When I had my first child nearly 16 years ago, in the back of my mind, I dreamed of one day traveling the country with him and any future children that I would have and homeschooling them on the road. Taking advantage of each and every opportunity that presented itself. As my children grew and it became closer to the time for them to enter school, I knew that would never be a reality for our family. That didn’t stop my husband and I from allowing the kids to experience the world around us in the form of trips to the zoo, COSI, walks at local nature centers, etc. We did what we could, when we could and in the back of our minds dreamt of how it could be.
As the kids grew, we became busier and busier and one day I woke up and realized that I didn’t like the direction that our homeschool was taking. The kids were enrolled in several classes outside the home, tennis, art, phys.ed. as well as several co-ops, geography, Ohio history and science. None of them were really working the best, and that's also when I began to think that I needed ‘me time’ and would get that if I got a job and went to work. So now, I felt guilty because I loved my job, but also had to step up to the plate as super mom because I wasn’t always home with my children and husband. I had to overcompensate by planning more field trips, more volunteer outings, more, more, more. I was beginning to see attitudes in myself and my children that I really didn’t like. I already knew what I had to change, but instead of listening, I began praying about our situation and hoping for a different solution. It wasn’t long before the Lord answered me and of course I already knew the answer, I really needed to cut out all of the activities that I was a part of. All of them Lord? Really? Surely you must mean that I can cut out tennis and art and phys.ed., but to drop all the co-ops? And field trips? And the volunteering is good for the kids…. Well, God was patient with me, but each time I heard my children utter something that I felt was contrary to the values I wanted to impart in them, or each time I snapped at the kids, because I was preparing for another co-op class at the last minute, I heard that voice in my head telling me to let go…
It was at that time that something unheard of happened. My husband’s job slowed down (that’s not the unheard of; he’s in construction so that is a pretty much given every winter), but we were offered the chance to go to Virginia Beach to work for a few months. Never before had I dreamed that we would be able to travel with my husband’s current contractor job! We packed up, and headed out. I made a few phone calls and was able to get out of our many obligations graciously, but certainly not happily. I had no idea when I took my job, how the Lord would use it. My job actually allowed for us to stay together as a family. For the past year, I’d been working as a front desk representative at a great hotel, just for the perks of traveling discounts, and the opportunity to take my kids to the pool whenever I wanted. The travel discounts allowed us to rent rooms right on the beach for as little as $25 per night, all I had to do was continue to work when we were back in town. If we’d had to pay full price, we’d never have been able to afford to go, but the Lord knew what we’d needed long before we did. There was just one catch. We were only allowed to stay at each hotel for 7 days and then we had to move to another one. So each Sunday that we are on the road, became our ‘moving day’. Some weekends we would drive home to check on our house and visit family and friends. We were in Virginia for quite some time, off and on. While we were there, the kids and I went on a ton of field trips and outings and I think it was one of our best school years ever.
At home, we’d often spread out and do our own thing but in the small space of the hotel room, we were forced to see each other through the good and the bad. As parents, my husband and I had to deal with the tough attitudes and character issues that were taking root in our children. It was not easy as I realized it wasn’t only my children that needed to be dealt with, I saw much ugliness in myself. I’m ashamed to say that in the beginning, I didn’t necessarily think about our journey as wonderful, we missed home, family and friends. Sometimes the pressure of constant contact was too much for me and I’d lock myself in the one spot I could find quiet and solitude, the bathroom and the tears would flow. It took me awhile to be grateful for what we’d gained. Though the first months were extremely difficult, it was a time of healing for our family, a time to draw closer to the Lord and now, looking back, one of the best times in our lives. I’m so thankful that the Lord allowed us to be eased into this lifestyle, step by step and that we have learned to trust Him fully as He continues to lead us on this adventure.
© 2009 Tonya Prater/Live the Adventure