Homeschooling: Here's the Scoop

It took me a long time to finally decide to homeschool.  Back in about 2006, I spent a whole year reading everything I could get my hands on about day-in-a-life stories, homeschooling approaches, learning styles, various curricula, and on and on.  That was a year of intense analysis, not to mention the years leading up to that year, during which I thought about it from time to time, talked to my close friends who homeschooled, etc., etc.  So it was hardly a spur-of-the-moment decision. 

When I was doing all that research, I remember wishing that I could read the story of a family for whom homeschooling didn't work, and why not.  I didn't find any of those.  Maybe now we are one of those families?  Not really, which is, in a way, why it was a hard decision.

I love homeschooling, and I hope I'm not done with it yet.  I felt called to homeschool, I really do believe that it's been God's will for our family, and I know for sure that our past two years together have enriched each of our lives beyond measure.  Of course, there's a lot more to it than the academics; it's a whole way of life, of being "family-centered" and working together to make our home--well, a home.  To me it's a big deal to spend all those prime waking hours together, and not to just see the kids quickly as they dump out their backpacks before rushing off to soccer, then quickly again as I hurry them off to bed.  I wouldn't trade our year of all being together when MPD was born and Grandma moved up from Texas; I can't begin to imagine how much all the kids must have learned--in their hearts, not just their brains--from all that stuff we did together.

I remember thinking, a year or so ago, that I couldn't imagine anyone not being called to homeschool; I honestly thought that to choose otherwise would be, for me anyway, choosing not to give my family my best efforts.  But you know what?   Now, really and truly, I'm sure that I am being called to not homeschool. 

Believe me, I tried not to like the kids' school; I just couldn't help it.  The school is hardly perfect--it's good, not perfect--but God has given me such peace about this decision that I'm just sure it is right for each of us, in so many ways.  Each of the kids is thriving so much, in the ways they each specifically need to.  WWD is working hard, with deadlines and specific expectations that he can't negotiate away, and he's building his organizational skills more than he could at home.  MRD is getting the order, and structure, and variety, and the social butterfly garden that she needs.  KLD's tantrums and tummy aches have gone away, and now that she's not constantly comparing herself to her quite-a-bit-older siblings, she's feeling pretty good.  I think JPD will love going to school with the big kids next year--two days of school per week will be just right for him.  And I don't think it will be a bad thing at all for MPD to have his mommy all to himself for a bit of time next year.

Speaking of "mommy," here's the thing:  I am being called to Do Less.  Less, less, less.  Peace.  Order.  Quiet.  Margin.  Focus.  You know--less.  It is totally against my nature--I always do way too much--but I suspect that that's part of the point.  Perhaps God is doing that pruning thing, so I can bear more fruit? :) (John 15:1-8)

It's been hard for me to reconcile in my head that homeschooling was right last year, and not homeschooling is right for now, but I think that is exactly what's going on.  Things are just sort of unfolding, and my challenge is to discern the path, and stay on it.  It's like we're on this roller-coaster adventure, and I have no idea what God has planned for us next.  But it's all good, and I can't wait to see what happens next.