I am so happy to have a wonderful "Why
Homeschool?" guest post today from Misty. I hope her thoughts and words inspire some of you. Thanks, Misty!
To see past posts in the series or to learn about how to participate, click on the Guest Posts Tab above.
To see past posts in the series or to learn about how to participate, click on the Guest Posts Tab above.
Hi! I am Misty, and I blog at
Mimi’s House. I have 3 beautiful children and have been
homeschooling since January of 2009. The question Why Homeschool? comes up a lot
I think. Anytime you are out and about with your kids on a school day people
tend to ask what you are doing, why the kids aren't in school and why in the
world would you want to spend all day with your children?
My
kids on the first day of school for the 2012-2013 school year!
For me homeschooling
originally was not an option. I was going to be a teacher! I had plans on
teaching since I was a small child. When I was with my cousins and friends we
always played “school”. I always loved kids, and taught Sunday school at my
church when I was a teen. I loved to teach!
When I had my first born Alyson the plan was to finish college and start
my career. But after I had her, I could not fathom putting her in daycare. My
parents refused to stop their lives to raise my child (at the time this
infuriated me, now I am grateful!) so I stayed home for a while with her. When
she was one I got a job working for a preschool program called Head Start. My
schedule meant Alyson would not have to be in daycare because I worked opposite
hours as my husband. Plus as a bonus, they would pay for me to finish school! I
had found my dream job!
However, my plan did not work
out like I wanted. I ended up pregnant with my middle Kristen when Alyson was
only 18 months. With two kids I could not imagine working the way my husband
and I had been doing. The opposite shifts and never seeing each other was
taking its toll on our marriage. So, I quit my dream job at the end of the
school year and started my own in home daycare. My plan was to still some day
put them in school and start my “real” job…
About a year or so later I felt the Lord dealing with me to homeschool. An awesome family in my church did it! And it looked really appealing. However, I felt like I was not “equipped” to teach her everything she needed to know. After all, I didn't finish college! So, off she went to preschool, which was an eye opening experience for me. She knew everything they were teaching her! She was so bored. Did she like school? Sure! She liked playing with her friends, but she did not understand why she wasn't home with me and the other kids. We were playing games, doing arts and crafts, having fun here, why couldn't she? I began asking myself the same question.
Alyson
during her first week at preschool
I pulled her out over
Christmas break. My husband still wasn't sold on homeschooling, but the Lord
had been dealing with him too. So, he said IF I could teach her to read, then I
could homeschool. That was the deal.
Within a few weeks she was reading. Teaching your child to read is such
an amazing accomplishment. There is something about seeing their eyes “light
up” that makes you realize you are capable of doing this! My family thought I
was nuts, some of my friends thought I was nuts, and sometimes I did too. But
still that nagging in the back of my head telling me I am doing the right thing
has kept me going!
There are so many reasons to
homeschool. As I just shared the biggest reason I began homeschooling was that
God told me too! But after a few years I have realized there are so many other
awesome benefits. Homeschooling has allowed me to cater to my children’s
learning abilities, we have the freedom to make our own school schedule, I am
able to teach my children Biblical truths as we go about our day, I know what
they are learning, and who they are with! I am getting ready to start our 5th
year of homeschooling. It has not always been easy and it was not part of my
original plan, but I have come to the realization that God’s plan for our lives is always so much better
than our own.
Our
family Christmas 2012
Misty is a homeschool mom to 3 beautiful blessings. She and
her husband just celebrated 10 years of marriage. She blogs at Mimi’s House on homemaking,
homeschooling, marriage, parenting and anything else the Lord lays on her
heart.



































