BFS #101 - Plop, plop, Fizz, fizz

Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it. Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

My worst struggles? Where do I even begin?!? I'm the president of a local homeschool group, I'm not supposed to have struggles!! Didn't anyone tell you that? Seriously though, there have been many struggles in our homeschool adventures, but the benefits and rewards far outweigh them, so the struggles really don't matter much. God is always reminding me to depend on Him completely and when I try to take on too much myself, the weight only brings me down. My children are wonderful, I love them both dearly. They love learning so far, but there are days where we all simply want to close the books, put away the school supplies and go out and have fun! Sometimes when a concept is too difficult, it's best to wait until attention spans can last longer. When we're too tired from the stresses in life (for us it's been because my Dad is dying), it's good to sit down, watch a good movie, play a fun game, or just spend quality time being together.

I used to be the type of homeschool mom where I felt that every single problem in every single book had to be done. Oh baby, I am SO over that!!! I can remember days where I felt so bogged down with books, that I was ready to send my kids off to public school. One day several years ago, I even took my teachers book and threw it across the room and said "School's out for the day, I quit!" My son was happy, but shocked that I threw my book! (Yes, I apologized for my childish behavior, but honestly, it did feel good to throw the book!)

Now-a-days, if my children understand how to do something and do it well, we skip the rest of that section and move on. After all, how many public schools do you know go through and complete every single page in every single book they give the students on day one!?! None that I know of. We usually have a 4 day school week, with the 5th day being make up and educational extras, but sometimes other things come up. It's OK to put the books aside once in a while. This past year we had our son tested for the very first time. We were VERY nervous, but you know what? He passed with flying colors! So, either he's very smart and doesn't need school (which is highly doubtful!), or we're doing something right! Bottom line is this...teach your children how to learn so it's fun, what to learn, how to apply it in their lives, and they'll go far! Our number one priority is to keep God in the center of all we do. That makes school so much more fun!

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

BFS Assignment #100 - Oh What a Feeling!

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

I first heard of homeschooling a while back when it was not very popular. A few families in our church homeschooled their children, and although I never really thought about doing it at the time, I was always impressed with the way their children presented themselves, and how bright they were. They reached out to people of all ages and they were very much a part of their family, unlike many other kids their age. I wanted my children to be like that one day. The first time I thought seriously about homeschooling was when we were thinking of enrolling our oldest child in a local Christian school. We prayed about it, but neither my husband or I felt God's peace. One day I approached him and told him that I would like to consider homeschooling and to my surprise, he was all excited about it. We instantly felt God's peace and knew that this was what we were supposed to do. Not a day has gone by where I've regretted our decision. It's the best choice we made and we are thankful for the freedom to homeschool!!!

As for my schooling as a child...what a joke! The public school system where I lived was awful, and it was supposed to be one of the best in the area! Every class was dumbed down, so there was no real challenge. I graduated, but I quickly forgot about what I 'learned'. When I went to college, it was like running into a brick wall. Public school did not prepare me for what lie ahead, so my first year or so in college was extremely difficult for me. Fortunately I did learn how to study, and I graduated with honors. I am learning things all over again with my children though, and I'm loving every minute of it. I feel like for the first time, I'm also understanding things I never did the first time around.

What is the main goal I have for my children? I want them to love learning. I want them to feel that school can be fun, and yet is something to be valued. I want them to love reading, to explore the world around them, and to do it with a heart that is totally dependant and centered around the Lord. If they graduate with those goals met, I'll know that I did my best! In the mean time, I will continue to be on my knees in prayer for them often!

Phil. 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."