Don't Be A Chicken! 5 Reasons You CAN Homeschool
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 5:00AM
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Before you get upset with me about the title, let me remind you that I was once a CHICKEN. I spent nearly two years talking myself OUT of homeschooling.
I have heard all of the reasons why you CAN'T homeschool. I think I invented several of them.
After writing Stop Telling Me Why You Can't Homeschool, I started thinking about the subject of why people think they can't homeschool.
I am here to let you know you CAN homeschool.
I'm not telling you it will be easy, but I will tell you why you need to do it for the sake of your children.
If you are feeling led to homeschool, let me share 5 reasons why I KNOW you can!
1. You can homeschool because IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
I knew when we finally pulled my daughter out of public school that I was doing it for her own good. Strangely enough, however, I was thinking more about how it would affect ME and MY LIFE.
Would I have enough time for my own interests?
Would I be able to continue teaching piano lessons?
Would I ever have time to myself? I require a certain amount of "quiet" each day.
What would my family and friends think of me?
Me, me, me.
I was selfish, and yes, homeschooling did turn me upside down.
When we become parents this is part of the deal. We surrender to our children. We do what is best for them. We put our own selfish desires aside and parent them based on what we know is best for them.
(I have dear friends who send their kids to school, but I have NO DOUBT they are doing what they believe is best for them. I am not condemning people who have children in traditional school.)
In my case, bringing my kids home for school was best for them. That voice in my head that was becoming louder and louder with each passing day (which I believe was the Holy Spirit) could not be ignored.
You can homeschool because it's not about you. It's about your kids. It's about obeying a call.
2. You can homeschool because THERE ARE ABUNDANT RESOURCES.
There are so many sources for help, encouragement, and curriculum. Whether it is books, blogs, pre packaged curricula, or homeschool conventions, there are resources in abundance!
The biggest blessing to me was a friend at church who didn't actually call me a chicken, but instead she provided me with books to read that showed me the beauty of homeschooling and let me know it was indeed possible.
My favorite books were (and still are to this day):
Educating The Whole Hearted Child
Between other homeschooling moms, books, blogs, and your BIBLE - you will have sufficient resources.
3. You can homeschool because YOU ARE EQUIPPED.
You have been equipped with the number one ingredient of homeschool success: love for your child.
That love will make you seek just the right curriculum for them.
That love will also give you the stamina to make it through the most difficult of days.
That love makes you the best possible advocate for your child.
*Don't be a chicken!
4. You can homeschool because YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR CHILD.
I'm getting tired of hearing people complain about the awful standardized tests their children have to endure in public school.
If you don't like it what your child is going through, then CHANGE IT.
If your child isn't thriving in their current school environment, CHANGE IT.
Your child is just a child for a short amount of time. Don't spend that time complaining, feeling trapped in a system, and being beholden to a larger power.
Take the bull by the horns and educate your child yourself.
I know how scary this prospect is, but to me the alternative is much scarier.
A pastor at the church where we were married years ago told me:
"I just couldn't sacrifice my children for the ideal that is public school."
Wow. That stuck with me for a long time, and I remember repeating that statement over and over when we took Anna out of school.
You only get one shot at raising your children.
5. You can homeschool because AT ONE TIME EVERYONE DID.
That's right. It wasn't until 1918 that an elementary education was compulsory for all children in our country.
Homeschooling isn't some sort of new, crazy phenomenon. It was the NORM until the beginning of the 20th century.
Modern day Americans have just grown soft. We are a selfish group of people, putting career, personal wants, and "happiness" above our families.
Years and years ago success was measured by a strong family, a kind heart, and the ability to earn an honest day's living.
(Today success is measured by our place on the corporate ladder, the car we drive, how big our house is, or how much attention we garner in the media.)
Christian values stood at the center of our society, and children were considered to be a PART of the family, rather than an obstacle to their parents' goals.
Please. Take it from a former chicken.
You can do this.
You know it's not about you.
You have abundant resources.
You're equipped.
You know what is best for your child.
You also know that at one time everyone in our country homeschooled.
What's stopping you?
I pray that if you are sitting on the fence about homeschooling you don't waste another minute being a chicken. Don't lose the precious time I did. Take the leap. You will be so glad you did.
Reader Comments (14)
Woo hoo! You can homeschool because it's not about you. Boy that is the constant lesson isn't it? Thanks for encouraging Mary!
Thank you for putting my thoughts down in words!! Well said!! It is worth obeying the call even on the hardest days!
Thank you! Every bit of encouragement is needed and appreciated when so many can be discouraging. :)
You rock, Mary!
I love that you tell it like it is, yet you do so in a spirit of love and encouragement.
That is truly a gift of yours:)
I must say, I love your posts. Recently, my county closed down half our schools and will have to start cramming students into portables at the start of the next school year. My parents don't want to have to put my sister through that and are torn between the decision of either moving someplace else or homeschooling her. My sister has a couple learning disabilities and would definitely benefit from homeschooling. I guess the only issue is that are they ready for it? They already put two of their children through college (myself included), so it will be a big change for them. My mother has already been talking with some homeschool moms, but I'll definitely send her over this way.
Thank-you for this. It was encouraging to me. I also shared it with a couple of friends that are considering homeschooling their children.
Another great post Mary. I tried to read this in a mindset of having a child in Public School and I thought this would definitely be a catalyst to do that. But that is STILL a thought through my homeschool Mom filter. It is hard to imagine anyone who is terribly unhappy with their school system NOT homeschooling. It is such a common occurrence today. There are resources everywhere! I think it is like most things in life, the 'known' is easier to stick with. The unknown is always scary. But just like you said, 'A child is only a child for a short period of time" LOVE THIS Mary.
Amen, sister! Preach it! I think #1 is definitely #1. If I had a penny for every time a mother whined and complained about how her child wasn't doing well in school because of his, or her, ADHD but wasn't willing to accept this fact I would be a gazillionaire. Thank you for this post, I certainly will be sharing.
What a great post!
Our family has decided to take the leap and we will be homeschooling next year. I know it's the right thing to do and where God is leading us and yet I'm quite nervous about it. Your post helped to calm some of those nerves. :)
Awesome post, Mary. And I pray your words reach many mothers who are sitting on the fence. If I had to do it all again from the beginning, I'd spend much of my time reading. Not researching per se but reading certain books that promote home education as a family lifestyle, not as a glorified school room replicating much of the same activity or curriculum standards as the traditional school. Two books that are my absolute favorites (and personal guidebooks) are The Joyful Home Schooler by Mary Hood and A Biblical Home Education by Ruth Beechick. These two proved and showed how I could be successful! Of course I love Karen Andreola too! Kudos to you!
Taking the leap!! After a year and a half of talking myself out of it, I have decided that's what is best for all four of them. Thank you for your encouragement here on your wonderful blog! It's posts like this one that really opened my eyes to what was holding me back!
Modern day Americans have just grown soft. We are a selfish group of people, putting career, personal wants, and "happiness" above our families. - You have said it all! As a Brazilian transplant and now US Citizen, I see more and more Americans born here moving far and further away from the origins and values that founded this country. Sad! But then again, it's just fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
So true. We have a hard time thinking everything isn't all about us, don't we???
I am sitting on the fence between public school and homeschooling. My oldest daughter is stubborn and bull-headed (much like me) and we butt heads terribly whenever I try to teach her. This is what is holding me back from homeschooling. I don't want to fight her every day and I don't want to sacrifice our relationship. Trying to decide what to do gives me great anxiety!