This is the second half of an interview between Steve Walden, writer for The Old Schoolhouse, and Scott Somerville, counsel for HSLDA and conference speaker.
TOS: You're also a seasoned blogger. Being a lawyer and a dad are both demanding roles, why do you make time to blog? What do you get out of it?
Scott: I love reading and writing, so blogging is a break from the other things I do. Blogging is an evangelistic outlet--I get to share my faith in my pajamas! I try have a good solid quiet time before I start posting things, but I enjoy it so much I'll get up early to get time for it.
TOS: Why is it so enjoyable? What are other parents missing by not blogging?
Scott: I love the banter and debate of blogging. There's an online community, and somebody is bound to share your interests. If your kids are blogging, you simply HAVE to read what they write. It's the next best thing to being psychic! These kids share so much in cyberspace, you don't dare not pay attention.
TOS: Aren't you worried about cyber-stalkers and other negative influences on them, or even on you?
Scott: Yes, I am. That's one of the reasons I like www.homeschoolblogger.com so much. It has a lot of controls that let me limit who gets to comment on the blog. I can set it so that only "friends" can comment, or I can turn off coments altogether. It's much easier to control than some of the more notorious sites like MySpace. As for "negative influences," I think I can handle them as long as I'm aware of them. It's a risk, but there are real rewards. My children have led two of their online friends to Christ, over the years--I hope to see the day when pagan parents are scared to let their children go online for fear they'll get saved.
TOS: Has blogging helped you improve as a homeschooling parent?
Scott: I don't know if they've helped me "improve," but they've added to my joy as a parent in significant ways.
TOS: How?
Scott: One of my young adult children is working through some major issues, and I get my latest updates via blog. Two of my kids in college are so busy that it's hard for me to keep track of them--but both their blogs are funny and fairly current.
TOS: Okay, next topic
I've heard you speak at a conference to homeschool dads in talks called Principles For Principals, and What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Homeschooling. One of the key points you make is for dads to include homeschool magazines in their "sacred" reading rack in the bathroom. Why should guys read about homeschooling?
Scott: One reason homeschool dads should read about homeschooling is to save money. So many moms are working SO hard to provide everything their children need, and yet they still feel insecure. The common tendency is to try to solve that problem through shopping: they subconsciously think, "If only I had the perfect curriculum, I would feel better about what I'm doing." A little leadership from Dad will do a better job of addressing those insecurities--and it's a whole lot cheaper than "curriculum buying disorder"!
The bigger reason is that homeschooling is a revolutionary act. Homeschoolers are turning the world upside down! From what I read in the Bible, however, God wants men to lead the charge, not sit on the sidelines. Reading is one small step towards leading.
TOS: So reading about homeschooling will actually save them time and money and give them ideas for getting involved in leading their homeschools. Isn't it enough for guys to just provide the money to buy the curricula? Why is leading so critical?
Scott: Homeschooling makes it possible for a busy American man to fulfill his God-given role as a husband and a father. So many Christian wives get this, at a deep level--they are trying to help their husbands be the man God wants them to be. They want their husbands to be heroes, not couch potatoes. If we dads were instinctively good at leading, all this would be easy--but most of us aren't. That's why we need to LEARN to lead.
TOS: Besides reading, what are some other ways dads can learn to lead?
Scott: You can always ask your wife, pastor, or close friends. Most of them know your specific weaknesses all too well--and would be willing to help you grow if you can humble yourself enough to ask for it.
TOS: You mentioned that wives are trying to help their husbands be what God wants them to be. What are some good ways and not-so-good ways you see women doing this?
Scott: Proverbs 14:1 says the wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. I have seen too many women tear down their husbands with their mouths, however. like the idea of having a woman "write out a check" for her husband's leadership services. If she wants $100 worth of leadership, and only gets $16 worth in a given week, I think she'll get better results by thanking him for the $16 he did right (with a CLEAR UNDERSTANDING that she was hoping for $100) than she will be nagging him about the $84 he didn't do.
TOS: Why not just tell your husband what you need straight out? Isn't that what he wants?
Scott: If your husband's like me, that might backfire. I'm so quick to take offense where none's intended! It might be wiser to say, "I want God's best for you and I'm trying to figure out what I can do to be the helper who is just right for you. I want our kids to think of you as the hero of this home. Can you tell me ways that I can do a better job of building you up as a leader?"
TOS: Great ideas, Scott. Thanks for the interview.
TOS Items of Interest
Jul. 24, 2006
Posted by Christine Field 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
