Homeschooling Is....

     Homeschooling is the joy of coming to a quiet park, the grass still green and lush, the sunshine perfectly warm, the quiet because public school is in session.     Homeschooling is the freedom to dictate our own schedule, to go where we need to when we're at our optimum, to catch the sales, to have time to devote ourselves to the Lord & His Word first.
     Homeschooling is being flexible.  It's realizing I may be teaching my 3 year old & 5 year old to read simotaneously.  It is soaking up the days and seasons and not being tied to a clock or a calendar.  It's rolling with the interruptions and learning to love the way every day is unique.
     Homeschool fills me with responsibility.  I am to answer for the childrens' safety, manners, education, the soil of their hearts and the seed of the Word.  Sometimes we homeschoolers focus too much on the product of our instruction and it becomes a source of pride when all is going well, and delivers a sense of defeat when it's not.  But what really, truly is the goal?  Jesus Christ, the righteous.  Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all the rest (yes, the manners, the discipline, the character, the education, the patience, the energy) will come.  Sometimes I believe I'm just as responsible for keeping our calendar free, open and non-stressful as I am for teaching a basic education.
     Homeschooling is hard.  But so is sending your children to public school, I've heard.  Dealing with the classmates and the teachers and the principal and all.  The stress of what they are exposed to, and the trials of all interpersonal conflict.  I've heard a LOT about this from friends, and I think that's a word from the Lord.  Perhaps public school is a more easily measured progress.  Perhaps not.
     You see who the local homeschoolers are when you come to the park in mid-day, school year.  God, may my words & thoughts be pleasing in your sight (Psalm 19.14).  May my secret thoughts be humble, so that my life will be.  It's my heart you want, Dear Lord.  And there's no experience that gives me opportunity to turn it in quite like homeschooling does!