Jan. 3, 2008 - Why are we homeschooling???

It has been nearly 5 years since our first child has been born.  In that 5 years, I have been learning a lot about homeschooling.  And a lot about home management.  I am not the neatest person.  I am not the most organized.  And I do'tn do multiple stressful tasks well, so i have been learning to handle the stress in a away that is honorable.  I dotn' do thatwell.  at the beginning of the 5 years-actually, at the beginning of our marriage 6years ago, i knew why we were homeschooling.  And in the first couple years of marriage, I gathered as muc information as i could to get a good grip and understanding on why we homeschool.  i thought the main reason we were homeshcooling was because it is our responsibility as parents-our God given responsibilit to teach them, not any other institution.  i htought we were to raise them to be Godly citizens.  i also believe that there is much fault within the structured school method--especially within the public school setting.  Anyway, I felt so strongly and still feel so strongly about our reason for homeschooling, but my husband has thrown at me "i dont' know why you plan on homeschoolng.  you can't even keep the house in order."  i do'tn understand the statement. i don't understand how it relates to our reason and vision of homeschooling or raising our children.  Is he saying i am a failure already at homeschooling because I have failed to keep the house clean and organized?  One other thing, I was NEVER homeschooled.  The reason I searched to understand it so hard was because i wasn't homeschooled.  I w1as in the "public school only" camp for the longest time!  He was homeschooled his whole life.  It stings.  I have felt alone.  I have felt condemned and discouraged adn defeated.   I hear about wonderful women who pray together, who encourage one another in homeschooling and keep one another reminded about the vision and reason for homeschooling.  I so wish I had that.  So, right now, I am really asking that question again, "why are we homeschooling?" or "are we homeschooling?" 

I guess we get bogged down by all the rough things that are happening-all the things we are constantly working to be better at-that never seem to get better.  when there are so many things, it is hard to see the progress-no matter how great or small.  My dining room, the catch all room, the biggest room in the house, has been significantly decluttered.  Not without help, but it has been done.  In teh past couple of weeks, i have gone through and gotten rid of much STUFF!  Much of the house has been taken over by clothes-no kidding-we have been nearly consumed by teh clothes monster :).  i went through our bedroom and decluttered it.  My husband cleaned out the closet and i was able to put a few bins of yarn and material-and keepsakes in there.  So, at the end of the day, i had about 6 bags of clothes (gasp) for goodwill.  2 bags to put away-(that is size 0-4t boys and girls adn some of ours) and 1 basket of dirty clothes, 1 basket for my husband to go through.  that is NOT BAD!!!  I kept very little.  It felt so good to get it  clean.  It as so bad after he cleared teh closet.  It is embarassing, but i have found that facing it has been a great motivation for changing.  I WANT to be organized and clean-and neat.  I am finding out how much clutter takes over one's life.  So, that is progress.  major progress.  the only thing i can aspire for in the year to come is mroe progress-mre ground won in the battle to be organized! 

well, i better end this now.  The kids really need my attention. thanks for reading.

h :)