This morning I overheard my boys talking...  reflecting on their experiences in public school this past year. 

Jordan said, "Public school is like being put in a box, one that is even smaller than you are.  Homeschool is like being in a box too, but its bigger than you are and you can have room to grow."

I know he was just being a child and trying to identify his feelings, but I really felt that there was some considerable insight to his statements. 

In public school the box size is often not only smaller than the child, but misshapen.  They are squeezing square pegs into round holes on a daily basis.  They are stating  theories as a facts.  They are taking away the simple joys of childhood and individuality.  They are slowing down the maturity process in some areas and speeding it up (inappropriately) in others.  They cannot give each child the one on one attention they need academically much less spiritually.  They cannot, (even in the BEST of circumstances) give a long-term investment to the child's character and development. 

Homeschool is so much more flexible.  A box can be useful...  to establish appropriate boundaries, but it needs to be big enough to embrace unique preferences, strengths and weaknesses.  It needs to have room for true, dedicated love from a FAMILY structure, not just a pseudo-family group of people who have a one or at best two year investment in your child.  Instead of  bright flourescent lights, this box is full of fresh air, warm hugs and home-cooked smells.  THIS BOX can be adjusted and decorated accordingly as the child changes instead of being a one-size doesn't quite fit all pre-approved scope and sequence that fits some of the people some of the time.

I want to give my children the box that protects them from harsh winds and harsh words, but can have the flaps flung wide open when it is time for them to spread their wings and fly.  I want to give them the box that has enough room to invite friendships in, but small enough to keep negative influences out. 

What size box fits your child?  What will it be made of?  What will it be filled with?  What color will it be painted? 

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