I feel like God lovingly tricked me into homeschooling because He knows my heart better than I do. If He had said, “Hey, quit this job that you adore, pull your kids out of the school that you love and homeschool them instead.” I would have never in 3 million years believed that is what was the voice of God. Homeschool was not even on our radar. Ever. I didn’t know much about it and honestly we hadn’t given it one second of thought as an education choice. My kids were in a fantastic Christian school and I worked part time at our local church. We were living our best life. All was settled.
My husband and I had just been introduced to Dave Ramsey and as a result, we decided to pay off some credit card debt that we had. I was driving down the road one day trying to figure out how we could get a bigger gap between our income and expenses. We didn’t have car payments, we rented at the time in CA so we had no home equity to dip into, we didn’t take any vacations, and selling a kidney seemed excessive….So, what were going to do?? It’s one of the times I feel that God just so clearly told me YOU ARE GOING TO HOMESCHOOL. Well, that’s entertaining. Interesting. O.K.. I can do anything for a year. I’m in. That will more than pay off what debt we had and build up a small savings before we put them back in the Christian school that they had been at for several years and we loved. So, I spent the summer turning our spare room into a classroom, complete with a class pet. I was entertained and ready. I like challenges.
Just a couple of weeks into the school year, God used the absence of that large monthly tuition bill to allow me the space to start digging into what was really going on with a fresh perspective. I was working “part time” for our church, which really was a very full time position. It had been a great fit for a time, but it had become an unhealthy situation for me and I was burned out. I had clutched on tight and dug my heels in because I did NOT WANT TO GIVE IT UP. I loved it SO much and it afforded a Christian school for my two oldest, which is exactly what I thought was best. Two months into our school year, I resigned. I wasn’t worried about a new job coming my way. I had a whole year to figure out how God would provide the funds for school next year. Surely, He would. I believed it.
The end of the year came and went and no miraculous, tailor made for me jobs popped up. I began planning for year #2 of school at home. Sometime that fall, I had a come to Jesus moment on the floor in my bathroom complete with many tears. I waved the white flag. I told Him I would give it my all and see what came of it. Here we are today, we just finished year 9. I have graduated 2 of my 4 kids. My younger 2 kids have never stepped foot in a classroom and they likely never will.
I love it. My husband loves it. My kids love it. Who would have thought?
I have spent hours and hours learning how to do this. Many, many, many conversations with God, begging for wisdom. Many sleepless nights feeling the pressure of the magnitude of my responsibility. I have tried more curriculum choices than I care to count. I’ve read books, blogs, and attended many conferences. We know what workboxes and lap books are. I am no longer regularly worrying that I am ruining my kids lives. I no longer mind living in the minority. I am genuinely so grateful for this life and education choice that we are living. It is one of many education options. It works. It is beautiful and doable. I am so glad God gives us what is best for us when we don’t even know it ourselves.
If you are interested in our curriculum choices check out the blog post with all the details here!
If you are interested in homeschooling products that we use and love, they will be available soon and continued to be added this summer! The link to my new store will be live soon!