Homeschooling wasn't on my radar when Littlemiss was born. I had my undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a masters in special education, but I hadn't really considered homeschooling my own kids. Why would I homeschool when there are so many great schools? How in the world would I be able to homeschool? As I watched Littlemiss grow and learn from the environment around her, I couldn't help but be filled with excitement as she soaked up everything. She was so teachable, and it thrilled me to watch her grow and learn. It occurred to me then that maybe I could homeschool her. I've talked with many friends who are homeschooling families. I fell in love with how close they were as a family and how they did ministry together as a family. That's when I wanted it for my family. I've had my moments (or days if I'm honest) of second-guessing my abilities to be a homeschooling family. As a mom, how in the world can I manage running our home AND educating our children!?! It overwhelmed me. That's when I remembered that by God's grace, with his blessing, I can homeschool our kids. Through much prayer and a definite feeling of being called by God to homeschool our family right now, I am going to take the leap this next year. I know she's only in preschool, but not sending her to preschool is a big step for me. I'm taking it one year at a time, and reevaluating as we go.
That being said, I don't believe God calls us all to homeschool. God is glorified through public and private school families too! There are downsides to homeschooling versus public and private schooling. There are upsides and downsides to all of them. I just want to pursue what God has called our family to. Schooling differences can be one that separates believers instead of binding us together to learn and grow from one another's differences. We can be so divisive and critical of the schooling choices others make. I've been on both sides of the fence. "Did you hear what So & so's kid said, he must have learned that in public school." "So and so's mom claims her kid is reading at a 5th grade level. I'd much rather have my kid be playing with friends than stuck in a book all day at home." I have friends with kids in public, private, and home schools and I hope that I can maintain these relationships besides making different schooling choices for our families!
I've started reading some of Charlotte Mason's holistic approach to the education of the child. She believed education was built of three things: atmosphere, discipline, and life. I love that she emphasized the importance of the home environment, and building good habits of character. I want the way we live our lives to teach our kids values and skills. I want to be a parent/teacher/mother that includes my children in the daily activities around our house, so they feel important contributors to our home and family. I want to cook together, read together, explore together, learn about God together, thrive together, grow together, and push each other towards sanctification.
I have grown to admire a writer/blogger/mother/home-educator who has recently been another big inspiration to how I strive to live and homeschool my children holistically, Ann Voskamp. She has a blog, A Holy Experience, I have mulled over from time to time. She is well-known for her book, "One Thousand Gifts," about gratefulness. I have yet to read it, but I'm sure I will be picking it up soon after being so encouraged by her blog. In one specific blog entry she addresses how they strive to live authentically, joyfully, curiously, and consistently as a homeschool family. Sounds ideal, but she doesn't shy away from the pitfalls of homeschooling either, and she shares openly their daily struggles.
These are my thoughts at the beginning of the year, and I'm sure I will change and grow over the course of this year as we attempt to live it out in our home.
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