When this title popped into my head, I thought oh boy, I may be stepping into a hornet’s nest. Not because I don’t feel qualified to discuss this topic, but primarily because, even in the age of coronavirus, many parents still have a difficult time with the idea of educating their own children. For some the response is visceral. Almost, as if teaching their own children is an imposition.

To be fair, I had a very similar thought pattern at the beginning of my parenting journey. Honestly, it took a series of unfortunate events for the me to have my “Yureka” moment too. But once I did, I haven’t looked back once and thought, I regret that I decided to take on the responsibility of educating my own children. Don’t get me wrong, this journey hasn’t been a fairytale, it has had it’s ups and downs; in fact when I removed my daughter from public education after first grade, she had some established patterns that had to be broken down and cast away. And that was only after two years. Dare, I leave out that I worked full time (remotely) when we began this journey four years ago; so some out of the box thinking had to be employed to ensure that she received all of her instruction. Even with all that I have had to balance, had I allowed her to remain in that environment, I shudder to think what she would be like at this point. Fortunately, I was aware enough by the time my son was supposed to start that I never bothered to enroll him.

If you are on the fence and are still grappling with the idea of educating your children, let me give you a few key points to consider. First and most importantly, it is your responsibility and obligation to ensure the moral well being of your children. Period. In fact, in Deuteronomy 6:7, it states that you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. And I believe it was the Orator, Frederick Douglass, who stated that “it is easier to build strong children, than repair broken men.” So, I ask you, who is doing the building and teaching of your children when they are away from you, their parents for greater than six hours daily? Strangers, people you know absolutely nothing about that you have handed your children over to shape and mold for the better part of each day.

Then there is the question of what are they actually teaching your children in the classroom. Let’s take California for example, their Board of Education thought it made sense to begin to teach sex education to children as young as five years old! You can read about it here. https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/08/california-sexual-education/ Then there is this, teachers in Tennessee want parents to sign a waiver that they will not eavesdrop on their children’s online lessons. What exactly do they plan to discuss with those children that parents should not be privy too? https://www.fox13news.com/news/tennessee-mom-says-parents-asked-to-sign-ridiculous-waiver-they-will-not-eavesdrop-on-kids-online-lessons

Friends, no matter how nervous or scary you think it is to educate your children, let me assure you of this, no one and I mean no one is going to pour into your children the way that you will. Release the idea of recreating “school” in your home. Homeschooling, simply put, is life with education mixed in and children learn best when they feel safe and valued. Tailor your lessons to their learning styles and pour in lots of love and you will be successful. I mean you could even travel the world with your children if that is feasible. Learning is an adventure, that should be approached with wonder. To learn more about what your state requires to homeschool, please check with the Homeschool Legal Defense Association for details https://hslda.org.

Finally, let me dispel the myth that homeschooled children are anti social. Homeschooled children are quite social. They attend church, play sports, participate in homeschool groups and play instruments as well as many other extracurricular activities. There is literally no shortage on what is available for homeschooled children to participate in. How much or how little they do is determined by your family’s availability and interests. Homeschooling your children is gift that will be carried with your children well in their adulthood.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:8

Blessings!

AngelaChristine