Dana at Principled Discovery is hosting Home Education week. She has posted a list of writing prompts which are meant to give those participating a starting point for sharing about their experience with home education.
Each day this week I hope to write about our family’s thoughts and experiences in regard to home education. If you would like to see what others have shared, click here. Don’t forget to visit Dana and join in the fun.
Today we will be looking back.......
Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.
As a little girl, I didn’t think much about having a family one day. When I grew up I wanted to be in musicals, 42nd Street to be exact!
I did pursue this goal; attending a one year, full-time, performing arts course after high school, followed by another year of intensive acting training. By the end of the acting course I was burned out, my conscience was growing and I couldn't do many of the things being asked of me and keep it clean.
These teenager years were somewhat tumultuous. After a time I began to look toward God and with that came the desire for a family. Shortly after I married my husband (10 years ago this July), I began to wish for a baby. Three years later, our daughter was born.
Long before my daughter came into the world, we discussed the possibility of homeschooling. We saw what was happening to the school system and we freshly remembered our experience in it. A dear friend and mentor of mine, in Australia, homeschooled her three children - it looked wonderful to me. Even with all this, we still thought of it as a possibility, nothing was set in stone. We would see....
After our daughter was born there was really no question. I knew I would not be sending her to school. I could hardly bear the thought of only getting 18 years with her as it was.
The first few years of my daughter’s life are a blur: she slept little and screamed lots! Now she is 6 and she sleeps and talks and even reads (no comment on the screaming).
So much was taught and learned in those first few years; way before we “officially” started schooling.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have my children home with me. It is a blessing to have them for the best hours of their day. A blessing to see each new skill learn and develop. A blessing to have them home to teach me patience and selflessness. A blessing I would not trade for anything.
There were times in the early days that I missed going out for coffee with my friends. I missed my musicals, and I missed doing what I wanted when I wanted. But, to be honest, I don’t feel that way very often anymore. I have been learning so many fascinating things alongside my daughter. I treasure the moments we have together, for one never knows how many moments we have left.
Our family is gaining closeness through homescooling. I think many homeschoolers will say the same thing. Spending a lot of time together is helping us form a strong family bond. It is also allowing us the time necessary to teach our children the truth, to teach them useful skills, and train them in righteousness. I am not saying that we are doing a wonderful job in all these areas, we are lacking in many ways. My hope and prayer is that our children will grow into decent, God-loving human beings, who love their parents, even with all our flaws, and desire to serve the One who made them.
We love homeschooling and highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to give it a try.. |
Posted by 
Posted by Anonymous 
