Making the Decision to Homeschool: Why I Quit Teaching for my Kids Future.

Have you ever made a life-altering decision that you never thought you would make? Deciding to homeschool my three children was never something I thought I’d do. I knew that once I got married and had children, I wanted to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom (SAHM), but not a homeschool mom. I was a high school teacher in the public school system, and I am a proud product of public school education. I always thought my children would follow in my footsteps, but as my oldest child got closer to school age, my feelings started to change. I could feel the Lord tugging at my heartstrings and changing my heart about the option of homeschooling my children.

My Why

As I was going back and forth deciding if this is the path I should walk down, these are the reasons that solidified my decision:

• I wanted to have complete control over what my children learn and how they learn it.

• I wanted to create a safe and comfortable learning environment according to my children's needs.

• Homeschooling would provide me with the opportunity to spend as much time with my children as possible.

• I valued teaching life skills, and I believed the best way for them to learn these skills was by being with me.

• I wanted to teach them the Bible and have the truths of the Bible be the undertone of everything they learned.

• Homeschooling would allow me to be hands-on and creative with the learning process.

• This is not a criticism of public schools, but I knew the direction the school system was heading would not align with our family's core values.

• I valued being the person who would play the largest part in shaping their young hearts and minds. That meant more to me than anything else.

Taking the plunge and deciding to become a homeschool mom was a leap of faith. I had no idea what to expect, how I was going to do it, or where to even begin. I also struggled with having the confidence to be a homeschool mom. Yes, even with my background in education, I was nervous and questioning my ability to homeschool. Would I be able to engage them and keep their attention? Will they be on par with other students their age? Will I be patient enough? Will this decision take away from their social skills? Will they hate me later in life because they feel like they missed out on the public school experience? There were so many questions and insecurities running through my mind, but I moved forward anyway!

Once I knew that this is what I wanted to do, I talked to my husband and other mothers who were currently homeschooling or had homeschooled their children at some point. This gave me confidence and the push I needed. I spent a year (or more) researching curriculums, reading about homeschooling techniques, exploring websites with free or low-cost curriculum options, joining local homeschool groups on social media for ideas and support, and so much more just to make sure I was well prepared to move forward on this journey. As you can tell, I took this decision seriously and probably went a little overboard, to say the least! What helped me the most throughout the process of making this decision to this very moment being currently in the thick of homeschooling, is knowing that this does not have to be a forever decision. If I choose to send my children to a public school in the future, I will not feel like a failure or like I made the wrong decision. I am making a decision that suits the needs of my family right now. That may change down the road, and if it does, that's okay.

In conclusion, remember that choosing how to educate your child is a heavy decision and should be thought through with care and intention. If you are thinking of journeying down the homeschool road, talk to people who are in it (including me), they/we will be real with you. Pray about it. This is not a fly-by-night decision. Take your time, and be settled in your heart that this is the way you should go. As always, mamas, you got this and I am rooting for you!

If you have any questions or need guidance in making this decision, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can submit a contact form or email me, and we can walk through this decision together.

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