As a homeschooling mom, I’ve embarked on a unique and rewarding journey with my children, one that allows me to tailor their education to their individual needs and interests. Homeschooling is more than just an educational choice for us; it’s a lifestyle that fosters a love of learning, strengthens our family bonds, and integrates our faith into daily lessons. In this blog, I’ll share our experiences, challenges, and the joys we encounter along the way. Join me as we explore the enriching world of homeschooling and discover how it can transform your family’s life too.
Embracing Education, Family Bonds, and Faith in Our Daily Life
For us, homeschooling started shortly after the pandemic shutdowns. As a mother of two children with special learning needs, I had considered homeschooling many times before. However, the fear of not being good enough or not knowing how always held me back. Both of my kids had IEPs and were in speech therapy in public school. Every time God whispered the idea of homeschooling in my ear, I came up with a thousand reasons why I couldn’t do it. Then the world had a different idea! The pandemic hit, and suddenly we were all homeschooling our kids.
Toward the end of the shutdowns, when it became clear that schools would reopen, other parents were ecstatic. I, on the other hand, felt sad, anxious, and filled with dread. I realized I didn’t want my kids to go back to public school. It wasn’t a fear of COVID-19; rather, the pandemic had awakened something in my heart and soul. I felt called to embrace full-time motherhood, to be at home with my children as their teacher, mentor, and counselor.
It took another year to get my husband fully on board. When our children did go back to school, we noticed increased bullying and how the secular curriculum didn’t align with our family values and vision for their futures. This solidified our decision to homeschool, creating a nurturing, faith-based environment tailored to their unique needs.
Embracing Flexibility and Joy in Year-Round Homeschooling
As public schools wrap up for the year, I’ve been reflecting on how our homeschooling life compares to our friends who don’t homeschool. Thankfully, we’re not seen as “weird” or “strange” anymore, as homeschooling has become more popular in recent years. Unlike public schools, we don’t follow a strict schedule or semesters; we continue learning all year.
That might sound like a downside, but our kids are much happier this way. They get plenty of interaction with other kids through co-ops and other homeschool families in our area. Their structured schoolwork takes only 1 to 2 hours each morning, allowing them to explore their interests and hobbies individually. Best of all, we are always deeply involved in our children’s lives and education. We fit homeschooling around our lives, not the other way around. This flexibility means we travel more and enjoy frequent educational outings, enriching our children’s learning experiences.
Discovering New Passions and Skills
Our oldest son has taken an interest in woodworking, even building himself a new bedframe. It may not be fancy, but his pride in the finished product was priceless. Our youngest is captivated by reptiles. Both of them love fishing and have developed an interest in cooking. Our younger son Richard also raises rabbits and chickens, and we have a family garden. These are activities we never had the time or opportunity for when I worked outside the home and they were at school for 8-10 hours a day. Homeschooling has allowed us to explore these passions and skills together, enriching our family life in ways we never imagined.
The Transformative Journey of Homeschooling
Homeschooling has truly transformed our family’s life in ways we never anticipated. It has provided the opportunity for my children to pursue their unique passions and for us to grow closer as a family. Our journey hasn’t always been easy, but the rewards have been immeasurable. We’ve created a nurturing environment that aligns with our faith and values, and we’ve embraced the flexibility to learn and explore at our own pace. As we continue on this path, I hope to inspire and support other families considering homeschooling. Together, we can create enriching, faith-filled educational experiences that nurture our children’s minds and their hearts and spirits. Join me in celebrating the joys and challenges of homeschooling, and discover how this journey can also transform your family’s life.
Resources for Homeschooling Families
There are numerous online resources available to support homeschooling families. Here are some valuable ones:
- Khan Academy – Offers free, high-quality courses in a variety of subjects, from math and science to history and art.
- Outschool – Provides live online classes for kids aged 3-18 on a wide range of topics, taught by independent teachers.
- Time4Learning – An online curriculum that covers all core subjects, offering interactive lessons and activities.
- ABCmouse – Designed for younger children (ages 2-8), it offers a comprehensive early learning curriculum.
- The Homeschool Mom – Offers planning resources, curriculum reviews, and advice for homeschooling families.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool – A free, comprehensive homeschool curriculum covering a variety of subjects.
- HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) – Provides legal support and resources for homeschooling families.
- IXL Learning – An adaptive learning platform that offers practice in math, language arts, science, and social studies.
- Prodigy – A math-based adventure game that makes learning math fun and engaging for kids.
- ReadWriteThink – Offers free resources in reading and language arts for K-12 students.
- Discovery Education – Provides digital textbooks and multimedia resources in science, math, and social studies.
- Scholastic Learn at Home – Offers free daily courses for kids, covering various subjects with fun and engaging activities.
- Supercharged Science – Provides online science courses and experiments for K-12 students.
These resources can help tailor your homeschooling experience to meet your children’s unique learning needs and interests.
Discover more from A Grace Filled Life
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
