Thursday, February 17, 2011

Relieved to not be homeschooling

After 6 years of homeschooling, I must admit, that it was hard to turn another direction.  I loved having the say in what happened with my kids, what they learned, who was able to be an influence on them.  However in the last year or two before I gave it up, I started having second thoughts.  My kids were not testing well.  I know that isn't everything, but it does show some things.  My kids might not be learning everything they need to know to succeed in this world.  They were only able to learn as much as I learned myself.  I consider myself educated enough to be able to teach my kids to do standard education.  After all, I got all A's through high school and most of college...  However, the niggling little thoughts wouldn't go away.  I'd hear about things my nieces and nephews or other kids were doing and it would sit heavy in the back of my head.  I was uncomfortable.  One of my daughters was draining me.  We spent our day doing the main subjects and ceased to be able to do any extras.  I couldn't do the fun stuff with my little ones to make their school fun either.  We were too far to take on sports or music, and the kids didn't have any friends.

Turn around one year later and my kids are in a private school.  They each are learning an instrument.  My youngest daughter has taken off with her reading by leaps and bounds.  The older girls are doing math that I started doing in high school in fifth and seventh grade.  They each have a sport they participate in.  The friends category is still on the short end, but overall I am relieved.  I feel good about what they are learning.  I know they are in a good place with good people who pray for them and desire for them to succeed.  The pressure is off my shoulders to do it all.  God is showing me that even though my kids aren't with me 100 % of the time, they are still with Him that long.

I know that our economy is not good.  There are many who think the end of the world as we know it is near.  I don't know what has brought them to that conclusion, but it makes me uncomfortable to hear it and to know that we just got ourselves into the biggest debt of our lives with the purchase of this house.  I think I'm in a good field.  I felt like the Lord told me that He did not want me to give up my license.  He even did a little miracle to ensure that that didn't happen January 2010.  This job was His leading, and I hope the house is part of His plan too.  At any rate, I hope that even if the world falls apart, my job will stand secure and so will the kids' school situation, or something as good.  I know that if my job falls through, God will continue to ever sustain us as our heavenly Father. Heck, if worse comes to worst, I've got six years of homeschooling experience, and I even know a little more now what school looks like in a good system, so I could emulate it a little better if I had to...

5 comments:

Letitia said...

Hey Carol,
You asked about our girls group. We try not to include the younger siblings during this time. It gives moms and the older girls a short break. Sometimes a younger one may come along if there is a sitter issue or something, but for the most part this is a time for moms and their preteen/teen girls. That's such an important age with so many changes in their bodies and lives. It does them good to have this time. We had a group like this when my older girls were teens and it has wonderful memories for them.

Congratulations on your new home. I know the Lord will provide as you seek Him. There's always someone saying that life as we know it is coming to an end. Maybe it will, but as you said, God will take care of it.

If you do ever decide to start homeschooling again, for whatever reason, search for Chris Davis and Identity Directed Homeschooling. He also has books out. Also, Dr. Mary Hood and her books. I have a link to both of their blogs on mine. Very few of us can mimic any school system and be sane. : )

Anonymous said...

It's great to hear you following the Lord's lead in your life. I pray everything continues to go well for you and your family. And that the house will continue to be a blessing to you. :)

JoAnn

Jennifer Hoots said...

It's wonderful how the LORD has brought you to just the right place. No one is ever certain how long they will homeschool and I know those doubts and fears all too well. As for the economy, it is in God's hands as well. I think the medical profession is pretty solid. We all need health care.
Blessings to you!
Jenn

morningstar said...

With the Lord in the lead you have done such a fabulous job! And I am with Jenn all the way...we need people like you in the medical field!

Katia said...

This was a very encouraging post, Carol. Very thankful for what the Lord has done and is doing in your life. there is something so humbling when we can see the Lord at work and He doesn't fit into the mold of our thinking. Your family is at the heart of His will at this moment in your lives. Baruch Hashem!!!
(((hugs))