Skip to main content

The View from A Homeschooling Mom's Perspective

When I made the decision to home school my children...I had no idea what I was doing, how I was going to go about it and what changes it was going to have in my life.  I have looked around, payed attention to the parents and children in our church who have been homeschooling their children forever.  I asked lots of questions and received many different responses, but each one of them also said that homeschooling provides a controlled environment, one that envelopes the morals, beliefs and Bible time our children need.

For me, it doesn't stop there.  Recently some truths and blessings have been revealed to me.  

Whether it's through Facebook, news, seeing and hearing other families who have their children in a classroom, Mom and Dad are working full time jobs, etc. their routines & schedules that keep them so busy they dot have time for "quality" time with one another.  They have given their all, their best to their jobs, co-workers, Facebook, classrooms, teachers, etc. 

What's left?  They all arrive home exhausted and too stressed to let alone be able to give what they long to give one another.  Do they do it intentionally? Of course not.  

This is what I personally call "caught up in the world, rather than in Christ for our families."  

I was once there.  For many years I felt stuck.  We live in a world that requires two incomes to keep up with even the relatives of the jones's!  We are brainwashed into what the world believes we "need" to have, how to live and even the latest and greatest vehicle to drive.

I was soooo brainwashed!!  It was ridiculous!  Being brainwashed kept me in a state of want and focused on the desires of the flesh.

If two incomes are necessary for the needs of you and your family, I understand.  Though if it is only providing for all your wants, pray about it.  Your children need you far more than your boss does.

My husband and I just had to have The Chevy 4 door Silverado and Camaro.  God revealed much to us that year.  We no longer have either vehicle.  We do not have cable or internet.  Yes I am doing this writing by text on my iPhone.  Do I miss my WiFi? Absolutely.  But I believe that when God says we can afford it, he will provide it.

We used to do a lot of things that were very unnecessary.  Not saying they were all bad, just that they were not necessary.  It took time, money and effort away from what we should have been doing.  I love that saying, "If it keeps your from getting closer to God, then it needs to go!"  But realize this, when something/someone keeps you from God, that usually means that you have fallen short in what your husband and children need as well.  You may be an amazing wife and a great mother...but if you do not have Christ at the center, chances are it won't matter how well you are as a wife or mother.  It's about Him, not us.

When we are right with God, our relationships w/others will also be right. And we are more likely to make decisions that honor God, which will cultivate a healthy relationship between your children and God as well.

So back to homeschooling.  I was so scared I was going to screw up or that my kids would miss out on "things".  What if I fail them? What if my kids this, what if my kids that?!

Oh being in the state of "what if"...

I had to get past that.  And I did through prayer and support.  But I also had to realize that our life didn't have to be in the "fast lane".  And that half the stuff on our calendars were things we didn't need to be a part of.  I had to seriously come to the realization that just because the world says so, does NOT mean I have to.  Letting go of what others might think or say was another big one for me.

One day out of the blue, God allowed me to see our life so transparently, it was then that I could breathe and completely let go and trust what He is doing with our family.  I saw that we have time for one another, we also have time available to invite others over for dinner and bonfires.  Time to nurture and build healthy, God honoring relationships.  Our letting go of what the world has tried so hard to brainwash us with, gave us the freedoms we once took for granted.  We don't run around like chickens with our heads cut off.  We don't go to events that do not honor God.  We do our best with what God has given us.  Now let me tell you, a little over a year ago, I would probably have said something totally opposite!  

God continues to share His Love & Grace with us.  He always provides for our needs.  And I find comfort in knowing that it's really ok to have less, to not have to keep up with the jones's.  

Being true to God & myself is far more important than living a life that is unrealistic and causes one to spend too much money on the things that will fade away, anyway.

Lesson learned:  don't just follow Jesus, trust Him completely.  Be thankful for what you do have.  Being a Mom is gift from God, don't take it for granted.  And, do not spread yourself so thin that you are unable to give your absolute BEST to your hubby and children, no matter what time it is.

I pray that this will be an encouragement for you.  That you will cultivate an atmosphere that says to your children, "I am going to give you my best because you deserve to see He who resides in me, love you so unconditionally."
It's NOT about us!

Your Sister in Christ,

KeL
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DIY Family Sign

So I had an old ugly pallet on the side of my house…I saw some really nice signs on Pinterest but did not want to fork out as much as suggested. So my creative juices began to flood my head. So much that in the middle of the night I would wake up and have to write my ideas down so I wouldn’t forget them! Lol!! My husband and I pulled all the nails out of the pallet. I began sanding the pieces I thought would look nice after being stained. I utilized pieces that had old nail holes to give it that rustic worn look. After sanding I chose the stain that I had pictured in my head…I put only one coat of stain on as I was going for a not perfect or new piece of art. After this dried I used T shaped brackets to connect the three pieces of wood. I utilize free fonts all the time!! In my Power Point Program I create the type size and font styles, print them on card stock paper and then cut them out like a stencil. I then positioned everything where I wanted it and bega...
1 comment
Read more

The Key to a Woman's Heart...

The key to a woman's heart is when He studies her; He hears her when she’s silent; He anticipates her needs and fulfills them joyfully; He embraces her with all his being, yet gives her free reign to be herself; He provides for her needs because it’s a priority in His life; He loves her because he knows, no other way; He accepts her flaws because that’s what keeps her unique; He gazes upon her and smiles because He knows He’s blessed by her presence…jus some morning thoughts.
Post a Comment
Read more

WHAT DOES YOUR MASK SAY ABOUT YOU?

mask - concealing thing: something that conceals or disguises something else, for example, true motives or feelings Masks are things that we wear sometimes to hide from other people, and sometimes to hide from ourselves. Sometimes we wear so many masks that when we take one off, there is another one right behind it. Often times, we have so many different masks, that we don't really know who we are so we become that which we wear. We hide behind these masks…when asked a question from a friend or family member; do you answer with the real you? Or are you answering through the mask? Do you ask yourself, “how should I answer this question so that they don’t feel differently towards me?” Sadly we feel the need to impress others, so we are afraid to be ourselves in front of people. We short-change ourselves into thinking we need these masks to be accepted and loved. Is your mask still present when you approach God? God already knows us and he requests for us to be real with him. God ...
Post a Comment
Read more