Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it. Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!
My most difficult struggle with a lifestyle of homeschooling is not with schooling at all but, rather, with parenting. Those who know how firmly I believe in being a stay-at-home mom may be surprised to learn that I don’t like this job – because I’m terrible at it. When I had an outside job, before I was married, I was always good at what I did. Now I’m always bad at everything I do. It is very discouraging to feel like everything you touch is a failure. I do this job, not because I enjoy it (although it does have its moments), but because I love my children, and because it is right.
The greatest relief I have found has been in support. We are very blessed, in that our families are fans of the decision to homeschool. (I was, in fact, homeschooled myself, so of course my parents are on-board!) The greatest relief for me is people who will say, “Yes, it is hard. Yes, I often want to give up, too. But don’t give up.”
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” (Heb. 10:24)
The NIV words Hebrews 10:24 this way: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” We went to a conference last week in Buffalo, New York. One of the speakers reminded us that spurs hurt. But they get the horse moving.
According to the Bible (1 Tim. 5:10), bringing up children is a “good work.” Let us consider how we might spur one another on in this good work.
All but one homeschooler I have known personally have quit and it was honesty so discouraging. God reminded me that the narrow path to him is not easy and if I am still continuing on when others could not I was doing good.
We had an impossible time with math. And I am honesty not good at math. I don’t know why but it never clicked. It was probably poor curriculum from the public school I grew up in.
Anyway it the very midst of total frustration I was given a math book that has not only changed my children’s ability to learn math but mine as well. I tell everyone I have learned more in ten years of homeschooling my kids than I ever did in the public school system.
What was the math book?
It was saxon math
Saxon math changed my ability to learn math too. I am a 35 yr. old mama who was public schooled through the 5th grade and then homeschooled from 6th through 12th. Math never clicked with me either until my parents started using Saxon. I am homeschooling our daughter (4 yrs. old) and will definitely use Saxon if she has the same troubles I did. But, since she is homeschooled maybe she won’t have as much of a struggle as I did!