Homeschooling

This is my 16th year of homeschooling my children.  Its a journey I will never forget.  As a Mom, is a humbling, character building, faith building, prayer strengthening, roller coaster of a life.  Its been frustrating as well ~ why do some children struggle with a math concept that has to be repeated over and over again for weeks then turn around and be able to quote all the movies or shows an actor has appeared in?  How can a school book get lost at home...between the kitchen and the bookcase?  How do we get all done everyday (we don't!)  Why does everyone and their brother want to offer their 2 cents on what we do and how we do it and why we do it?  Why do people think that just because your child struggles in an area ~ its because they homeschool and aren't in real school?

So here are some of the reasons we homeschool & continue to do so...year after year after year........

*Its what works best for our family and for our children.
*It strengthens our family bonds and enhances our relationships with each other.
*We can slow down in some areas that need extra attention and speed up in other areas that they've mastered.
*We are in charge of our time and our days,  not the government.
*We can work on character issues ~ diligence, honesty, accountability, peacefulness, helping others, not being self-centered
*We have the time as a family to minister to others ~ whether cooking the Wed. night meal at church, to buying food for the food pantry at church
*We can "vacation" and travel whenever we want to.
*We, as the parents, can focus on our children and pray for the Lords leading and his Will for their lives.
*We have fun together, whether swimming, planting a garden, harvesting vegetables, shopping for shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, playing games, caring for pets, putting puzzles together, making homemade bread & cookies ~ if my children were gone all day, they would miss most of this or we would have to cram it into a couple of hours at night.
*We can form close relationships with other homeschooling, Christian families.
*We don't have to worry about what our children are being taught, exposed to, or see in school ~ we know!
*We don't have to worry about school violence...we are in charge.
*We live, work, eat, cook, play, pray, and enjoy our time together.
*We genuinely enjoy being with our children ~ some parents don't.  Its sad to send your children off to school for the whole day because you don't want to be around them &/or can't control them.  Thats a personal "heart" issue for the families.
*We want the control of their education.  Its mandated in the Bible.  No where in the Bible does it tell parents to send their children away every day for their education.

I know there is no perfect form of education.  But I do believe that homeschooling is the best.  There is no one in the world who loves our children more than we do, who wants the best for every area of their lives, and who will give up countless hours to see it accomplished. 

Proverbs 2:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your hear, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear the Lord and depart from evil, It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.

Proverbs 24: 3-4
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established: By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.