Ahhh! Another one of those assumptions that has me laughing hysterically.
On some days I’d be glad to get ANY teaching done! And on the other days? I wish they would all go to school! Yes, even the baby!
Someone told me that she had never ever entertained thoughts of sending her children off to school. Ah!! Wouldn’t that be nice to be able to say that? But I can’t. I wouldn’t be honest if I did.
There have been many, many, many times I have entertained that thought, only to be held back by the reminder of what God has called us to do.
Does it mean we’ll never banish send them off to school? Well, never say never! Who knows what the future brings. I don’t know where and how far this homeschooling journey will take us. Do we send them off in secondary school? Junior College? University? I don’t know. All I know is that until God speaks, we’ll keep on homeschooling.
In case anyone thinks homeschooling is just a total pain in the you-know-where, I must say upfront, it is not. But, like everything else in life, there are the highs and the lows. Some days are just great and it is just so rewarding to watch your children catch a concept, solve complicated problems and learn to read, among the many things they are learning at home. I wouldn’t exchange it for anything! But on those other days, it is a miracle no one gets murdered!
Teaching one’s own children is always a challenge but I can’t deny the fact that it is a wonderful exercise God uses to mould us and them IF we would let Him.
In my case, it is my perfectionist tendencies that often results in clashes with the children. And daily, I wrestle with myself on this. I have certain expectations of the children and unfortunately, some of them are just not realistic. So I have learnt that in order for homeschooling to work the way God wants it to work, I have to lower my unrealistic expectations, chill out and listen to God.
Whenever that happens, homeschooling is pleasant. Everyone is happy. And everyone learns! But the moment I start putting the pressure on – either on them or on myself – I can feel the dynamics changing and tension rising in the home.
With the addition of baby #6 into the family last year, I have had to pare down our homeschooling to the very basics. There are many things I would like to do with them but can’t due to the circumstances. And so I don’t do them.
Do I feel guilty? Yes. But I take it and leave it at the cross. I tell God – “You have led us to walk this path. You have to make it work. All the gaps that are there, Lord, You have to fill it up.” And it has become less stressful. And now with baby #7 coming next year, our school will be even more relaxed!
Bearing in mind that our oldest child will be taking the PSLE the year after and I have many eyes watching, I get somewhat tensed and worried, as theoretically (like all other parents in Singapore), I should be preparing him for it next year but can’t. Again, I can only go back to the Lord and lean on Him.
Is it easy? Nope. Relinquishing control is always not easy, especially for me. But as dh likes to remind me – when we obey God’s call, we have to walk God’s way. And I remember the words of Jahaziel as King Jehoshaphat was preparing to do battle with Judah’s enemies:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…” 2 Chronicles 20:17
I should not need to worry. I just need to position myself and God will do everything for me. So even as homeschooling at our home is not perfect, I know that I, and my children, are being perfected day by day into His likeness as we choose to walk His way.
May this encourage you as you homeschool.
Check out the rest of the other myths HERE.