Jan. 28, 2008 - Reevaluation
Last night my husband once again voiced his concerns about our doing the right thing in homeschooling our children. He feels they might learn more respect, responsibility and eat better (by example of other children) if they went to public school.
My eyes bugged out of my head and I couldn't help but begin to laugh. The very idea of learning respect and responsibility at a public school is absurd. And by the way, isn't that OUR job anyhow?
I didn't mean to laugh, it did seem to bother him a bit. We've been through this before, and I feel I'm fighting tooth and nail for my heart's desire, to raise my children at home in the admonition of the Lord, training their impressionable minds to serve the Lord and be respectful, away from negative influences until their minds are fully formed to handle such intrusions.
I don't lock my kids up in the attic. REPEAT. I am not a homebody, and neither are my children. At such an age as they are presently, though, the best place for them to be is by my side, and freedoms come as the days go by. I don't want to give up the best years of my child's life to a government institution. I had kids to be with them and love them, raising them to be responsible, moral adults.
Do I always attain my goal, are they always perfect and loving and responsible? No. They're children, and they aren't adults yet. They are in the process, and I'm overjoyed for them to be by my side learning these things instead of some strange atheistic institution with its godless population, poisoning the thoughts of MY children.
Sounds like I'm passionate a bit?
I remember what I did in high school, and it what's more shocking is what my classmates were doing. Respectful? No, swearing at teachers. Responsible? Kids pregnant right and left and drugs on campus. Eating right? Um, we had vending machines and milkshakes available to us, as well as off-campus passes to go to whichever fast food restaurant our little hearts desired. I remember (shock!!) bringing vodka one day in a 7-up bottle in tenth grade just to see if I could get away with it.
Heaven help us. I am thankfully no longer that person, but the lessons I've learned stay with me. I will not give my precious children up to the current heartbeat of public schools.
I suggested to my husband that if he really feels we need changes to be made, that we have a weekend away with no interruptions, and really see what we want our goal to be for them, and work our way backwards on how to attain it. Hopefully we'll get to do that soon.
I know his fear is based on his upbringing, having only been able to attend school until 6th grade in a foreign country, and then getting a job, and leaving home at the tender age of 14 to make his own way. Now working a blue collar job, he wants so much more, the opportunity, for his kids. He is also not very informed about homeschooling except through me, and I would like to get my hands on some simple resources with statistics and encouragement and goals for the home educating family of today. As English is his second language, he is not always able to sit down and read complicated material and understand it.
I need to improve where I can, though, to allay his fears and apprehensions I will do anything I can to show him what I know our kids can become with God's direction through this endeavor.
Comments
Jan. 28, 2008 - Ohhhhh!!!!!!
Posted by tierat
I had never thought of his aprehension to homeschooling as being from his backround. I can see how this would be scary for him. Wow! I will pray for you both as you try to do what is best for your family. I know the desire you have to homeschool and I know the reasons. I pray this would be just a bump in the continuous process of raising a family. We love you all.
Jan. 29, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MarlaMom
I'll pray for your family. I believe it's ultimately the decision of the husband, but I know that the Lord is able to change his heart.
