Tag Archives: family

So… Why Are We Homeschooling?

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Our beautiful children: Emma (11), Bailey (17), and Caden (7)

Our beautiful children: Emma (11), Bailey (17), and Caden (7)

Let me digress…

Some of my friends are still trying to process my resignation, and I think, for most of them, my resignation was the first and most surprising of our two announcements this Spring.

After 17 years in the public school classroom it was certainly assumed that I would teach at least another 10 years to “retire”. In the natural, that might have been the “responsible” approach. But Franklin and I feel called to consider much more than that.

Before you question our wisdom, Franklin and I drank Dave Ramsey’s Kool-Aid eight years ago and are in a position to “responsibly” make this transition. Our vacations may have to be stay-cations for the time being but we know how to budget and we count ourselves blessed to have enough to meet our needs and enough to help others on Franklin’s income.

Quite honestly, I did not know that I would home school our two youngest when I resigned. I pictured myself at home working on my collection of books in the Fall and marketing the collection in the Spring. Although all 4 of our sisters home school their children, I’ve always worked outside the home. The thought of homeschooling myself never crossed my mind.

In fact, I had the opportunity to teach our youngest in my classroom for 1/2 of every day this past year. I team taught in the Dual Language program so his English portion was with me. Last summer I was so excited to have him and I remember thinking, “This is the closest I’ll ever get to homeschooling one of my own.”

As the vision for the collection developed this Spring I felt the need to learn more about the homeschooling community in New Mexico. I made plans to attend the CAPE convention in April and being the “kill two birds with one stone” kind of gal that I am I scheduled our daughter’s annual ophthalmologist appointment in Albuquerque that Thursday morning. I bribed her to keep me company at the conference with mall money and we headed into the opening session hand in hand. Within three minutes I was sure that The Holy Spirit was calling me to home school for 2013/2014.

Several things were addressed that weekend that caused me to think very deliberately and specifically about Emma and Caden’s education.

First and foremost I want to explicitly say that our decision to home school is not a reaction to anything that happened to our children. I can honestly say that our children have had strong public school teachers and the teachers I taught with in our hometown are fantastic.  You see, regardless of what might be assumed, teachers are not policy makers. Most are responsible for delivering an externally determined set of standards to a classroom full of children. These children are a reflection of today’s society and the social concerns you see around you. The hurt, the broken, the abused, the abusive, the sick, the needy, the depressed, and the angry have children. Those children fill our public school classrooms. Many are unprepared for formal instruction and their fractured families have extreme concerns that often place school at the bottom of their list of priorities.  I will always be a advocate for my friends doing the very best they can in the trenches caring for a population that needs an extreme amount of love and encouragement.

For us, the decision is about two very simple truths.  First and foremost, God gave us these children to train in His ways to His glory.  The discipleship of our children is our responsibility.

My junior high and high school years were not attractive.  I had enough attitude for myself and a small entourage, thought I knew so much more than I really did, and made some decisions that I’d later regret.  I’ve always said that when Emma hit middle school I’d have to make myself more available.  I want to speak into her life in such a way that she grows in beauty and grace and the character of God.  I want her to remain pure and protected while developing both responsibility and independence and I believe that will require more “time on task” from me.  Simply stated, I know homeschooling will provide me an awesome opportunity to speak into her life.

And second, I want my children to benefit from curriculum that explicitly points to God as The Creator and Our Provider.

Two summers ago I bought a fantastic Apologia science curriculum that points to God the Creator in every lesson.  Emma has been quite sure that she will study marine biology when she grows up and the Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day looked like the perfect fit.  We had plans to study the text at home but never cracked the book open.  After dinner and homework, we found ourselves too tired to study another text.  I’d also purchased Susan Wise Bauer’s The Story of the World:  Ancient Times at about that same time.  Having a minor in history I looked forward to reading this narrative approach with my children.  We made more progress in this text but I found myself falling asleep after a page and half, using this book as our bedtime story.

Homeschooling will give me the opportunity to 1) disciple my children in a powerful and meaningful way that I’ve not been able to do to this point and 2) choose curriculum that cannot be used in the public school.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to begin this journey!

Another afternoon would be precious…

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In the summer of 2010 my family took a “trip-of-a-lifetime” to Alaska.  We included my mother and mother-in-law, flew into Anchorage, rented a 32 foot RV and set out on a 10 day adventure.

My Mom and Dad had always dreamed of returning to Alaska where my Dad was stationed with the US Army the first 4 years of their marriage.  I had seen pictures of their time in Alaska and heard tales of their motorcycle, fishing, and camping adventures but those memories never quite lined up with what I knew to be true of my dad.

I could envision the motorcycle.  Some of my first memories include holding onto my Dad’s belt as he drove me to my neighborhood Kindergarten on the back of his bike.  I remember riding with him through the mountains near our homes in Utah and Arizona when I was in middle school.  I treasure those memories and I’m sure they help explain why I love riding with my husband on his motorcycle.  And yet, the hunky 25 year old from the pictures with one arm wrapped around my cutie-patootie Mom and the other arm wrestling a 100 pound salmon remained beyond my comprehension.

The Dad I knew had chronic back pain from an Army reserves injury and COPD from 3 decades of red More cigarettes.

When I was in the 6th grade my Dad was hospitalized with pneumonia.  He came home on oxygen and his health would require that he stopped smoking and changed his lifestyle to include healthier eating habits and exercise.  As a pre-teen and teen in the years that followed I selfishly saw one side of his struggle.

The kitchen table was the setting of home life for my Dad.  When he was not at work I knew to look for him in his chair at the head of the table.  The straight backed chair must have been more comfortable for him than a cushioned couch and he could rest his elbows on the table as he read.

My Dad was not physically active.  He was a prolific reader.  He read a wide-range of genre and thought deeply about many things; and yet, he would put the book down if someone sat at the table with him to visit.  Another afternoon would be precious…

My Dad was not a sports enthusiast.  He was a talented clarinetist.  He’d followed in his Father’s footsteps, learning his instrument at a young age.  He had practiced until his fingers moved with ease and his craft seemed effortless.

I knew early on that a sure way to engage my Dad was to ask for help practicing the clarinet.  My memories of quality time with him include solo and audition music and a metal ruler keeping a steady beat on the kitchen table.  Another afternoon would be precious…

My Dad was quick to show affection and used the words, “I love you,” with my mom, my siblings, and me.  I don’t think I ever left the house as a teen without hearing him call after me, “Be good”.  I’ve never doubted that he cared deeply about me.

In college I prepared myself for his death.  I knew, living 6 hours from my parents, that I should be ready to quickly pack a bag and drive home if needed.  Looking back I can assume God was preparing me.

My Dad’s health continued to decline as I began my own family.  I’m so grateful to have pictures of my Dad walking me down the aisle and holding all three of our children.  Another afternoon would be precious…

We assumed his back pain was a continued degeneration of his injury 3 decades before and were surprised when  advanced bone cancer was diagnosed.  We had 1 short month with my Dad before his passing in May 2006.  I know his final night will re-play for the remainder of my life.

My Dad had been hospitalized for the majority of May for pain management, but the morning of his passing my Mom was determined that he should go home.  Transport was logistically difficult.  He could be moved from the hospital bed to his wheelchair but he could not walk.  He could not move from the wheelchair into a vehicle.  He was not lucid.

In the middle of the night we were awakened and drove to my parents’ home where my mom was playing hymns on the piano.  Franklin took over as pianist and my mom and I walked to the bedroom.

My Mom’s brother Charlie was sitting on the bed across from us as I called my siblings to let them say “good-bye”.  My dad groaned, “Hurry, hurry,” and he was gone.

In the same way that I longed to know my Dad better by retracing his footsteps in Alaska, I would give almost anything for an afternoon to visit with my Dad.  I’d show him our home and watch him as he fell in love with the beautiful young people our children have become.  Our boys look so much like my dad.  He would enjoy their wit and musical talent.  He would be captivated by our daughter’s Spanish and her pitch-perfect melodies.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy.  Yes…  another afternoon would be precious.