Will I ever get to homeschool the way I want to?

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
By Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor
June 29, 2011

I ask myself this question, not once a year, but nearly every week: "When will I ever get to homeschool the way I want to?" I'd be the best homeschool teacher if it weren't for (fill in the blank: difficult interruptions/difficult finances/difficult children/friends who do it better/spouses who aren't supportive, etc.).

Should I give up if I can't afford that perfect curriculum, or what if I have it and can't implement it every day? Should I quit because I can't do the extra classes and field trips right now? Should I think of another alternative because my kids are always whining or bickering? What about those all-too-often family emergencies that interrupt the schedule? And what about that necessary part-time job that keeps me busy-shouldn't I give up on this homeschooling business?

So many things get in the way of me having that perfect homeschool setting I dream about. So many LIFE things. Instead of asking, "When will I ever get to homeschool the way I want to?" we should probably be asking, "When will life be perfect enough to let me do things the way I want them done so I can feel successful?" The answer is: maybe never. And guess what? There is freedom in that.

Instead of looking at everyday life as an "obstacle" to finally getting to do what we want to do, we need to look at the obstacles as part of the life God intended for us to live, and teach around those. It's how we live THAT life that brings glory to the One Who designed it. However, that does not release us from properly planning our ways and keeping unnecessary distractions at bay.

We should definitely start each school year praying, "God, what do you have for me and the children this year?" and then we should follow that plan as much as we can. Then, we should have a daily prayer of, "God, what do you have for me and the children today?" Then, instead of feeling like we've failed when interruptions come, we can rejoice in the fact that everything that happens out of our control is under His control.

Don't give up. Don't give in. Start again and again. Little by little, day by day, we keep it at. Why? Because we are the ones that God designed to teach our children. He didn't give the responsibility of that job to any other but you. What the Lord wills for you, He provides for you.

And, the alternatives are not worth it. The high percentage of children leaving their faith is staggering. Hold on to the hearts of your children while you can. Home is best. Home is where you belong. Home is where they belong.

"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James 4:13-15

~Deborah
TOS Senior Editor

The ups and downs

Our journey continues to take our family on a lot of ups and downs. We left the children's home in May, not long after our boys went to their adoptive home. We decided to focus on preaching school, raising our own children, and concentrating on their education to the best of our ability. That hasn't come without it's own challenges, but at least I'm giving my children the best I have to offer.

I am so thankful for the opportunities that our school has to offer because I am growing in so many ways! I have learned that I have an ability to speak in public. I joined my fellow preaching student wives in helping to put on Ladies' Day at Karns church of Christ. I had volunteered to be one of the speakers, and though my lesson was only 15 minutes long, I had a message to share about teaching our children to be modest. I really enjoyed preparing my lesson, and although I was nervous, speaking in front of 100+ people wasn't as frightening as I would have thought. I remember, when I was younger, my mom tried to encourage me to be a better speaker. My mom was/is a wonderful speaker, and I was terribly shy. I never thought I would be able to do it, but I did, and I did it well! And I like speaking! I have a lot to say...about lessons from the Bible, parenting, teaching...and I can't wait for my next opportunity.

Look for my Ladies' Day lesson here soon.

Wow, what a journey!

We have been on a roller-coaster of a ride! Paul and I became houseprents/foster parents in July 2009 and in August Paul started at the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions. Along with classes for Paul and me, Daniel (our 13 year old) took a class fall quarter--1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. He got an 89 and was the top person in the class of 13 students (all adults) in memory work each week. He actually got a perfect score on memory work until the last week, and impressed the instructors with his papers and sermon outline. Very proud! Paul took a full load fall quarter and did very well, but cut back a little for winter and spring quarters. Students normally carry a load of 32 credit hours each quarter. At the end of school they will have logged more hours than a normal 4-year degree, in just two years! Paul will probably stretch his out to 2 1/2 to 3 years because of our work with the foster children at the Tennessee Children's Home. We are really enjoying school!

Life with the foster kids, though, is stressfull. We have 4 boys ages 2, 8, 9, and 12. They are all "special needs" and they need a lot of structure and discipline. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to discipline according to what the Bible teaches, so it makes our job much more difficult. But we are happy that we have found an adoptive home for them and they will be transitioning to their new home within the month.

We continue to homeschool our own three kids while managing all this. Calais is in 3rd grade, Ashley has moved up to 7th grade, and Daniel is in 8th grade. We would like to accelerate Calais to 4th, but she doesn't like multiplication! Funny, I love math, but none of my kids do! Paul is the best math teacher, though. I only wish he had more time to teach them.

I wonder what the rest of the year holds for this roller-coaster ride!