Trust Yourself

Did you catch that? Homeschooling is scary, but we can do it. I’m here, after pushing through and graduating three of our four kids, to tell you: you can do it.

You are educated enough.

You are patient enough.

You will still love each other, during and after homeschooling.

You can do it.

not sure if you can homeschool your kids? you’re not alone.

Still can’t trust yourself?

Educate with your heart and with your God-given gifts, passions and talents. The highest of priorities should be making beautiful memories. Obtaining enough credits for high school is no issue, it’s easy, don’t let that worry you. Trust yourself.

we need to say to ourselves what we ask the children to say: i can

We simply have to say what we ask the children to say: I can.

19th century educator Charlotte Mason said we should teach the children, “I am. I can. I ought. I will.”

Let it begin with us.

Homeschooling is full of choices that are unique to your family. Usually there are many misconceptions about homeschooling. The reality is, it doesn’t have to be hard; it doesn’t take much time; you don’t need to be knowledgeable to teach it (you learn alongside them); and the kids won’t be isolated unless you choose to move to the wilderness. Even then: are they isolated? From what?

It is not about what we can do, but about what we will do.

It is not about what you can or cannot do. It is about what you choose to do.

One of my reasons for homeschooling is that I don’t think sitting in a classroom full of same-age kids with one adult is real life. We want our kids to experience real life, so we go on multi-subject field trips with other homeschoolers who vary in age from newborn to adults, spend time with all ages, spend time with family, and study different occupations. Our field trips are on varied subjects.

For example, I wrote this a few years ago in my homeschooling journal.

Next month, we have lined up: a science lab at the local museum, a ferry ride over Mobile Bay to the Sea Lab to learn about sea life, a visit to the local history museum, a visit to a cheese-making farm, a 4-H sponsored trip to several other farms, an opera for our eldest to attend, our family trip to Sea World, and Nana’s knee surgery – I’ll take the kids over and teach them about her knee and how they did the operation (they “performed” an online knee surgery yesterday)

We must choose at some point whether or not to follow our hearts (and souls)

When I found out I could school this way, the way my heart wants to – there were times I’d get teary and excited at the same time. You must at some point choose whether or not to follow your heart.

Choosing to follow your heart is (for believers such as myself) going with the assumption that it’s really true that the Holy Spirit is there to guide us and with the assumption that it’s really true that God knew what He was doing when He combined us together as a family.

And if you’re a believer: trust God. Trust that He knew what He was doing when He gave these children to you.

Who am I to doubt that? I can do it. I can successfully homeschool this child.

And so can you.