Saturday, November 17, 2007

Choices

When you happen to live in the same city as a wonderful Classical and Christian school, it can be difficult to explain your choice to homeschool.

When two of your dear family members are founding members of that excellent school, it gets even more tricky to justify your homeschooling decision.

When you spent a year teaching at that school, and growing to love many of it's methods, things can get really complicated.

When your grandparents offer to foot the bill for your firstborn to attend that school and you graciously refuse it, you can begin to wonder whether you are slowly going insane.

When a friend, whose daughter is attending second grade at that school, tells you about the paragraph she recently wrote in class; you might start worrying that your child is not keeping up.

And so, I have to go back to the beginning. I have to remember why I am doing this. Ultimately, it is because the Lord has clearly called us to be a homeschooling family. I can only endure the "concern" from others when I focus upon him. My children may not be super advanced in their studies. But, they are learning so much. I hope that someday, others will be able to see the fruit of our choice. In the meantime, I seek my encouragement from the Lord and from those of you who are or have been in my shoes. I am so thankful for this tool to daily connect me with encouragement from other homeschooling families.

As an aside, I found this Ambleside Language Arts scope and sequence very reassuring that we are doing just fine.

9 comments:

  1. I think that homeschooled children often seem behind in 1st and 2nd grades because their parents have a wide language arts approach rather than a narrow one. By 3rd or 4th grade that gap is gone and the homeschooled child....especially one that has been in a language rich environment like Ambleside leaps ahead and makes all the grandparents proud.

    Now you will actually read authors like Sam Blumenfeld say that is statistically true but I just KNOW it has been true for my children.


    Keep reading to those little ones and one day it will all come together.

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  2. Kendra...
    You are to be admired for following your convictions in face of those "obstacles". (however *good* those obstacles may be!!)
    Like I said...press on!!
    May others see the fruit in your faithfulness!!

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  3. Kendra,
    Wow! I haven't ever faced all (or any) of those circumstances, but I doubt our decision to homeschool ALL of the time. There. I've said it. But each day is fresh, and God gives me new grace and mercy, and I keep at it, knowing that He is glorified by my obedience. May the Lord continue to bless your efforts, and may you rest easy knowing that even when you fail as a teacher, He is there to pick up the slack.

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  4. We have homeschooled now for 8 years (Wow! I can't believe it's been that long!) Our oldest two children are boys (12 and 10)...and it has not been easy. Dad is gone long days for his work and many times it has been downright HARD. That said, I am so thankful that we stuck w/ it. The 'fruit of labor' is becoming a reality! We are so proud of our boys (and two little girls!) Frankly, I think you're right that it may be years down the road that someone, who voiced 'concerns', sees any evidence of the wisdom of our family's decision...because it can appear (and feel like) an insane idea here in the midst of it!
    Have a Happy Thanksgiving with your sweet family!rp

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  5. Kendra: I truly believe God will honor your conviction since you are doing it out of obedience to Him.

    Obey first, everything else falls into place.

    Hugs!

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  6. I agree with Elizabeth and Andrea and I also struggle with trying to please everyone else sometimes instead of resting in the fact that I know I am following Him. Especially, when it comes to going against the rest of the family! But you are doing the right thing. You may never hear that from those concerned, and that's ok too!

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  7. Kendra, I'm right there with ya.
    http://www.sarahjoyalbrecht.com/2007/10/17/glimpse-homeschooling-parent/

    I love reading your blog!

    I was married 8 years ago, at 19, too. We have 5 kiddies and homeschool as well. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me.

    Much love,
    Sarah Joy

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  8. I am SO right there with ya, Kendra. I doubt myself on most days. But I don't doubt the Lord's leading and His goodness and provision to me and HIS love for our family.
    He has great things in store for YOu and your children through this process.
    I too have to remind myself not to compare or not let it get me down when others go ahead and compare (without my asking). So long as that doesn't happen, I feel pretty good about the whole thing!
    God is faithful.
    blessings,
    Abby~

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  9. oops sorry that last comment was SEth's wife, Abby~

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