Why We Plan to Homeschool . . . At Least for Now

I never thought I would say "I'm going to homeschool." I've always looked forward--perhaps a little too eagerly at times--to the day my kids start school, so the house will once again be clean. Even as I type this post I find myself envying those moms of school-going kids and their free time. Yet the more I pray for direction and guidance about the education of our girls, the more I feel God pulling me towards homeschooling.

I've posted before about my reluctance to homeschool, but recently, I've been feeling it even more as friends share their exciting news about their children going to this or that kindergarten in the fall. I am happy for my friends because they are doing what is best for their kids. However, in my heart, I know that there isn't a school out there better than the school we create ourselves--at home.

That being said, here are our top 10 reasons for deciding to homeschool (at least for now). {We know things may change and homeschooling may not always be feasible, so we intend to take it year-by-year with each child.}

1. Our commitment to raising our children to know the Lord.

Now I know there are some great Christian schools that offer Bible classes and weekly chapel time, but those schools are simply not affordable for a growing family nor do they all offer the type of Bible-based instruction we want for our children. And we all know that even though there are some wonderful Christian teachers, God has been kicked out of public schools. 

Raising children to know the Lord and walk with Him in every facet of their lives is something I believe is a parent's responsibility. Children need to be able to stop and pray and read their Bibles when they're troubled, and that's simply not an option in most schools--public or private.

2. Our desire to protect our children.

Some people think homeschooling parents are doing more harm than good by keeping their children "sheltered" from the real world. But isn't protecting our children from sin and evil something God expects of parents? Bambi at Nursery of the Nation recently wrote something that truly resonated with me:

"God never intended His children to know evil. He wants us to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. Satan is the one who told Eve to taste for herself. And he wants us to fall for that same lie.

Moms, our task is not to bring up children that fit in with this world. Are your kids weird? I hope so. I hope they seem like they are from another world. If we are fitting in with the world then we are conformed."

I don't want my kids to learn about homosexuality in elementary school or to endure bullying. They don't need to be exposed to the evil that is in this world; they will experience it soon enough. 

So, yes, I do want to shelter my kids in order to maintain their innocence and purity as long as possible. And if that makes them appear "weird" in the eyes of the rest of the world, then so be it!

3. Our hope of instilling in them a lifelong love of learning.

My husband and I are both nerds lifelong learners, meaning we read for fun and clamor for knowledge. Our insatiable desire to always be willing to learn is a quality I pray for in our children. I want to encourage and cultivate that childlike curiosity so it will grow and produce great fruit. 

Homeschooling allows me to do that because I'm not worrying about teaching to "the test" or meeting every students' needs. If one child wants to learn more about ladybugs, then we can buy a ladybug kit, check out some books from the library, and go to town observing ladybugs. 

By instilling a love of learning in our children we teach them that there is always room to grow; we never know it all. 

4. The ability to "do school" whenever & wherever.

As a child, I was sad when school let out for the summer. I loved school: the books, the work, the learning. And summer time meant boredom for me. But with home schooling we can learn year-round or take a month off here or there as needed. 

The flexibility of homeschooling is very appealing to me. I like that we can visit the zoo or go on a trip during the week when everyone else is in school, so we don't have to fight crowds. Also, I like that we can do lessons in the mornings and take the afternoons off to play or do housework; we can take our school work to the park or grandma's house; we can do school Monday through Saturday or take off Fridays for field trips. The when and where is entirely up to us. 

5. So we can teach our children what we value & believe in.

Whether public or private, secular or Christian, schools have their own agendas, which they are implanting in the hearts of the children they teach. We want to know exactly what is being sown in our kids' hearts, and the best way to do that is by homeschooling. 

In addition to instilling God's Word in their hearts, my husband and I want our girls to be servants, giving of their time, energy, and talents to others. Homeschooling will give us the time and freedom to do service projects and mission work, which we believe are integral to a well-rounded education. Christ is the center of our home, and we want Him to be the center of our home school, too.

Also, while reading, writing, and math are important subjects, we also want our kids to have basic life skills that most schools don't teach like learning how to raise and preserve food, make bread, balance a checkbook, and interact with a variety of different people (not just those their age). By homeschooling, we can choose what and how to teach our children based on our family's goals and priorities. 

6. Because we want to be our children's primary influence for as long as possible.

This one hearkens back to #2, but we believe that the parents--not teachers, coaches, or peers--should have the greatest influence on their kids. The values and beliefs we adhere to will be challenged, questioned, even rejected if we don't keep our children close while they're growing and learning. Once they reach an age of maturity, then they will be ready to face opposition, but only after years of guidance. 

Some Christian parents argue that we need to send our innocent children to school to "be the light" to non-Christians. I disagree. Our children aren't missionaries or teachers. Sure they can be the right example, but they shouldn't be held to the high standards that we as seasoned Christians are. We shouldn't expect naive 7-year-olds to witness to nonbelievers until they're firmly rooted in the Word and mature in their faith. For now, my job is to teach them the truth and ground them in the Word so that when they are older, they will be ready to share the Gospel with the world.

7. So we can spend as much time with our children as possible.

Many days I long for a school bus to pick up my kids and carry them away. Those are the days when I need an attitude adjustment and maybe a little quiet time alone. But I know my kids are growing up too fast, and I don't want to miss a minute of it! Sending them to school would mean missing out on way too much. 

By homeschooling we get to witness their victories with our children--like learning to read and losing that first tooth; we get to encourage them when they struggle with fractions or cursive; and we get to applaud them when they succeed in writing their first essay. My heart fills with excitement at the thought!

8. Because I'm a teacher at heart.

God has given us all unique gifts, which we are commanded to use to further His kingdom. One of my gifts is teaching, and I believe that the best way to utilize this gift is by teaching my children. 

I love to find new ideas to share with my kids; I love creating mini-lessons about something that's interesting to them; I love learning right along with my kids. Homeschooling allows me to do both: teach and learn. Together. What better way to make use of God's gift than to be my children's instructor!

9. So our children can learn at their own pace, according to their own learning styles, and about their own interests.

When I was in school, I was bored, and because I wasn't being challenged, I got in trouble. My fear is that our children will experience the same boredom and their desire to learn stifled in an attempt to keep everyone at the same level. We want our kids to pursue what interests them as far as that rabbit trail will take them because that's what learning is about. Not textbooks and test-taking and not assimilation. I don't want my kids to be status quo; I want them to excel!

Our middle child is a mover. My fear is that she would be labeled ADHD as a result of her need to be active. She's also a hands-on learner with a knack for puzzles, so she probably wouldn't be successful in a typical classroom setting, even though she is highly intelligent, simply because she requires a different teaching style. By homeschooling her, I can teach according to her learning style--something a school teacher cannot do. 

10. The main reason we're homeschooling (for now at least) is because we believe it's God's will.

I've felt the burden on my heart to homeschool for a while now, but stubborn little me has resisted and resisted, digging my heels deep down into the dirt and trying with all my might to avoid it. I've researched school after school, but in my heart, I would be acting in defiance of God's will were we to send our children to school. I am committed to obedience, and as long as the Lord wills it, we will homeschool our children.

I know it will be hard: I value quiet time to myself, but I have a plan. And I firmly believe that if God wills it, He will provide all that I need to achieve it. I'm holding firmly to that hope.

If you homeschool your children, what were your original reasons? Have those reasons changed? Do you have any advice for me as I embark into this new endeavor?