Posted in Homeschooling

     I mentioned in an earlier post that I had experienced all three types of schooling: public school, private Christian school, and homeschool.  By far, homeschooling was the best of the three.  I loved being able to finish my schoolwork at my own pace, and with my particular interests taken into consideration.  I also loved being at home all the time.  I was one of those kids who cried when her mother left her off on the first day of Kindergarten.  I hated being at school all day.  I always felt like I was missing something really interesting in the "outside world". 

    When my parents decided to homeschool me, I was beginning my tenth grade year.  Many of my friends were also homeschooled, so I didn't at all feel as though I were strange or unusual in some way.  I knew without a doubt that when I became a mother, I would homeschool my children.  I had every intention of being a stay-at-home wife and mother.  The ironic thing is that at the time, I was planning to attend college and get a degree in special education.  In fact, by the summer before my Senior year of high school, I had applied and been accepted to a Christian college that many of the other young people in our church had attended over the years. 

     However, the Lord had other plans for my life, and that fall, I found myself in the midst a courtship with a young man in our church who had been a good friend for several years.  My parents agreed to allow us to marry the next summer, following my 18th birthday.  So, in May of 1995, I graduated from homeschool, in July, I celebrated my 18th birthday, and in August, my husband and I were married.  Whew!  What a year! 

     During all of this, I remained within my parents home and under my father's authority until he gave me to my husband on the day of our marriage.  I never left my parents home or protection to try and "make it on my own".    I experienced some negative feedback from leaders within our church concerning my choice.  They were of the opinion that all Christian young people should attend college in order to be "polished" and "well-rounded" and to have a "complete education".  The insinuation was that I would not be all of those things if I did not further my education.  (These were people who believed whole-heartedly in homeschooling.)  What a shame that this kind of thinking can be found in the Christian church at all.

     Just as there are all kinds of methods and approaches to home education, there are many feelings about what is best once that home education is completed.  May we all remember that the Holy Spirit is the Guide of all believers and may we leave Him the room to work His will in the lives of others.

     I do not feel that I have "missed out" on anything by not attending college.  I would not change what God had planned for my life.  I love being a wife, mother, and keeper-at-home.  My kids don't care whether I have a diploma to prove I am "well-rounded".  My husband thinks I am "complete" just as I am.  And my Lord and Savior is "polishing" me everyday, a work He will finish when I am finally in Glory with Him someday.