Saturday, April 12, 2008

How I Got Started Homeschooling or "Sacrifice/Surrender?" or "Conviction /Convenience/Choice?"

I WAS homeschooled back in the dark ages - 1968-71 or so....right, Mom? It didn't look like homeschooling does today. If you see the post further down you'll see that I lived in River Cess Liberia, West Africa. Mom and other Missionary teachers, used Calvert Correspondence to teach me K - 3rd. I think Calvert was about all that was available. Later I would attend private school while on furlough, public school while on furlough, and end up graduating from Faith Academy - a boarding school in Manila, Philippines for missionary children. Go VANGUARDS...now I'll stop there or this will become a post on growing up in a boarding school rather than "how I got started homeschooling".

Mike attended public schools in CO and CA. I was clueless about public schools in the late 70's and 80's.

Freshman (me) met Upper Classmen (Mike) in Bible College (1982) and before we were even dating I had heard Mike state his convictions that he wanted his children to be homeschooled. This is the FIRST I remember hearing about homeschooling. I did some research about the topic and discovered folks were going to jail for this. I was young - didn't scare me. ::snort:: We eventually married and it was always known that God had laid on Mike's heart (and now mine) that we would homeschool any children we had.

We began "officially" homeschooling in 1989. We used CLASS as it was about the only group that we heard about that was 1. legal, and 2. would sell to homeschoolers (back then the big name homeschool companies were NOT selling to homeschoolers or they didn't exist yet. LOL)

Homeschooling has been a tremendous tool that God used in my life. I've learned patience and gentleness...traits I didn't possess early in life. Quite truthfully, God used my love of my children to cause me to allow that pruning in my life. I learned time management (sometimes I'm better than others), discipline, self-control and surrender. I've had FUN learning with the children. I've learned things I missed in my own education. I've even slowly begun to learn that crayons, mess, paper scraps are OK if it means FUN in school. ::snort:: I've learned how to surrender and sacrifice.

One of the biggest benefits we've gained from homeschooling is our LIFESTYLE. We are able to move often in the military without the fear of gaps in school districts. We can take off and spend time together on Mike's days' off. We can travel during the school year. The children have a close relationship and care for each other - they are all they have for socializing from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day. Our family unit and ties have been blessed in ways we didn't expect. We've been able to spend lots and lots of time with the children - mentoring and building mutual respect and love as a family unit.

Surrender.....SACRIFICE....did I mention those in passing? Homeschooling has caused me to make the tough choices for the sake of the call and vision to homeschool; for the sake of our vision of family. On a tape we received from CLASS early on, we were challenged to make homeschooling a CONVICTION rather than a CONVENIENCE. The speaker lectured about hard times, possible legal action etc and that if homeschooling was simply a convenience or a choice or a novelty, when the trials came we would give it up. We were challenged to pray over this issue and realized that it was a heartfelt conviction for us. This was what God wanted US to do for OUR family. This meant we sacrificed and we surrendered. Over time we've realized our choice was really chosen for us. I believe it is one of those "good works" prepared beforehand for us to walk in (See Eph).

I am called to daily die to self as I fulfill the call and vision God gave Mike (and then us as a couple) for our family. I have had to sacrifice a totally immaculate house, day time hours to pursue what *I* want, attending day time Bible studies, luxuries that many of my friends have....

As a family we've sacrificed. We live on one income. We skip some fun things in order to buy curriculum. We don't have the fanciest cars, the biggest house, the nicest toys, or wildest vacations....but it's OK - it's for the sake of His call for our family.

We have always said we'd pray each year about whether we should continue homeschooling (this was a great way to calm others' fears and we DID). I'm not sure I'd say we pray any longer about the decision.....because it's a conviction.....it's set after 18/19 years of homeschooling.....but we pray over each child, each year, each subject, each learning style, each opportunity that presents itself....and God continues to use homeschooling as a tremendous tool for growth in our family and in each of our personal lives.

There you have it - "how we got started homeschooling". This is my FIRST meme to participate in. If you'd like to read others thoughts on the same topic....go here for this week's participants.
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8 comments:

Romany said...

That's interesting! I didn't know that you were yourself home-educated, DeEtta!

Anonymous said...

This was really neat to read. I agree homeschooling is one of His good works set for you beforehand. Way to go, Sis!

We only homeschool in the Summer. Been praying about this. I am looking forward to the blessing and challenges. My daughter is excited for it and our 2nd born wants to do school w/us this summer instead of the asd. God is good in preparing hearts and minds. We're giving our 10 y/o more flexibility and freedom and he's coming around now too.

I like the modifications you've made in the comments section.

Salar37_Shushan said...

How cool! Haven't met many others who were homeschooled back before it became popular.

I think Rod & Staff was also available very early on, as it came from the Amish/Mennonite communities who never ceased educating their own kids.

I heard that some parochial Catholic schools & some orthodox Jewish communities had some alternative textbooks too, but don't know much about their practices.

My experiences began in the 70's, with 'private' or 'cottage' schools using Calvert, Rod & Staff (I think that was the mid-70's one my church group chose) or Alpha & Omega (late 70's on).

AFAIK, in the US, 'homeschooling' mostly took that form until the laws changed.

Anonymous said...

Sis:

Yup it was those years. Calvert was the best then. I certainly did not do as good as you have done. Mike/you do make us proud as we see you schooling your kids and doing such a superb job.

Dad/I sure got into some hot water with folks from the Lady House in Liberia because we refused to send you kids to that boarding school in a different African country. BUT we PTL for Celia, Marge, Lucille and Snyders who stood with us.

Love/prayers

Mom T

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Dorothy - yep. We didn't call it homeschooling in 1968 - it was well - correspondence school of expatriots. LOL

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Darshia - have fun with the kidlets this summer.

Thanks for the affirmation about the changes. LOL

Debbie said...

This post is coming at a perfect time. I have been struggling so much this year and this was a wonderful reminder of why we do this! And academics isn't the reason.

I loved hearing your story and it was a true blessing for me today.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

{{{Debbie}}} It was good for me to write it too. ::snort:: You know your family is in our prayers.