Home's Cool But So Is School

Early in my adult life here in NC, I met a family who homeschooled their children and went on to have six kiddos. SIX! I couldn't believe it...it seemed like so many, long before the days of 19 Kids and Counting. They were the coolest people too, totally in love with Jesus, and totally normal, at least in my opinion. They still homeschool numbers 2 through 6, while their oldest has graduated Homeschool High and moved away to university.

Unfortunately, I said it out loud then. I could never, would never, would never even WANT to, homeschool. Oh my word, it's SO not me....

Does anyone else have a list of things they said they'd never do that they are currently doing???

A few years ago, I felt drawn to find out more about how homeschool works. I asked questions, and some of my friends even invited me in to look through their supplies and walk through their school day. Strangely, I found myself writing things like this in my journal: "I can't believe I'm thinking about this again; what is wrong with me??? I'm thinking I might homeschool, and I'm totally scared!"

I comforted my fears by only committing to one year, kindergarten. Surely I couldn't screw up my child with just kindergarten, right? After our little experiment, he would go to school and be just fine. :)

We loved doing school at home that year, and Jace excelled far beyond kindergarten, so we just moved on to 1st grade curriculum early. We added in extra library books, field trips, park dates, and community sports. We even took part in a weekly homeschool coop, so all my kids had lots of interaction with other kids and extensive opportunities to explore the world around them.

Things went so well, we did it again this year, for Jace's 1st grade and Ryder's kindergarten, even though they are both working ahead in many subjects. We have enjoyed the flexibility homeschool has given us, the extra time together for our family, being able to simplify and slow down life a bit, and all the interactions with friends, homeschooling or not. As for end of year testing, we (he) just blew that out of the water, so I can truly breathe easy.

So thus far, I am thrilled about homeschool, and while we plan to take it one year at a time, right now, I hope to go at least a few more years just like this.

But you know what I hate about homeschooling? I HATE the condemnation and judgment. Really, it comes from all sides. I've heard many generalizations made about homeschoolers, the stereotypes and put downs. And I've heard homeschoolers make comments that sounded like God kicked them in the rear and made them realize they needed to make THE right choice. As if there's only one right choice. For all.

I hate the condemnation and judgment on both sides, but if you think about it, this happens with more subjects than we could count, doesn't it? Because at the heart of us all, we are prone to judge others to make ourselves feel better. And any way you look at it, anytime we do that, we are wrong, wrong, wrong. When we realize we do that, no matter which side of the issue we land on, we can call our own selves out. We can stop the judgments, stop looking down on anyone who chooses a different path, stop assuming we know their intentions, stop.

If you ever ask me a question about homeschool, I might answer excitedly and overflow with reviews and suggestions and encouragement that you totally could do it, even if it's SO not you. You might hear from me all sorts of reasons you *might* just love homeschool. Because we do.

But please do not assume I look down on you if you choose a different route. I do not feel I've chosen the righteous way. I do not believe public schools are horrible or that we are above them. I will not be waiting for God to kick you in the rear for a spiritual awakening that must include homeschooling.

The beauty in all this is, there are several good choices you can pick from. Each educational path will have ups and downs, pros and cons, so choose the one you believe will be best for your family at this time. I know only my own experience, that of homeschooling my kids and going through private schools myself. Oh, and one little public school incident where I went to pick up my neighbor's sick child, and the office staff had lost her. But it was all a big misunderstanding, and she eventually crawled out of the cabinet she was hiding in.

That really happened, but I promise I did not decide then and there that public schools swallow poor, innocent, sick children whole. At least not for more than a couple of years, and that was long before my first child popped out of me. That was when I still believed I would never, could never homeschool.

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall...the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
Romans 14:12-13, 17-19, NLT