I am one of those mothers that said they would never homeschool. After all, we moved to Nevada County whose schools were rated #2 in the state from Oakland where the school ranking was hard to find. We actually congratulated ourselves for such foresight into our children’s education. And, after all, my husband and I were both public school educated and we turned out alright – right?
So my first two children started going to public school. By the time my daughter was in 3rd grade and my son in 1st, they both had IEP’s through the school for the extra “help” that they needed in math and reading respectfully. But we figured that they were in the right place to get the “help” they needed – right?
The trouble started after an extraordinary visit to the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky in June of 2008 where we heard about how evolution is the only origin option discussed in the public school and creation is banished. The Holy Spirit had started to niggle at the back of my brain. My husband started teasing me about “when you start homeschooling...” Not making fun of homeschoolers but knowing that I was not cut out to be a homeschool mom. See, I have a lot of shortcomings such as a lack of patience and with 4 kids (soon to be 5) there just wasn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. I honestly didn’t know how homeschoolers did it. Plus I really liked the time I had in the morning while the baby slept and the kids were at school. What would I do without that? The fact was that I was a very hands-off kind of mom. Since I had the younger kids at home, I was unable to help out in the classroom and because the younger siblings weren’t allowed on field trips, I was unable to be a driver for those. So I would get the standard answer when I picked up the kids and asked how their day went – “Fine.” “What did you learn today?” I would ask. “I don’t remember,” was the usual answer. Although it bothered me that I wasn’t more involved, I thought that I would eventually be able to be more hands on once all the kids were in school – right?
Then the 2008 election came up and Proposition 8 – remember that one? I remember telling my husband that if Prop 8 was shot down, our kids were coming out of public school the next day. He wholeheartedly agreed with me. What a relief when it passed – by the slightest of margins perhaps, but still passed. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later when I realized that this thing wasn’t over. We may have won the battle but the war was still raging. And since I was pregnant at the time, I knew I had at least another 18 years ahead of fighting for my rights as a parent. But what was I going to do? Homeschool??
Now we are huge advocates of Answers in Genesis. Remember we had gone to the Creation Museum the summer before? And we were receiving the magazine and free newsletter that they send out when we saw that Ken Ham would be speaking in Modesto the first weekend of February 2009. Well, we had to go! The speaking engagement was a Sunday – Monday with a special kids session on Monday morning. But my kids were in public school. It didn’t take us long to decide that they would just have to miss that day of public school for what we considered an education in truth.
The Wednesday before we were to go, I decided to watch an AIG DVD “Dinosaurs, Genesis and the Gospel” to get my kids excited about going to see Mr. Ham. After the DVD I started talking to my children about what evolution was when my then 3rd grade daughter says, “I know all about evolution Mommy. We learned that in school.” What?! I thought I had oodles of time to prepare them for that! But no, evolution permeates every aspect of school. Even a story that they use for reading comprehension may be filled with the lie of evolution.
After my children had gone to bed I decided to watch a bonus feature on the same DVD called, “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World.” My husband was working late that night so why not? I was Convicted with a capital C! The Lord brought me to my knees and I remember sobbing and asking Him for guidance. The answer was simple… homeschool. I just kept thinking “My husband will never let me do this. He is such an advocate for our kids being salt and light in the school system.” I knew that the Holy Spirit was capable of anything and that He would be the only way my dear husband would consent to homeschool. So I prayed for my husband’s conviction….
Finally two days later, I was able to share the same bonus feature with my husband. I remember I could barely breathe during it. At the end, I could see that it had really affected my husband especially when Mr. Ham explains that even though we are to be salt and light to the world, it is our responsibility as parents to fill our children with salt. And if that salt should lose it’s flavor, it is good for nothing (Matthew 5:13).
After the DVD, my husband looked at me and said, “But you said you could never homeschool.” I did, didn’t I? I honestly looked at him and stated, “I also said that if the Lord did want me to homeschool that He would have to give me the grace to do so.” I am a firm believer that the Lord does not call the equipped but equips those He calls. We had our answer. Isn’t the Lord awesome? Only He can convict and change hearts and in our case, He convicted both of us within 48 hours of one another. Praise Him!
After our “conversion” the Lord continued to confirm in our hearts that homeschooling was the right decision. I know we would start laughing every time He brought irrefutable evidence that we had made the right choice. One of those times was just a couple of weeks later at a school meeting. Since I was due to give birth in a month, we decided to let the kids finish out the school year in public school. (A decision that I would change if I could go back – if you are considering pulling your kids out now or waiting – I encourage you to just pull them out!) So I am sitting in one of the infamous IEP meetings and the teachers and “specialists” are asking me about my daughter, her strengths and weaknesses, and in essence, what would be the best way to teach her. That’s when it hit me! I almost started laughing and crying right there. I know my child the best and I know the best way to teach her!
So, here we are into our 2nd year homeschooling and loving it! My children are so happy and I am finally a hands-on mom. Homeschooling has made me a better mother to my children and a better wife to my husband. The Lord has granted me patience and guidance which has spilled over to every aspect of my life. He has blessed us as a tighter knit family as we learn and discover together. Yes, there have been times where I have felt like giving up when the obstacles seem too hard. But it has been so worth the marathon.
Our most recent hurdle was with our 3 year old son who was diagnosed with an Austism Spectrum Disorder. Up until his 3rd birthday he received services from the Infant Program in our county which was a tremendous blessing to our family. After age 3, he was to be turned over to the school district and an IEP would be designed for him (remember IEP’s make me break out in hives). I went to the transition meeting knowing what would happen and sure enough, their recommendation was to put him in a special preschool class 3 days a week for 3 hours a day. Since we homeschool, I would not be able to be with him those 9 hours and once again I would be that hands-off mom. I actually considered the preschool and tried to see how it would work for our family. That’s when my dear husband finally stepped in and put his foot down. Once again, I was being told that I did not know what was best for my child and that the “specialists” would get him “right.” What I didn’t take into consideration was that they know nothing about homeschooling or the advantages associated with that. Also, I didn’t give the Lord credit that He could and would once again equip me for the task ahead.
The Lord God commands us to raise up our children in the way they should go. And to protect that which has been given to us. We are responsible for our children, not the government, the specialists or even the church. One day I will stand before my God and Maker and answer for the stewardship of my children. Do I want to say to Him it was too hard or that I didn’t have enough faith to trust in Him? No. What I want to hear is “well done, good and faithful servant…”
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