Homeschooling is a big job. And if we do it k-12, then it’s a long job. So how do you homeschool all these years without regrets? Our children’s education is so important. We love our children so much. These things we keep close as we do our day to day homeschool schedules with our kids.
The biggest way to homeschool without regrets is by praying for the Holy Spirit to lead you as you prepare your year. Each year I spend time prayerfully considering curriculum and learning activities for my children. This is key because I don’t know what the end result will be for each of my children. God has made them especially gifted in areas that they will use in their adulthood. He knows what they will be when they grow up. We do not. Even in high school when they think they know, so much of the time, they still do not follow through with those goals.
My prayer is that God will build the road that each child needs to follow. And help me to follow it through my curriculum choices and extra curricular activities. This takes the pressure off me. I don’t have to be perfect and my kids don’t have to be either. They don’t have to follow everyone else’s road (one size fits all approach). Think, when has this ever worked?
This Psalm has been so meaningful to me in my journey through homeschooling. It captures my heart’s desire for choosing to lead my children in their education. This decision to homeschool is a “with God” decision. I depend on His wisdom.
“You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.””
In the early years of homeschooling I learned a lesson about staying on course and not getting distracted by other people’s expectations. I regretted not following through on a “Little House Unit Study” we were doing. My oldest was in 3rd grade. This unit study included most subjects in our school day while reading the complete set of the Little House books. We were half way through the year and someone in education whom I respected, let me know her opinion on my curriculum choice. She told me I should do more “regular” school work. I was so new at homeschooling, I became fearful that this program was not enough. I stopped the Little House series and resumed regular 3rd grade work. After twenty-five years of homeschooling, this is still my biggest regret. This failure and regret made me a stronger home teacher. I realized where I had gotten off course and why. It was because I wasn’t strong enough to stick to my own convictions and do what I thought was right.
Homeschooling is a joint effort between the children’s Creator and parent to prepare the child for their adult life. He made each child so beautifully. So complex. I like this description from the Bible.
“Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.“
One thing to remember is that homeschooling is not just about the child, it is also about the parent. There are things I taught my child that I don’t even remember learning. Some subjects I find more interesting now. I learn right beside them. One area that I have experienced with my grown children is that they too don’t remember everything in their books either. Thankfully if they choose to homeschool their own children, they will get a second change at learning what they have forgotten. And because I taught them how to learn, they could at any point in their lives pursue learning subjects they are interested in. That’s the joy of learning. Once you learn how to learn, you have the freedom to learn anything.
So have courage my fellow homeschooler. Christian parents, you have an advantage over the world. You can talk to God in prayer! You can ask God to lead you in your parenting and schooling. The Holy Spirit is a gift to us promised by Jesus to guide us. And when we make mistakes, because we will, there is forgiveness. Ask Him to put you back on the right path again. He will. God is faithful.
If you need prayer concerning homeschooling, please connect with me below. I would love to pray for you. It is good to have others around us praying for us as we take on the big job of schooling our children. You are welcome to reach out to me.
May God bless your homeschool year!
Kim Griffin
Psalm 119:1-8 MSG
Psalm 139:16 MSG
One of the best things about homeschooling is that we don’t have to follow what public schools do. Which from what I understand is horrible now. We didn’t start homeschool until my daughter finished elementary school and my biggest regret is that I didn’t start sooner.
My cousin was homeschooling her 3 kids but the oldest wanted to be in band so she went back to public school. After that she sent the other 2 back, too. I can’t imagine sending my daughter back to public school with what they’re teaching now.
It’s been so hard to see our education system decay. I didn’t want my kids being influenced by their worldly ways. I’m glad you homeschool Michelle. It’s hard work but rewarding.