June 22, 2022 – Home Is a Wonderful Place: The “Why” of Homeschooling

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

God Created You for This Purpose!

Hey Mama,

I don’t know about you, but I can always use friends who help me bear the weight of homeschooling and mothering, and sometimes those friends are all that are keeping me in an upright position.

Just stopping by to remind you to pray tonight. Not that I’d expect you to forget; after all, you are very faithful to your great God and Savior. But as you drift off to sleep, set your sights on the throne room. The Lord has called you to this important mission called “your children.” He gave them to you for just a short time, and I know you appreciate the gift—of course you do! Whether you just started homeschooling or are several years into it, you know that home is the best place for your children. It’s where they belong. It’s where you can start the school day with a family devotional and end it learning about measurement or chemistry by making cookies. It’s where you can teach them the way they need to be taught. You know their gifts and struggles better than anyone. That’s why you do it.

These articles from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine are a good reminder of that:

The Freedom of Home Education and How It Has Benefited My Life by Mercy Wuehler
Why Homeschool? A Conversation with a Young Mom by Joy Goreman
Remind Me Again: Why Are We Homeschooling? by Dr. Heather Allen

While we know homeschooling is best, we also grow weary at times. But do you want to know what’s really encouraging about that? The Lord understands. “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust” (Psalm 103:14).

In other words, He is not some far off entity just watching us, waiting for us to fail (again). No, His yoke is easy, and He loves you and me even more tenderly than we love our own children. He’s very familiar with our frailties. He is mindful and cares deeply when we stumble, AND He emphasizes with how we feel when we shuffle around and lose our balance. Mama, that should comfort you! Call out to Him, “Lord, don’t forget my frame,” when you are struggling. Or even better, “Thank You, oh Lord, that You DO know my frame; help me to remember this truth!”

Lean on Him. He’s got this. He’s got YOU, because you study His word, and you strive to follow Him. You pick up your cross daily and cling to Him alone. Forsaking the world, you seek the things from above, loving your neighbor as yourself, turning away from what is evil, and loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Jesus Christ is your LORD and SAVIOR. And in all honesty, He sees what’s going on before you even call out to Him because His hand is already resting lovingly on your head (just like you cradle your child’s head when he/she needs you). The Lord won’t let go. Not ever. If you are His, He is yours.

Just know this: He doesn’t ever forget your fragile side, your humanity. He knows very well that you are flesh, blood, and bone; He custom-made you for your joy and His glory. And He walks right beside you, lockstep, as you follow Him—your eyes in the Word, your mind deep in prayer.

So get up tomorrow and walk again, recognizing that your heart belongs to Him and that you are LOVED DEEPLY. You are pouring LIFE into these children and doing a good job! Your Father has fashioned your very frame for walking this road, and you’re going to make it, Mama. He’s fashioned those hard-headed kids of yours, too. Stop looking at today and all its troubles, and “fast forward” yourself to ten, twenty years from now. A new day is coming. “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her . . .” (Proverbs 31:28).

His mercies are new every morning. Today, keep walking faithfully. Tonight, drift off to sleep with your thoughts on the One who loves you. Peace and much love to you from your friends at The Old Schoolhouse®.

-gena

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Stacy Farrell

HomeschoolAdventure.com

Exercise Your Influence

Have you ever been asked why you homeschool?

Here are a few thoughts on why the decision to homeschool has a significant impact for all of us . . .

Preparing for Life

Homeschooling allows us to prepare our children for the challenges they encounter beyond the walls of our homes.

There’s a meme we share on our Facebook page from time to time. It says: “Homeschool: Preparing for life, not a test.”

Unlike public school, home education gives us the freedom and flexibility to esteem things like morals and manners as highly as math and matter.

Teaching Beyond Textbooks

The public education system kicked God out of their schools long ago. As a result, the Standard of Truth was replaced with standardized testing.

That standardized testing is designed to produce “book smart” kids who learn how to memorize facts . . . but not how to evaluate the truth value of those facts.

At home, we can teach our children to think critically from a Biblical worldview and contrast secular ideas against the sacred Word of God.

What About Socialization

We homeschool because “we’ve seen the village and don’t want it raising our children.”

Ironically, “socialization” is why many would-be homeschoolers keep their kids in public school.

Some parents fear social awkwardness—not realizing the definition of “socialization” is little more than conformity to the world.

But we want our children actually socialized, not artificially programmed to be peer dependent.

Raising Critical Thinkers

Almost seventy years ago, world-renowned logician, Bertrand Russell, accurately predicted the state of today’s education system: “Education should aim at destroying free will, so that, after pupils have left school, they shall be incapable, throughout the rest of their lives, of thinking or acting otherwise than as their schoolmasters would have wished.”

Russell recognized the influence of the home as obstructive to the goal of creating a malleable society.

We homeschool because we choose to exercise our influence to raise critical thinkers who can discern and defend truth—and respond appropriately.

Thank you for homeschooling. You’re investing in our future.

His love,
Stacy

P.S. Equip your students to write skillfully, think critically, and speak clearly as they explore the history of ideas—from a Biblical worldview—with Philosophy Adventure.

About the author

Surprised by Jesus, Stacy went from an unmarried, childless, 30-something career woman to a Christ-following wife of more than twenty-eight years with two sons she homeschooled K-12. She battled fear and overwhelm, but survived and thrived. Author of more than ten books—including the award-winning Philosophy Adventure—she loves to equip and encourage homeschool families. Visit her at HomeschoolAdventure.com

Dan Beasley

Pillar of Future
Dan Beasley – Summer: The Season of Liberty

Summer is finally here. For many homeschooling families, June ushers in a more relaxed schedule and extra time for play that unleashes the amazing imagination within each child. For others, summer is a continuation of a flexible learning experience that has been feeding each child’s hunger to learn and zest for life.

Either way, summer screams liberty. Children are free from more rigid schedules. They are free to explore, to imagine, to flourish.

Over the last couple months, I’ve written about the importance of actively securing liberty for the next generation, and how every parent can contribute. A common refrain from the 1800s, attributed to Thomas Jefferson (among others), is that “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

But it’s important to reflect on the why in addition to the how when seeking to preserve liberty with vigilance. And what better time than the summer season to reflect on the blessings of liberty?

So, ask yourself, why? Why is the liberty to homeschool important to you? How does this liberty help equip your child to thrive? Then thank God for the liberty to feed your children’s love for learning and empower them to flourish.

About the author

As an HSLDA staff attorney, Dan assists individual homeschooling families and advocates for homeschool freedom in the courts, legislature, and court of public opinion. Dan is also a homeschool graduate and homeschooling dad of four.

For many of us, the reason for homeschooling lies with being on a journey together with our family. For this reason, we can plan learning for the entire family. At SchoolhouseTeachers.com, there are Family Electives and unit studies for family learning that can be easily worked into your homeschool schedule. Check them out today and find something fun for the whole family!