It’s time that I write it. That post that I’ve wanted to write for at least a year now. It reminds me of when I wrote this one or even this one.
As the school year gets closer and closer for many, I know that some parent out there is scrolling through Facebook groups, online forums, blogs and online searches looking for confirmation or even validation about their choice to homeschool. You’re scared. You’re dubious.
What will your mom say? What will your friends say? Will people think that you’re now “that” mom? It doesn’t matter what they think or say because your decision to homeschool only has to do with your children, your family and you.
It started when she was maybe around a year old.
First let me say, you could have never convinced me that I would be a homeschooling mom. Actually once, before I came into the the revelation that homeschooling was the best choice for our family, a friend asked me if I would ever consider it.
I blurted out, “Me? Homeschool? No way!”. You would have thought that she was called me out of my name. In my naiveté, every thought of homeschooling families always conjured up images of Little House on the Prairie in my mind.
Anyway, back to my daughter…ever since I was pregnant I realized that timing was extremely important to her. She was due in February but broke into the world in December. It was clear that we would need to adjust.
(Read about how I coped with being hospital bed rest for 2 months)
From crawling to walking. From walking to talking… we were just going to have to wait until she was ready. Fast forward to preschool and she was doing “great”, her preschool teacher told me. Feeling excited I began to ask specific questions about the kinds of things my princess was saying and doing when she wasn’t at home.
That’s when I found out that when there are several students in a class, a teacher’s idea of “doing great” could be that your child doesn’t have any disciplinary issues. Maybe she does not throw things or hit others with goldfish crackers at the back of the head. I decided right then and there that I had to do more.
I knew that this was the beginning of something bigger.
Years before kindergarten, we started scouting schools and talking to friends about their school choices. I realized quickly that nothing ever seemed to fit. In a traditional classroom, it seemed more like the goal was to have every child fit into a square peg even if your child was more like an octagon.
Meanwhile as a Christian family, it was important to instill the morals and values in our children that we deemed important.
As an entrepreneurial family, the idea of a cookie cutter approach to education without embracing one’s strengths, weaknesses and interests was just not cutting it.
As a traveling family, no teacher was going to convince me that missing a few days cramped behind a a desk was going to be better than exploring the classroom waiting right outside the door.
Children are not going to be children forever. One day you are cuddling them in your arms, the next day they are getting ready for senior prom. In between that, it is our responsibility to channel their creativity, challenge their curiosity and ignite their passions for learning and for life.
How long will we homeschool? I don’t know. As long as it works for us. But honestly, living life according to our convictions, working through our fears and challenging the status quo of what life with young kids is supposed to be like feels pretty good.
We school when it’s convenient for us, the commute time is great and “summer vacation” can happen any time of year.
In the mean time, that little girl has learnt while been immersed in culture while dancing with locals in St. Croix. She has practiced her streamline on the beaches of Bermuda and have been blessed to see her dad keynote on numerous occasions at different destinations (without school approval), doing something that he’s passionate about. Don’t believe the hype. Passion counts.
I’m not telling you that homeschooling is for your family but, I am telling you to trust your intuition. Don’t let fear hold you back and remember you can always change your mind. Homeschool doesn’t make you, you make it. It doesn’t define what you look like, what you drive or what you do for a living.
Once your kids are well and your spouse is on board, know that you’ve got this.
I say this not because you don’t know, but because I know that someone needs to read this. Three years ago, I needed to read this. And now that we’re into our fourth year of homeschooling or “road schooling” (side note: we’re hardly ever home), I am writing this for someone else’s benefit.
In the meantime, that little girl…that one with the self directed timing. I think that she’ll be OK.
And since you’re still reading, let me introduce myself. My name is Lisa. I’m a recovering pharmacist. I have a knack for fashion and a thing for whipping up gourmet dishes. Travel excites me and I hate when people try to put me “in a box”. I’m a devoted wife. Oh, and in case you didn’t know… I’m also a homeschooling mom.
Do you homeschool? Are you curious or just thinking about it? Let me know in the comments.
Org Published: 8/7/16. Updated 7/2018.
Comments ( 25 )
Kimberly
I love this post! Your reasons for homeschooling resonate with ours (minus the traveling part 🙁 ). Enjoy the adventure!! 🙂
LisaDLS
And what an adventure it is. Thanks for reading and always being a support Kimberly.
Edna
Excellent post! Thank you for writing it.
LisaDLS
Thank you Edna. I’m passing the torch “so to speak” because I’ve been in those shoes. Plus, people are always curious. 🙂 Reach out to me if you decide to jump aboard.
lifemoreabundantly1
Love this post!! We too homeschool and your reasons are so on point! 🙂 Thanks for sharing <3
LisaDLS
Thank you. There are definitely some other reasons but these are the main ones. I didn’t want to make this post a book. 😮
Hope Smith
Wonderful blog post! We just started homeschooling last year. Your reasons are so much like ours. Traveling the world, Christian values, entrepreneurship and passion. Thanks for sharing!
LisaDLS
I appreciate you stopping by Hope. And much success in your upcoming homeschooling year ahead. Congrats to you too! We made it through year one.
Wendy
Great post and right on time! After years of going back and forth, we are finally bringing two of our kids home for homeschool! Hoping that I will soon be prepared to bring Jeremiah home as well.
LisaDLS
Yay! Love reading this. There is so much support in this community. So happy for you Wendy. You’ve got this.
Jamie Skirvin
I am a homeschool mom as well. We are going on our 3rd year of homeschooling and we love it! Also, my oldest daughter was born in St. Croix.????
LisaDLS
Small world Jaime. What a beautiful place to be born! VI love all the way. I like you and your family already.
Bianca
Hello. I would like to homeschool my son. I don’t know where to start or how to go about this. I’m not an entrepreneur I work full time. I’m afraid that if I go through this he won’t be at his full potential.
LisaDLS
Bianca, I can’t say that I’ve been there but I’ve heard of many parents you have made that choice to homeschool and work full time (child care workers, teachers, office workers, doctors and more). The biggest thing is that you need to have a great support network. A spouse, friends and/or family members that can help. Look for tutorial services in the area that meet a few days a week. Coordinate pick up and drop off. Maybe someone can help with a subject once a week. School on evenings and weekends or whatever days you have off and fill in the rest. The biggest thing is to check in with your state and see what requirements they have for homeschoolers. If you haven’t yet, sign up for a local private Facebook group and ask questions there. There are people in your community that work full time and homeschool. Talk to them and find out what they do. Your son’s age is definitely a factor too. But there are reasons you are considering homeschooling your son. If one of the reason’s is that you think it would be the best fit for him, you are probably right. It’s going to be tough but, then it’s going to rewarding. Someone did it before you and guess what? If you they did it, can you too!
Chaena
Thanks for this post!! I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old but I already feel like homeschooling is right for our family. But I will be “that mom” and will just have to prepare for it.
LisaDLS
Yes! Love it.
Jeuelle
Thank you for writing this! As a homeschool mom (starting our 4th year) who left her former life as a physician assistant to run a small home based business and take control of her kids education it is encouraging to read about other moms in the same boat, going against the grain and doing what is best for their families. Like you, we don’t know how long we’ll homeschool and just take it one year at a time! God has led us clearly and we consistently seek Him for direction and for strength (cuz Lord knows these kids are not always easy to deal with, lol). Thanks for sharing your story ????
LisaDLS
Thanks for reading Jeunelle and your transparency. I’m happy that I followed through and wrote this piece because I can now see that the story about our journey to homeschooling is bigger than me.
Sheryce
I’m so grateful to find your post as I stand here in fear. On the line of dropping my child off at public school on Wednesday or starting at home with the lessons I have already planned. This post is exactly what I needed to hear, that someone else was in my shoes. Thanks for your words of encouragement!!!
LisaDLS
My heart smiles to read this Sheryce. You are so ready. To a successful school year ahead!
Brenna
Love your post! Thank you for sharing. I’ll have to explore your blog. 🙂 Looking forward to hopefully spending more time with you this year!
LisaDLS
Please do Brenna. There’s a tasty mash-up of food, fashion, travel, family and fun around here. And don’t forget to subscribe to my updates. That’s the best way to stay in the loop on everything DLS. You and I have to do better. 😉 Looking forward to spending some more time with you too.
Carla
Thank you so much for this post. We literally avoided (scratch that, tried to avoid) the idea of homeschooling for all of the reasons you mention above. We have received about 50 confirmations to homeschool after enrolling my 4.5 year old daughter at 5 different schools already in her very short academic lifecycle.
Nevertheless, we are so elated to share that we finally obeyed God and just successfully completed her first week as a kindergarten homeschooler! And WE LOVE IT so far!
LisaDLS
Carla! So happy for you and your dear daughter. It made my day to read your comment. Keep pushing forward.
Gloria
So happy I am reading this at 5am. I have an 8y/old going to start 3rd grade at a new public school on Sept 5th and I am in fear of the unknown (Will she have a nice teacher, are the kids nice) I want to HOMESCHOOL, not sure how to start but reading your post inspires me to be “that mom”. I feel in my heart that homeschooling would be the best for my daughter.