We learned a LOT from homeschooling. It has brought our family closer, it has allowed us to deal with our health issues from a more controlled environments, and it has allowed us to have complete oversight of our children day to day.
Homeschooling has taught me lots of things.
1) Greatly improved planning and organizing.
The first couple years, we did "preschool" fun, and nothing too intense. This last year teaching 2nd grade down to preschool made me learn quickly the need for planned out, and organized papers. Also, I learned how to meal plan MUCH better (after the fourth night of Little Ceasers Pizza), and it also helped me to establish a firm budget (to help from all those shiny new curriculum and toys!).
2) Learned to be flexible.
I am OCD, and struggle a lot with not following the lesson plan, or not getting it all done that day! With homeschooling it helped me to learn the balance of what did my child need that day. There were days we all needed a fun trip out of the house, and there were days we were needed to buckle down and get our work done. Some days, were just to help mommy clean and reorganize so she didn't go crazy over clutter! As a family we learned to balance what we needed without overdoing it.
3) Explore and learn to love learning.
I have never been a big fan of classrooms and testing. As a homeschool mom it helped me to see things from a new perspective and how to engage my children to LOVE learning!! Even if it was a "boring" story or a hard math problem, we found many creative ways to make it fun!! Museums the kids thought might be boring, we would find the stories and adventure behind it. Over the last couple years, my children learned to take the most mundane thing and turn it into an exciting adventure.
4) Keep the focus on God
For me this has been the most eye opening part of homeschooling. Before I would do devotions, and learn at church, but as a homeschool mom I have had to learn DAILY the intense need for God's guidance and grace in my life. On day 579348234 of being home with small children, it can be overwhelming, on the days my husband was too sick to function, it can be a lot, and on the days my illness shut me down, I learned very quickly just HOW much I needed God's grace. Homeschooling allowed me the time to dig in, study, pray, and learn just how much I depend daily on God and his Word for encouragement. Friends are good, but will sometimes fail. Family is helpful, but not always there. Everything else around us can fail, crush, and overwhelm us, but God is always there. I am forever thankful at the chance to step out of the "real world" for a few years and learn the importance of daily and personal close walk with God to help me deal with the many trials we have had to learn.
Though ALL of this, it also has helped when life needs to change. It is easy to make an excuse to say our health is bad, our friends are upset, and our kids need us home 24/7, but when God opens up an opportunity to serve him and creates the grace and opportunity to do it, then DO IT! I cannot always see how things will work, and I definitely do not know how things will turn out, but I do know that God opens the doors, and allows the grace to get me through.
Our family made a choice to step out on faith and change up how we are schooling our family this year, and so far God has FULLY provided the money we invested, the questions we had, and the help we needed. Do I still have worries some days?? Definitely!! But, I also know this is a new opportunity to step out on pure faith that God will provide and take care of our family like he always has. Through thick and thin, sickness and health, God has a plan and he knows much better than we do how to get through it.
It's hard to let go of the "planner" part of me, and the OCD need to have a 100% outlook on every area, but it's another new lesson on trusting God and following him in faith.
Are there still concerns some days? Yes! Are there still hard days? Yes! Are there still days I doubt the choices I"m making? Yes! The point is, not to worry about what "I can do", but give it to God, and trust the next step. It's not easy, but it's what is needed!
I am forever thankful for the opportunity we have had in our homeschool journey, and cannot wait to see where the next step takes us!
here's a few "flashbacks" of a few fun days! (from the many hundreds to choose from)
