What I've learned so far in Homeschooling

I've been homeschooling just a short amount of time. I began just three short months ago. In those three months I look at what I have learned and I am amazed. I felt led by God to begin homeschooling my third grade daughter. I have a full house with four daughters and a step-daughter ranging in age from 21 months to 17 years. Homeschooling was not exactly what I thought God would have me do when I prayed for direction.

I had met other homeschooling families and was impressed. The families were close, God-serving families. The children were respectful and intelligent and weren't ashamed to follow Jesus. They were different than other children, even my own, but in a totally good and awesome way. They were easy to talk to, without the attitudes many other children have...especially around adults.

When God led me to homeschooling, I thought it was for my daughter. I honestly thought it was to benefit her, to give her a Christian education and world-view. I thought it was so the same admirable qualities I saw in those other homeschooled children would eventually be instilled in my little girl.

I still think that, but I had only scratched the surface. I never thought about what it would mean to me personally. Did I have any clue who Charlotte Mason was? No. Did I know anything about traditional, classical, eclectic, unschooling, etc. approaches to learning and schooling? No, I thought we'd read some good books and do some workbooks, maybe go on a field trip now and then. I had no clue what a unit study was, and when I first read about them I rolled my eyes and thought they looked a little too abnormal. My view of school was the model of public school. I just wanted Christ and creationism thrown into the mix.

If you glance through my previous posts from the beginning you may see examples of my arrogance. Oh, how I thought I knew what I was doing. How could I know the pleasure of a library raid to get a stack of 15 books on cats and pet care. I would have never dreamed the pleasure of discovering a horse with my daughter and Om-Kas-Toe; or the adventure of being young and alone and making friends with an Indian boy in The Sign of the Beaver. Even this week, My daughter and I are on an adventure with a family and a cat named Pete in Spycat.

I would have never known that a bone could bend. I wouldn't have heard my daughter telling her friends at church the story of the Tower of Babel that she'd read in her Bible Stories book. I wouldn't have imagined I would be an effective teacher while changing the diaper of my toddler and folding laundry, but my daughter isn't distracted by my business.

Of course I have made numerous mistakes. The bunches of workbooks my daughter has began should testify to that. Despite wanting a Christian education, I had a tendency to put academics ahead of Christ. I corrected that a few weeks back by putting our Bible studies as the first thing in our day after chores.

I still tend to overschedule at times. I still often find myself wondering if I am doing enough, covering enough. I wonder how Laura is doing compared to her public school counterparts. I research different curriculums and worry that I'll make a wrong choice that could be costly. Then I read that many homeschoolers spend very little and I feel like I'm foolish for spending what I have.

I pray....A LOT! I ask for guidance and wisdom. And I am learning to enjoy this journey God has placed me on with my daughter. I am amazed at all the Lord has taught me in three short months. It makes me wonder what he has in store for me to learn in the next three months. I don't believe it is my daughter alone that God wanted to have homeschooled. I think he is giving me an education I never dreamed was possible.