I was asked again this week, "Why do you homeschool?" - I say again because, if you homeschool you are asked this question quite often. Homeschooling is still a novelty in our society although it is gaining popularity quickly in our world of wittling convictions and standards.
Anyway, rather than simply repeating our usual answers about all the reasons we chose to homeschool, like school system problems, time with the family, etc. I took time to really talk with my husband about some of the "behind the scenes" reasons we homeschool...the reasons that are there, but that you don't discuss as often because it would take too long to explain to people and, for some, they just wouldn't understand....reasons like:
1. My boys will be raised as doctrinally sound and as Biblically based as I can "pour into them" in the time I have with them! I spend each morning doing our Bible reading and inevitably, it leads to countless questions on meaning, application and reasons it is included in the Bible. I never want to give my boys the impression that I am more concerned with multiplication tables than the Proverbs.
We spend a great deal of time talking about doctrine and Biblical words like regeneration, propitiation, submission and substitutionary atonement. We apply words like repentance and we look for ways to show God's work in each of our lives...
2. We only have them for a short while. My oldest is now 10 years old...I cried when we hit "double digits". I know it won't be long before his friends seem more interesting than me. I want as much time with them (he and his younger brother)as I can get before I start strongly competing with outside sources...I want to develop the kind of relationship with them that will be strong even when time becomes short.
3. I want to talk with my boys...I want to discuss EVERYTHING with them - even the stuff I wish they would ask daddy! I want to be with them as much as possible now - when they are curious, learning and wondering...I want to be the nearest adult when they have a question - not a teacher that is spending 6-7 hours a day with them....I want to answer the tough stuff...I want them to know that no topic is off limits!
4. I want to fight the "stereotypes"...our society tells our kids that teenagers are rebellious and "finding themselves", that the older a child gets, the less they listen to their parents and that every child goes through periods where they think their parents are idiots. I want to fight these stereotypes! I don't want my kids to think that they have to go through these stages - they don't! No one says that a child has to be rebellious or "find themselves" - a healthy child with discipline and a healthy biblical outlook - that child can (and will be encouraged to) search out what they believe and why...but it won't begin in the teen years! A healthy child with healthy family relationships will realize that Mom and Dad may not always seem to be right, but that they have to be honored. No...we haven't hit the teen years yet and I can hear most of you out there thinking "you just wait!" but remember, I am making the choice to POUR TIME into my kids now to give me a head start - we will see if it works - but here is what I know: 1. The Bible says to teach when they rise up, when you walk and when you lie down (can't do that if you are never with them!) and 2. It can't hurt!
5. I want them to get truth - you know, the REAL story of Thanksgiving, etc....our schools today present a liberal and far too "politically correct", however incorrect version of history and science. I want my boys to understand that the history books and science books have to line up with the Bible or that they are wrong...the Bible is our ONLY source of truth.
So, these are some of the reasons we homeschool....I'm sure there are so many more but for now...these are prominent. Summed up, I can just say that I desperately LOVE the children God has given me and I passionately want to see them grow up to be men of God like their daddy...
Michele Everson, Proud wife of Pastor Chad Everson and Proud Homeschooling Mama of two incredible boys!
No comments:
Post a Comment