The Start of our Homeschool Journey…
I am a homeschooling mom. And boy, has this been a journey. If you are a homeschooling parent you will know what I’m talking about. If you aren’t a homeschool parent, but have children, you will still be able to relate—as all parenting ventures have similarities. When we lived in Iowa, our oldest two attended a private daycare/preschool on a part-time basis. We always tried to have them at daycare on a minimal basis, and my husband and I worked out our schedules to make sure we could maximize our children’s time at home. We did this for several years while we finished seminary until we moved to Louisiana. This worked well for us for that season, but I longed to be able to keep my children at home full-time for many reasons.
When we moved to Louisiana, I was pregnant with number three. At this point, with three at home below kindergarten age, it just wasn’t financially viable for us to send all of them to childcare full-time so that I could work outside of the home to support us while we were church planting–especially with public preschool being tuition based in our school district. And honestly, my heart wasn’t for that either. I was, however, able to continue to work part-time from home as an adjunct professor. I love this position. And I am so thankful to be able to work this way (don’t get me wrong, working from home has its own ups and downs but that is for another time). After figuring up childcare costs, my husband and I realized I was taking home as much or more by working part-time from home than I would if I worked outside the home and paid for childcare. So, the start of our homeschool journey commenced.
It was officially our oldest’s pre-k year and we were off to homeschool! That first year, I wrestled with doubts, not necessarily about my abilities, but about whether I was going to cover the “right things,” teach to the “standards,” and make sure my child didn’t “miss out.” What curriculum was the right one? What was the budget we would set for this? Of course it had to be minimal on a church planting and part-time work-at-home mom budget. What supplemental activities would we do? Would our children be properly “socialized?” This seems to be the biggest concern brought up about homeschooling.
Any parenting decision brings up tough questions. I would like to say that this journey has been smooth sailing, but it has had its bumps and bruises. We have had to re-evaluate various things—curriculums and schedules; homeschooling while pregnant, with newborns, and with toddlers; moving; space for school; and I will admit all life changes have impacted our homeschool life in some way. But I have learned to roll with what life throws at me. Sometimes it takes me longer to adjust than others, but we adapt none-the-less.
To know me is to know that I am very scheduled, I like routine, and this is something that has been a growth point for me. Having children requires flexibility and adaptation. That skill transfers to working at home, and church planting. And this is a skill that I have to work at, as it does not come naturally for me. Maybe you are the type that loves change and can readjust on a whim. But that is not me. My oldest also likes routine, dislikes change, and gets this naturally. At one point he cried when we rearranged furniture because the change was just too much to handle. Heaven forbid the T.V. viewing angle should change! But these things are important to little ones, and I can empathize with change being overwhelming. Life can be overwhelming. Homeschooling can be overwhelming. But when I get back to what matters most, when I lean on God, and appreciate my family, I am able to get through it.
All of this is to say that God has been shaping me not only as a homeschool mom but also as a person through this roll. I am learning patience, adaptation, spiritual maturity, relearning the English language with phonics and grammar, and much more. What parenting ventures have taught you something about yourself? Drop an answer in the comments!
