Human Resources Are Key For Homeschooling

Every homeschooling mom needs several key people she feels comfortable calling on when the going gets tough.

You've got your curriculum, consumables, and manipulatives. Books line the shelves, and your supply drawer is stocked. So far, your year is going along smoothly. But could it be your homeschooling toolbox lacks the most valued resource of all, human resources?

A veteran homeschool mom. When my first baby was born, my husband and I lived eight hours away from our moms. I needed mom mentors who had been through the baby years and come out safely on the other side! I sought these moms in my church and quickly connected with a gal who had three kids under nine years old. I figured with three kids, she had probably experienced anything I would be going through with my little one, and I was right! From mastitis to milk allergies, she always had the answer when I called.

A veteran homeschool mom is one who has been through the tough times of fielding grandparents' questions and the stares of nosy neighbors. She has survived phonics, the phoenix, and sesquipedalophobia (uhm...hello? Fear of long words! LOL). She can handle your occasional freak-outs because she has been there. She made it--you will too.

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A mom like you. I've talked quite a bit on this blog about my friend Sandy, and I'm sure some of you feel as if you know her (and some of you do! LOL). But it has made all the difference in the world to have a friend right here on the journey with me. There is no one who understands you like another homeschool mom. She knows what it's like! She knows what you do all day, and she knows why you do it. While there's no doubt that cyber friends are great, the fact remains that you need to connect personally--with a real, face-to-face support group of homeschooling moms who can actually look in your eyes, hug your neck, and sit across a table from you. And your kids need their kids.

A team of community advisors. Check out this list:

• The public librarian. Public libraries know homeschoolers well these days! Connect with a local librarian and get the help you need to pull together enrichment supplies for your studies.
• Your pastor. When my family announced plans to homeschool, we were considered radical by the sweet church we attended who had never really known anything about homeschooling. There were lots of questions, and even some "tsk-tsk's" from well-meaning folks who thought we were "cheating" our children, LOL. One Sunday, our pastor was using a sermon illustration from the life of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He paused and mentioned that O'Connor was homeschooled during the early years of her education, looking in the direction of my husband and me with a smile. In doing that, that precious man put his stamp of approval on our choice. Very cool.
• School teachers. There are a lot of school teachers, both public and private, who will serve as great resources for you. I certainly learned that when Danya and I were wading through Latin. Having a few teacher friends also helped when we headed toward senior year and college entrance exams and all the mind-boggling stuff that goes with that.
• Grandparents. From coaching baseball to teaching languages and economics, my kids' grandparents have been very involved and so supportive of our decision to homeschool. I've been so grateful for their support, from the first day to graduation day!

Human resources are key in all of life, but especially in homeschooling! Take care to prayerfully seek out those who would encourage, inspire, and support you in your desire to successfully do that thing you do: teach your children at home.

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This post has been submitted to Helpful Homeschool Hints.

Weekly Wrap-Up: A Divine Appointment?

My friend Sandy and I have been working together on a project for a few weeks now, and so we have moved our infamous "teachers' meetings" to a booth at a nearby Chick-fil-a where we are literally taking up time and space for several hours. This past Tuesday, a mom and her preschool-aged daughter came in and sat close to us. They were having a great time together, engaging in conversation, really having a lot of fun. Since Sandy and I are just now getting used to the fact that our girls have graduated, we were enjoying watching them while we remembered some of the things we used to do with our kids when they were little. Some of our best memories, of course, revolve around the days we spent with our kids in homeschool. So we were talking about some of those kindergarten activities, field trips, and books we enjoyed.

As the mom and her little girl got up to leave, she stopped by our table.
"I couldn't help but overhear you talking about school," she said. "My daughter is going into kindergarten next year. Could you tell me about the school up the street? Is it a good one?"
So we told her that we didn't know anything about that school, that we had homeschooled our kids.
She hesitated, then said, "I've thought about doing that."
Sandy smiled and said, "We have loved it."
And then this mom says, "Well, I'd like to, but my daughter is really social, and she needs to be around other kids."

Honestly, I am the first to say that homeschooling is not for everyone. But if you are thinking about it, and you want to tell me that your child is too social for it, then I take that personally, as though you are saying that my children are socially maimed because of our choice to homeschool. It is not a valid argument for backing away from homeschooling if the Lord is calling you to do it.
Sandy just laughed and said, "Our children are all fine. They got plenty of socialization through church and sports." We chatted for a few more minutes, and the mom said that she had been listening to us talk, and she thought we were teachers (hello? LOL), so she had just wanted to ask us about the local schools.

But there was just something about this mom, a hesitancy about her spirit, so I said, "You know, this just might be a divine appointment. Maybe homeschooling is something you should consider."

Then she said, "I would really like to, but my husband won't hear of it."

Ohhhh.....

And then I told her this, which I firmly believe, "If you and your husband are not on the same page, it will not work."

If your neighbors think you're crazy, you can still homeschool.
If your family thinks you're crazy, you can still homeschool.
If your friends think you're crazy, you can still homeschool.

You will certainly miss their support and encouragement, but you can ignore the nay-sayers, pray for strength, and make new friends. If your husband, however, does not want you to do it, then you are setting yourself up for a house divided if you pursue your desires over his. But what if I really believe I'm called to homeschool my children? Then you need to continue to submit (yes, I said the s-word!), and leave any mind and heart-changing in the hands of the Lord. Easy? Nope. Necessary? Yep.

Well, that's my contribution to Kris's Weekly Wrap-Up! I'd love to hear from you today--tell me about any obstacles you have overcome in your choice to homeschool!

Plus, if you've seen my posts lately on the topic "Porn&Purity," I'd love your feedback! Oh, and, Dig Deep is on sale! Check it out HERE!



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A New Beginning Means Something Had to End

 Olivia and Danya: Lifelong friends

Hey Everybody,

Olivia came over to say good-bye to Danya just before she left for college. (She'll be attending Montreat in North Carolina and playing soccer for them, while Danya is heading for a local university. Both these homeschooled students are going to the schools they have dreamed of attending, both on scholarships, and both desire to share Jesus with their generation.) I knew I had to be strong for my friend Sandy, but I declare, as Olivia was getting out of the car, I started to tear up! So much for being strong for my friend!

Sandy was doing remarkably well, but then we started taking some pictures of these two gals and she was getting all misty-eyed too!

If you're joining me today after reading my guest post over at the ParentLife Blog, welcome! By way of introduction, my daughter Danya and her friend Olivia have homeschooled together since they were in pre-school. (Sandy and I may have been a little eager, but we were in "learning-as-we-go" mode, and I wouldn't trade those early days for anything!)

When it came to their "fond farewell," the girls were fine, of course, because they both have a clear sense of purpose as they pursue the next phase of their education and the next season of their lives. I wanted them to do a silly pose for this pic (above) but the more I look at it, the more I see it as an illustration of all the emotions we feel as parents when it's time to let go. (They really are hysterical, aren't they? LOL) We want to hang on. But the car is right there behind them. When it's time to go, it's time to go.

Thirteen years ago, the speaker at the girls' kindergarten graduation (yes, we had a speaker, baby--my friend Sandy does it RIGHT! LOL!) who drew this illustration:

A traditionally schooled education is like being at the airport. When your flight is taking off, it is going in the air with or without you. If you're in the bathroom, or getting a drink, or just running late, the flight takes off as scheduled. But with homeschooling, you [the parent] are flying the plane. You decide the schedule, and you take off when your child is ready. In other words, you take as long as you need. Subject by subject, you don't move on academically until your child is ready. And by the same token, you don't waste time loitering at the gate when your child is chomping at the bit to proceed!

Those were wise words of encouragement for a homeschool kindergarten graduation. However, with high school graduation, I'm learning, it is no longer my plane to fly.

Bittersweet.