Guest article by Ellen of Grace Tells Another Story.
When my daughter was born almost ten years ago, I had everything all planned out. Isn’t that the point I should have remembered the saying “We Plan. God Laughs.”?
Probably. But I had either never heard it before or just wasn’t paying attention.
Yep. I knew exactly which direction my life was headed. I had her preschool picked out, and had a few private schools for elementary education selected. We would have a nanny until she was ready to attend school all day, and I would continue my successful career. I wanted a part in the “bringing home the bacon” scenario. At that stage in the game, I had never considered any other options.
The nanny part? That happened….until she was two. Preschool? That too. And August of her Kindergarten year, we were enrolled in the private school that I felt she would probably attend until she graduated. Except for that little voice somewhere inside me that told me it wasn’t quite going to play out the way I thought it would.
See, God had already been working on my heart in regards to homeschooling my girl. He had started this a couple of years before, but I just kept brushing it aside. The problem with that is that when I did that, the only thing that I was accomplishing was the fact that the next time I thought about it, He was even more insistent than before.
Every. single. time.
We know how God is when He wants us to listen to Him. Some how, some way, He will get our attention. A week into Kindergarten, for several reasons, we agreed as a family that it was time for this journey to end, and to embark on a new adventure together. And we’ve never once looked back!
Why would we? Homeschooling totally rocks!! And here’s my “Top Five” list of reasons why we love it!
1. We march to the beat of our own drum.
In more ways than one. We start school when we want to each day. Field trip on a Wednesday all day? Sure! Extended vacation in February during the week? Absolutely! And being self employed, we can take advantage of this flexible schedule even more so. Our time is our own, and we love it!
2. “Slow and steady” or “Fast and furious”… our choice.
Academically speaking, we are free to go at any speed necessary. If she needs more time on a skill, no problem! Got it down? Move on. Done.
3. Watching your child grow… the true joy of parenting.
I can’t imagine losing the number of hours of my daughter’s life that a school week would have her in the care of another adult. Those are precious, valuable moments that I would miss. I much prefer it this way.
4. Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Disciplining our daughter is our responsibility as parents. By having her home with us, we have much more time to share God’s Word with her, and talk about his plan for her life.
5. Socialization… but not for the reasons you think I mean.
I get asked about this one quite often. I honestly and truly feel that the ability to spend time with friends whenever and wherever we choose, without constraints of “no talking” and “follow the leader”, gives children more opportunity to really connect with others…young, old and in the middle. A true representation of our society, not just a room full of kiddos their own age.
Ellen is a homeschooling mom to one sweet young girl. If you ask her about homeschooling, one of the first things she will tell you is that it is the “coolest thing I’ve ever done!” Next she’ll let you know that the whole thing was God’s idea, and she just had to pay attention to His calling on their life. She is married to an overwhelmingly supportive man who adores his family. You can find her in her corner of the web blogging away at Grace Tells Another Story, sharing her passion for homeschooling and Jesus, and sharing her thoughts the curriculum she and her daughter review!
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Oh goodness! I can so relate to your opening paragraph! Funny I just linked to my post on Titus 2 Tuesday (Becoming a Proverbs 31 Wife) that said almost the same thing. lol!!! I thought I had my life all planned out, but God had other plans and boy did I run from it for awhile. For me, it has been a growing process. I’m also a homeschooler, but I never dreamed I would be doing this when I was about to embark on adulthood. 🙂 I love your reasons. I so agree with them, especially the freedom to go at your own schedule and giving our children Godly instruction.
Blessings,
Lynn
I hear yah! We plan & God laughs…yep, I can totally relate 🙂
I am now homeschooling my brood of five, and having loads of new adventures each & everyday, Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough