So I'm heading on over to the Crunchy Mama blog because I want to write about healthy mom stuff. I just finished up lesson planning and realized that we are getting close to the end of the year. It is our 4th official year homeschooling even though my oldest is completing 2nd grade. Silly me, I bought and implemented a strict pre-k curriculum because I thought that without one my child would never get into a university one day. Ever since, I have been sold on the way of life homeschooling creates for us. A friend of mine recently blogged about her reason for homeschooling and it was a fabulous read(head on over to Love, Bridget to read) . I want to share mine.
I believe that the Lord wants me to homeschool them. The Lord has asked me and my husband, deep in our hearts, to train them up to know Him. And He would water that seed so that they would one day love Him. I'm sure there are Christian parents who are able to raise their children up in Christ while the little ones attend school. I know a few. But, Chris and I need them for the bulk of the day in order to do that. While we are no longer under the law, I still like to do things that my Lord finds pleasing and has said is best... like raising our family up in Him. What does training my child up in the way he should go look like? Well, I don't have a formula, but it has to include being with them. That's how Christ teaches and reveals Himself.
I have a hard enough time keeping them from coveting the world when we walk through a store that has toys in it. Like most kids, mine covet. By spending most of their time at home, I can instill in them a sense of contentment with what we have. Again, that is not something I could do for about an hour each night(where does an hour a night come from? well, after dinner time, television, and homework, I figure I would have about an hour of real, quality time with them). I would think that it would be so much harder if they knew that not all kids wear second hand clothes.
I am sheltering them and proud to do so. There will be day when they will take part in the world's typical popularity contest, or best looking contest(like, in dating), but they will be homeschool graduates at this point. We plan to carry out God's plan for our family through high school. When it comes time for them to be a part of the world's system, they will have had 18 years of rock solid Christ laid as a foundation. The will have gotten to explore what they found interesting in "school" and therefore have confidence that what they do is important. John Gatto(New York's teacher of the year in 1991 and 1992, he was a NY teacher for 31 years) once explained what he taught in his class room.
"I teach children not to care too much about anything, even though they want to make it appear that they do. How I do this is subtle. I do it by demanding that they become totally involved in my lessons, jumping up ad down in their seats with anticipation, competing with each other vigorously for my attention. But when the bell rings I insist that they drop what they are doing and move on to the next station. They must turn on and off like a light switch. Years of bells will condition all but the strongest to a world that can no longer offer important work to do" Yeah, I remember that.
Too often today adults are discontent with what they are doing(remember my blog about wanting to go back to school even though I am living out my dream of being a homemaker) and we aren't passionate about anything. The Lord gave us everything on this earth and we get to learn about and discover and enjoy it! My heart would be broken if my kid chose playing a video game(or any other habit he would pick up if in school all week) over discovering the world. Being at home I can allow him all day to work on building a great city with his legos(future architect?) or creating the perfect coat of arms that reflects his values. They can read good books and not snippets of twaddle. And they can read for as long as they want and not be told that "reading time is over." They are kids- reading time should never be over. I want them to learn so they can discover things, not because a teacher told them to.
I know some amazing teachers. They are genuine and good hearted people who love the Lord. But I know that there are teachers in the schools that do not love the Lord and I would not want them training my children up all day. One comment could sow a seed of doubt into a fragile young mind. I want my boys to grow up to treat women like gold. They will respect them, honor them, and protect their virtue. I don't need them learning about sex in third grade like I did. I need them learning about the value Christ places on other humans, not how to violate them. I would also have problem with teaching children that they are special "just because." Even as a kid I knew that was garbage. I am not saying that I am going to do a wonderful job parenting my kids, I can only present Christ to them. And I believe that is all I'm asked to do,
I am going to have to end this post quickly as I need to attend to the kiddies. Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Jackie
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