Every child is different—uniquely created and has a God-given purpose. As parents, we are given the gift and responsibility of leading and guiding our children and that includes choices in education. Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
I was never homeschooled. Neither was my husbnad. There was a brief time in high school that I begged my mom to homeschool me when the influences and negativity of the world seemed to be so strong. Our family seemed to move around a lot due to my father’s job and family situation. I attribute my ability to adapt in many different life, cultural, and relational situations partly to this. My mom’s approach to education for my sisters and I was to look at the individual child each year to decide on what would be best. She didn’t feel “locked in” to one option and I felt she was attentive to our needs as developing people. I mainly went to public school except for 7th grade. In 3rd grade alone, I went to three different schools—two due to family moves and one because the small Christian school wasn’t a good fit. Throughout my elementary, middle, and high school life I went to about 12 different schools. I attended a Christian university and have enjoyed the paths of family and career God has taken me on.
We have four children. All are adopted. Our older two twins were adopted domestically and the two youngest were adopted from China. My two oldest (they are now 26 years old and married) attended the Christian school I taught at from grades 3 through 12. We were all there together and sometimes saw each other throughout the day. A highlight for me was when they were in my 5th grade language arts and history classes. Both attended a Christian university—one with a degree in digital design and the other in social work.
My two youngest—ages 13 and 14—have taken a different path. My daughter also attended the Christian school I taught at from pre-school to grade 2 and my son, who is blind, attended the local public school because they had services to assist him in vision and mobility. The Christian school said they didn’t have the resources to support my son’s needs. Then, in 2020, Covid came and my husband and I reevaluated everything, including schooling for our children.
Covid brought everyone home, including my two sons who were in college at the time. We had a full house (which I always love) and my husband and I decided that educating our children is something we were capable of doing and wanted to do. We liked having the extended time as a family. We liked not rushing in the mornings. We enjoyed more meals together. We loved the opportunities throughout the days to point out God moments, instruct them according to God’s ways, laugh together, build stronger bonds and relationships as they go through elementary and middle school, and keep open lines of communication.
One of the struggles of homeschooling can be finding friends—we have joined local co-ops/groups for homeschoolers for enrichment activities, and I have also created field trips, events, and enrichment classes for homeschoolers to create community.
Some things I’ve learned:
Homeschooling is possible. There are resources available to help at all stages of homeschooling—both online and in person. People are resources also—look for those around you who are homeschooling well—this can be a source of encouragement and also a treasure trove of information. In some cases, like in our family, there may be special needs to consider. For my son, we have found an amazing local teacher who is trained in teaching Braile and mobility services that comes to our home weekly.
Homeschooling is biblical. We are shepherding our children’s hearts to guide them in understanding themselves and God.
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be perfect (we have learned as we go and adjust as needed). How you choose to homeschool your children can look completely different from anyone else—it doesn’t have to be the same, because every child is unique and there are opportunities for new lessons all around.
Homeschooling allows us to guide our children in their giftings. As homeschool parents, we can often spend more time and devote more resources in helping our children to develop in specific areas. My son loves music and in the last three years he has taken lessons in drums, violin, and piano. My daughter is a voracious reader, and she has spent extended time not only reading, but writing short stories.
Homeschooling has brought new adventures. We have been able to travel and explore the world around us more often as we are not constrained to the calendar of a brick-and-mortar school. Even day trips are possible. It has been fun to think outside of the box. One favorite memory is accompanying my husband on a work trip which happened to be on a two-week cruise exploring the Western and Eastern Caribbean—we loved stopping at each port and experiencing the next new country comparing how it differed from the last, appreciating the unique music, landscape, and architecture, and interacting with the people in that culture.
Homeschooling allows our children to explore what they love and also to try new things that may push their own limits. Last week, we visited a rock-climbing gym with some other homeschool families. My own son who cannot see, kept pushing himself to climb higher, even though he was scared and unsure. He felt a sense of accomplishment and confidence and at the same time the other children and parents found joy in standing, looking up, and loudly cheering on my son.
Finding a community is essential. You can’t and shouldn’t be a lone wolf—we are part of the body—our children are also part of the body and play a role in kingdom life and work.
Our children are capable of doing amazing things. 1 Timothy 4:12 implores the young person to not let anyone look down on them because of their youth, “but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
And we, as parents, are here to lead and guide them and to celebrate with them as they continue to grow, follow Christ, and explore who God has made them to be.
Homeschooling is a privilege. To have the time and insight to lead and shepherd our children’s hearts is invaluable. May we steward this responsibility well.
