This is one word that I have heard entirely too often this past year.  I am gritting my teeth when I am asked lately.....here is my view on it.

This one word has been one huge debate, and the largest accusation that non-homeschoolers complain about active homeschoolers.  Since we have moved to another location far away from what we had grown quite comfortable with.....I have been asked repeatedly if I am not worried about proper socialization.....and another....why would you homeschool your children?   Sadly even my husband who discovered in our previous location before the move that homechooling was great....has now listened to everyone's constant questioning and opinion - and is now sitting on the fence....with his body leaning more towards their camp against homeschooling.  It has been a difficult place to be....alone. 

So after much reading and renewal with the help of Sally Clarkson's book on Educating the Whole Hearted Child, and a long holiday away from the rukus and noise of endless chatter....I have refound my deep beliefs for my choices and affirmed myself that this is what God's plan is for my children and for me.  I have been away from my home for almost three months, staying with a friend - and gathering support and prayers from my old homeschool support group........and now I can say here is my opinion:

Why would I want to send my children back into an institution that tells them "how" to think...it doesn't let them discover anything for themselves.  It trains them to jump when the bell rings, like lab rats....groups them into classrooms with 20 to 30 other untrained, immature students (at least those who aren't which is a larger number these days, then those who would be), and then I am to leave them with an overly tired and detached teacher.  I am not going to knock down teachers, some are very wonderful.  We were blessed with some great teachers when we started our daughter in public school when she was in her first few primary grades.  But we quickly discovered that not all teachers were wired the same.  Some teachers would be better off doing other jobs then working with other people's children.  After my daughter and son were abused by students and purposely ignored and shunned by their teachers, I realized that my chidren were suffering abuse and needed to come home.  Even teachers are capable of abuse, and when a child can't trust even their teacher to help them - then what do you have?   Nothing.  What does the child have?  A living hell full of hurt and daily pain.   I came to see that putting my children into a public school where even other parents and teachers turned a deaf ear to my children's cries for help.....and this happens everyday, in every school.  I used to work in a public school as a janitor.  I have a privledge of being in the teachers lounge and listened to them label other children heartlessly.....in another school, one geared to helping children with learning disabilities and disorders....they spoke in such a shocking fashion about some of the other children...labeling and name calling.  Is this what I am wanting for my children?  Absolutely not.  No one can convince me that any public school isn't capable of injuring a child's heart.  They might not do so intentionally, but when that deaf ear is turned away.....and the children that are recipients of pressures from other children that are enjoying inflicting pain....what is being shown then?  That their problem isn't important...or they might not have the time because how many other students are needing that time?  This is resembling massive farms....where animals are not fed by humans but machines and fed a low grade meal.  They start to show signs that the system used is failing.  I am not trying to compare children to cattle or chickens.  But schools are growing bigger, and the students are expected to cope, and are given one style of education and learning....fed one curriculum.  If anyone wants to watch a documentary that shows abit of what I am trying to say....watch "Super Size Me".....it is about food and what the population is eating mostly.  But it does show some of what school cafe's are feeling kids.  And no one needs to be reminded of those students that cracked under the pressure of trying to cope - and how they managed to deal with their anger.....school shootings.  Society is falling apart!!!!  It is time to wake up.  The idols we have in our lives must be thrown into the fire....and idols can be anything.  My family is suffering from idol worship....money and materialism.  No one is unaffected.  Those that have managed too return to the home and are strong, and happy with their godly roles - are bombared too....by the outside world.  By needing to shield their children from so much stuff. 

****In a public school setting teachers have several different learning styles and learning disabilities to try and juggle.  Their authority is always constantly challengeda.  They have little time to supervise.  Their  jobs are more complex. 

****In public school settings, children are constantly trying to be accepted by their peer groups.  Acceptance is based on popularity, appearance....intelligence isn't always appreciated anymore or abilities.  Those are in a class of their own and are often saw as uncool and geeks.  Kids want to be accepted by their peers, it is natural.  In the end you have a companion of fools, and that child suffers harm, they become like the other children.  Morals are forgotten.  I sat with a friend and her son who is 15 last winter, and he even said it is was easier to go along with it then not....and he is from a good Christian family.  Easier to go along.....not comforting to me.

It is not easy for children to grow up in society today.  They are bombarded by so much more than some of us adults ever were.  I remember when VCR's came out, and household computers!!!!  There was never DVD"s, or even video stores.  I remember when CD's came out too lol....before that it was tapes and vinyl.  We never had the internet....the information highway that flashes any sort of evil on your screen....even when innocently serfing.  The biggest problem in my elementary class was if we chewed gum, now it is designer drugs that are made to look like candy.  And in highschool, bolder kids told the teachers off, now they bring a gun to class.  Girls are getting pregnant at younger and younger ages, and more children are being raised without parents at all.  We have super foods that are being modified and grown in huge green houses, and more pollution from larger populations.  We have more creative crimes then ever before.....and being committed by younger and younger kids.  We have kids as young as 5 years old that think they are fat and want to diet.  And suicide rates keep climbing higher.  Money.  Most of this mess is brought on by the desire for more money....some is from trying to keep up with the masses of people that need to be fed and clothed today. 

Anyways...my blunderings on socialization.  My opinion is to stay at home, watch your gates, and follow God's Word....live life simply, that gives you fullest life!! 

I love my children!!! 

Blessings from acraisydaisy

I pondered on this for awhile.  Since we moved to a new community, where homeschooling seems to be like a bad word.   So I reopended Sally Clarkson's book, Educating a Child's Heart to just remind myself why I want to homeschool. 

1.  Hebrews 10:36 " God's will is not something hidden that needs to be found, it is something revealed that needs to be done."

2. Stewardship - Scripture calls me to be a good steward, my children are my most valuable possessions.

3. Obedience - I have a huge conviction to become a more godly parent.

     Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 

     Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will beable to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

4. I want to guide my children's Christian character development at home.  Rather than  have them taught by those whom I do not know, and hanging around with a group of kids that I do not know.

     Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fool's suffers harm.

     2 Timothy 2:16,17 "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more  ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 

     1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character."

     1 John 2:16,17 "Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him....The world and it's desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

5.  I am the best judge of of my children's needs.  It is my right to shield them from anything or anyone, that I feel I need to. 

     Ephesians 5:15 - 17 "Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

     Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

6.  I want my children to be family dependent, not peer dependent.  I want to win my children's hearts, so that they will value and prefer home and family above all else. 

I am not done with my reasons and I will continue to add them, as I read from Sally Clarkson's book.  Her book really helped me to grasp what I had a hard time putting into words.  If anyone is struggling with others examining your children and homeschool....and keep asking alot of questions - then maybe this book can help you as well.  Plus maybe joining the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which is what I am considering doing this year.  For I feel that my life has been under enough examination. 

Blessings from acraisydaisy

I started over with a new blog, and new look and a new name.  I used to be called the Weed Patch.  But I decided that it didn't fit right....I felt that I had a complaining spirit....a weed that I had to pull up and replant.  I sat here and tried and tried to think of a new title for my blog, and it came to me.  My way or Yehweh.  I am always struggling it seems.  Am I trying to do everything my way or God's way?  I felt it wasn't God's way.  And that was the reason for my struggles.  It is time to give over, not give up.  Start fresh and begin anew. 

I would like to first ask those who find my blog to please pray for me and my family. We have had a very difficult year.  I have been away from home for almost three months now, taking a deep breath and trying to clear my mind.  It is so easy to let the noise of life through the gates and the front door of the home and family.  What a mess it is too when it happens.  Always there is distruction if your gates are built to withstand assalt, and your house built on a firm foundation.  My marriage has been under a huge attack, and my children and I have been battered by the storms.  My husband has been blinded by temptations and confusion.  Temptations of wanting to own it all, and placing us in a financial disaster.  It has been very heart rendering.  As I am under alot of fire by others to quit homeschooling and return to work.  But work for me is my children.  I have no grand career that I quit to teach my children...I can only find a job that is minimum wage.   I have agreed to work, but nights only.  I can't toss my poor children back into the public ring....it makes me think of the Chrisitans that were sent into the Roman Colosseum.  I have such wild imagination  lol.  Yet it is not far off the mark.  Bullying in schools is like gangrene..it spreads like a terrible disease.  We have been there in the past already with our two older children...so I am not willing to sacrifice my children again.  The first time was enough to last a life time. 

blessings from acraisydaisy