When I first began doing research about homeschooling, I was quickly overwhelmed. I thought “I can’t do this! This is for people who are patient, educated, and know what they’re doing. I am not that person.” After praying about this most important decision, God made it very clear that I didn’t have what it takes. But, He brought me to this place and He would not “leave me nor forsake me”.
It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. God was in control. That doesn’t mean I never have bad days. It just means He is with me and will provide what we need daily.
So, if you are thinking about homeschooling or are in the midst of it and don’t feel like you have what it takes anymore, read on. You may have preconceived notions about this journey, but there are amazing adventures along the way that you don’t want to miss.
Do you have what it takes to homeschool?
- Do you love spending time with your children? If so, you have what it takes. God gave you those little blessings and He gave you what it takes to care for them. Giving them an individual education is a great gift. You will be with your children every single day. You will be with them when they learn to read for the first time. You will help them work through that tough math problem. You will watch them blossom into little artists or scientists. You get to go on every field trip and watch their imaginations go wild with knowledge. Most parents are not there for all these things. But you get to be there for all the good stuff.
- Do you have the patience of Job? Me either! That is the good news. You don’t have to be the most patient person in the world to homeschool. As a matter of fact, I lose my patience often. I am constantly being tested on this very thing. I have been told by many moms and dads that they could never homeschool because they don’t have the patience. I say to them, who does? God gives me what I need daily and He also forgives me when I lose it. Patience is a virtue that I am constantly learning and my children have helped me so much with this.
- Do you want more for your children than just a standard of learning that strangers get to decide? Educating my children is so important. I want them to have a lifelong love of learning. No matter what the subject, I want them to grow in what interests them. In public school, it is hard to get an individualized education. You can’t be smarter than the smartest person and you can only go so far. I know my children best. Choosing a curriculum that they will get the most out of helps them to retain more information. Testing them on something they grazed over a week ago won’t tell me what they know or don’t know. It will tell me if they can take a test well or not.
- Do you like having more time doing things you love? When a child is in public school, that family is bound to the schedule of that school. Homeschooling gives you so much freedom to do the things you love, when you want to do them. We school year-round, so we can take off almost anytime we need to or want to. Instead of taking Spring Break around Easter when everyone else does, we take off the first week of May. Instead of only two weeks off during Christmas, we take the whole month of December off and do an Act of Kindness each day. We do more things that we love with less crowds. We can also go to parks during the day when it is quiet and less crowded. It is very freeing.
- Did God call you to homeschool? For me, the answer is yes. We prayed about it and searched scripture to come to this conclusion. If God calls you to something, He will make a way. Even when we think we can’t do it or don’t have what it takes. His plans for us far exceed any of our wildest dreams. He loves us and wants us to be successful. That includes our children. They are His children. God made a way for me to stay home and homeschool our three boys. We don’t always get the newest stuff or go on vacations or even go out to eat, but we are doing God’s will. We don’t go without things by any means but we do sacrifice certain luxuries in order to provide an education for our boys. Making them a priority over other things gives us many more blessings than we ever could imagine.
God has given us the Bible as an instruction manual on how to live this life to glorify Him. Teaching my boys about His love for them every day makes my heart so full. I didn’t think I could homeschool my kids because I just didn’t think I had what it takes. Thankfully, I don’t have to have it all together. God’s grace and mercy and love provide all I need to educate my children in a Godly way.
