Homeschooling: It's About Time

Trust me, you don't need a teaching degree in order to homeschool, you need helpful resources and lots of encouragement. This is my ninth year homeschooling and I still seek these out daily. With six children (ages 13 to 1) my house is quite a commotion, but being a mom and teaching my children is where my heart is. It's an awesome responsibility that I believe is worthy of my efforts. For me, homeschooling is simply an extension of mothering. It's very challenging, but anything worth doing is.

Never a dull moment!

My husband and I both attended school, and did not have any big plans to homeschool. I remember when my oldest was four years old, visiting schools in anticipation of sending her off. My heart just didn't feel right about it. We decided to "try" homeschooling for kindergarten. We never looked back.

It's always a challenge. Every year changes. Each child is unique, and every couple years there seems to be a new one! I never feel "put together" but I'm beginning to be okay with that. I've learned over the years how to make positive changes and shifts that help me keep my sanity.

Teaching isn't the most difficult part for me right now. I have collected some great resources over the years. I am more confident. I don't worry so much about the world's "standards".

Currently, trying to maintain some sort of peace and order is a struggle for me. If only all my children were so grateful to have the wonderful life they have and thank me for all of my hard work and endeavors, always loving one another and putting each other first...ahhh. That would be heavenly. A maid would be nice too.

Most days I feel like I'm in a boxing ring. But I keep getting back up. I'm trying to lead my children. Sometimes I get sucked into the chaos and immaturity. I'm learning to be mature. Be slow to speak. Laugh. I've found that tickling the crazy kid that's driving me nuts, sometimes breaks the crazy in us both.

I know that I'm building something special in my home. That's why I don't give up. It's crucial to remember the big picture. When I'm sleep deprived and my 4 year old is yelling at me to get him water...I want to dump the water on his head and go back to bed. I need to be able to call to mind that this job is important. Being a mom who can see past her kid's selfishness and love him anyway, that matters.

All these little moments add up to a life. I want to make the most of the time I have with my children. Homeschooling offers me more time with them, which is the main reason I do it. We are living this life out together side by side. We are learning and growing not only in knowledge, but in relationship.