Why I Homeschool

Choosing to follow Christ with my life in my thirties, after walking away as a teenager, was life-changing.  I didn't anticipate being called to homeschool my children.  It was only a couple years after I became a truly sold out Christian that I began to feel pulled toward homeschooling.  It made no sense to me, and for a long time I fought that urge.  Eventually, after getting to know a wonderful homeschooling family at our church, I approached my husband.  At first, he was not quite in favor of it.  However, I told him that I would show him my research and let him pray about it.  To my surprise, he agreed.  We began about two months after the start of the school year with my youngest school-aged child, Laura.  She was only a third grader at the time, and I was a nervous wreck. 

 Now, years later, I wouldn't change a thing.  In fact, I am absolutely in support of homeschooling. My littlest one is now learning at home with her older sister.  I even graduated one of my teenagers from my homeschool.  Homeschooling, to me, has been a miracle of gargantuan proportions.

My husband and I both struggled in school.  For my husband, the struggle was academic.  Though he was never officially diagnosed, I am positive that he suffered from severe ADD.  His daughter has since been diagnosed, and it is often genetic.  My husband despised school.  He was grounded a lot for his poor grades.  His parents had no clue why he performed so poorly.  It was a double shock to find out that he is actually quite smart and held amazing musical abilities.  He self-taught himself bass and guitar, playing by ear for years until he was taught chords.  He also, once he became a Christian, found that he is amazingly adept at learning and understanding Scripture.  He is a quiet man, but when he preaches, he touches many.

My struggle in school was more social than academic.  I moved around a lot, going to new schools every year or two.  Making friends was difficult.  I didn't like school, though I did like learning.  The constant moving left me the new kid all the time.  My family was never very well off financially.  I learned how cruel kids could be.  I became quiet, a loner.  I made only a few friends and never really developed a strong sense of who I was and what I wanted.  I wanted more for my children than for them to feel less than anyone else.

Becoming a Christian changed many things for me and my husband.  We knew that our paths would be different than anything we had ever known.  When we were led to homeschooling, it was wonderful!  Our goal was to give our children a Christian education.  What we have discovered is that we are giving them so much more.  They are receiving a Christian worldview.  They are developing relationships with their siblings that will last a lifetime.  They are developing a passion and deep love for Jesus Christ as they continue to grow and learn.

While the condition of the public schools deteriorates, I am proud that I am able to give my children so much more at home.  It isn't always easy.  It definitely isn't perfect.  We have rough days and great days.  However, I see the difference in my daughters compared to their public-schooled counterparts.  My younger girls, especially, aren't peer dependent at all.  They are warm and friendly.  The one girl that was super shy in school is now outgoing and confident. 

I thank God that He led me to homeschool my children.