I grew up in a homeschool home. We didn't go all the way through. My parents wanted to give us a firm foundation and a strong start- and they succeeded. For each of the four of us that looked a little different. I was homeschooled until fourth grade when I began public school. I remember being bored in class and feeling like I didn't learn anything new until 8th grade. But I did make friends and truly enjoyed my highschool years in public school where I made mostly A's and a few B's and thrived in music, art and drama. I was a social butterfly and was thankful for the chance to see so many people every day.
One paper that we were asked to write more than once in those public school years was... "When I grow up I want to be a..."
Every time I wrote that paper I answered the same thing and some how it wasn't very popular with my teachers. I wanted to be... A Housewife and Homeschool my children!
I remember my teachers pulling me aside and "encouraging" me not to settle for so little! To use my gifts and talents wisely and make something of my self. But my desire never changed. I saw being a homeschooling mama as a chance to employ every gift, talent or dream I'd ever had! I could be teacher, nurse, musician, director, artist, creative designer, organizer, chef... and the list goes on. (Don't we know!)
After high school graduation I spent a year in a ministry internship where I met my future husband. Six months after graduating the internship we were married. Eight months after marriage we became pregnant with our first. Three years later we had three children under three and entered a season of injuries for my husband. Over an 18 month period he missed 6 months of work because of a hernia, appendicitis, a back injury and double pneumonia. Financial stress set in.
My mother graciously offered to watch our three little ones part time for a year so both my husband and I could work and try to get things back in order. Not long into that year I was pregnant again. That summer our oldest turned 5. We were busy. We were broke. I was pregnant with a baby due in October, and it was time for kindergarten. Private school was out of the question because of finances and I thought homeschool would be as well with our circumstances. So, our baby headed off to public school. To be honest in many ways she was trying my patience, and I thought things might go easier with her away during the day!
Our oldest is very independent and head strong. She does not like getting up in the morning. She doesn't like getting her hair combed. She doesn't like being told how to dress or given time limits to do things. She was still sleeping during nap time nearly every day. She loves people. She over exerts herself when around other people and therefore was spent at the end of every day away from home. She couldn't rest in kindergarten nap and felt like we were pushing her away since she was the only child leaving the house. She had a new baby sister after two baby brothers and going to school every day became a fight.
Not only was it a fight to get her to school- when she got home she was exhausted and fussy and no fun to be around. Most days started in a fight and ended in one. Her brothers' schedules were also interrupted. They didn't like being wakened every morning and every nap time in order to take their sister to and from school. I personally don't like leaving the house every day either!
Then came Christmas break.
Amazingly, our house was at peace. The boys reveled having their creative, imaginative, leader of a sister back. She loved holding and caring for her new baby sister. We were all felt the relief of being able to do our family schedule and life routine at our own pace- not dictated by the clock. I was amazed how much help she was at home, how much I had missed her, how much I wished I could have her back!
Then Christmas break was over.
The fights started up again. The craziness began again. I was no longer working and I began to question our way of life. Hadn't I always said I would homeschool my kids?! Hadn't I always thought I would NEVER send my child to public kindergarten? Isn't kindergarten all about glue and scissors and colors and paints, letters and numbers? I knew I could do that! The later years were up for discussion, but kindergarten in public school?! What were we thinking?!
One paper that we were asked to write more than once in those public school years was... "When I grow up I want to be a..."
Every time I wrote that paper I answered the same thing and some how it wasn't very popular with my teachers. I wanted to be... A Housewife and Homeschool my children!
I remember my teachers pulling me aside and "encouraging" me not to settle for so little! To use my gifts and talents wisely and make something of my self. But my desire never changed. I saw being a homeschooling mama as a chance to employ every gift, talent or dream I'd ever had! I could be teacher, nurse, musician, director, artist, creative designer, organizer, chef... and the list goes on. (Don't we know!)
After high school graduation I spent a year in a ministry internship where I met my future husband. Six months after graduating the internship we were married. Eight months after marriage we became pregnant with our first. Three years later we had three children under three and entered a season of injuries for my husband. Over an 18 month period he missed 6 months of work because of a hernia, appendicitis, a back injury and double pneumonia. Financial stress set in.
My mother graciously offered to watch our three little ones part time for a year so both my husband and I could work and try to get things back in order. Not long into that year I was pregnant again. That summer our oldest turned 5. We were busy. We were broke. I was pregnant with a baby due in October, and it was time for kindergarten. Private school was out of the question because of finances and I thought homeschool would be as well with our circumstances. So, our baby headed off to public school. To be honest in many ways she was trying my patience, and I thought things might go easier with her away during the day!
Our oldest is very independent and head strong. She does not like getting up in the morning. She doesn't like getting her hair combed. She doesn't like being told how to dress or given time limits to do things. She was still sleeping during nap time nearly every day. She loves people. She over exerts herself when around other people and therefore was spent at the end of every day away from home. She couldn't rest in kindergarten nap and felt like we were pushing her away since she was the only child leaving the house. She had a new baby sister after two baby brothers and going to school every day became a fight.
Not only was it a fight to get her to school- when she got home she was exhausted and fussy and no fun to be around. Most days started in a fight and ended in one. Her brothers' schedules were also interrupted. They didn't like being wakened every morning and every nap time in order to take their sister to and from school. I personally don't like leaving the house every day either!
Then came Christmas break.
Amazingly, our house was at peace. The boys reveled having their creative, imaginative, leader of a sister back. She loved holding and caring for her new baby sister. We were all felt the relief of being able to do our family schedule and life routine at our own pace- not dictated by the clock. I was amazed how much help she was at home, how much I had missed her, how much I wished I could have her back!
Then Christmas break was over.
The fights started up again. The craziness began again. I was no longer working and I began to question our way of life. Hadn't I always said I would homeschool my kids?! Hadn't I always thought I would NEVER send my child to public kindergarten? Isn't kindergarten all about glue and scissors and colors and paints, letters and numbers? I knew I could do that! The later years were up for discussion, but kindergarten in public school?! What were we thinking?!
I was praying- hard! I was searching scriptures and asking God to show me what he thought about raising children and teaching them and my role in that. I began calling a few friends I knew homeshooled and starting asking questions. What are the rules? How does it work from the teacher perspective? What would I do if I decided to go that route?
Soon I, with understanding agreement from my husband, had decided NEXT year we are keeping our girl home!
But by February, NEXT year seemed FOREVER away. Just before (or was it after?) Valentines Day that year we brought her home and our homeschool journey began.
Here is the reason why we wrote at that time.
We believe in one God who created us and has given us the way to live most successfully in his law, the Bible. We desire to live our lives and raise our children not only in wisdom and knowledge but also according to God's ways. In his word, God states that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD. Wisdom is the goal of educating children.
The Bible also states that every word written in it is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. Therefore we believe the Bible should be used in training the young. Rarely, if ever is the Word of God used in the public schools to aid education.
The Bibles states we are to renew our minds by thinking always on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. There are many things that go on in public schools (whether by design of the state or by the nature of large numbers of children being together day after day) that do not fit this description.
In addition we are not to sit in the seat of mockers or walk in the way of sinners. We do not want our children raised by institutions which mock God and his word and do not walk in the wisdom that comes from the fear of the LORD. As parents we are commanded by God to teach our children at all times according to Deuteronomy 6 & 11.
We are fully qualified to teach our children at home. Both of us have high school diplomas and have been involved with youth ministry and child training for over fifteen years. I have experience in teaching others beyond my children in the areas of music, dance and art. I, Maria as the primary teacher, am an avid reader and am continuing in education through self-guided study on a constant basis. Our home provides an environment of learning and creativity in the realms of English, mathematics, foreign language, science, history, religion, geography, music, art, drama, culinary arts, horticulture, politics, social sciences, physical health and education, reading, language arts, computer, construction and other aspects of daily living.
We are proud to live in a country that provides freedom to live peaceably according to our beliefs and convictions.