt everyone has different ideas, needs, temperments, time etc.  And you may have to change your entire curriculum from one kid to another.. it may work great for one but not so much for the other.

The thing I have enjoyed the most is sitting with my kids and reading great literature.  Great books that make me and my kids think.  Questions, talking, laughing, disagreeing, picking them apart.  Some home schoolers would never read some of the books we have read or are reading.  That is up to them, their decision.  But again, dont judge me because we do.  Unless, God tells me it is wrong then I will continue.

14 years... a lot of time... a lot of sacrifice. some tears and a lot of happy moments.  Would I change them?  Some yes, mostly my stupid attitude.  My sinful nature peeks its ugly head way too many times. That is one thing I have learned.. when I am trying to discipline my kids... I hear the Lord say that is what I am trying to tell you..

One thing I would suggest is to surround yourself with Godly mentors. I had a great friends to guide me, listen to my worries, bend their ear, bounce ideas etc.  To be honest, I still do this with my friends.  Now, we just talk about teenager stuff.  That is another post.

Btw, I never heard of home schooling until my friend Lisa told me she was going to heomeschool her boy.  I thought she was a little crazy : )

One downfall I know home schooling mommas do is compare...don't we do that a lot?  I mean really... why do we do this to ourselves?  Pray, ask God to lead you and make your decisions.  Learn and grow from each other but don't compare yourself to the other. AND DON'T COMPARE YOUR KIDS TO OTHER KIDS!  That is a dangerous trap from the devil.

We have had many wonderful years in our home.  I am so thankful to Jesus for my children and for the blessings of home schooling.  It is not always easy but it is always worth the sacrifice.

These are some old pictures from around 5 years ago.  Loving those baby faces!

Many Blessings,

Kim

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.