Deciding to Homeschool: Our Simple How To Approach

As with many things when my husband first mentioned homeschooling, I laughed and said, “Ugh uh!”. I was already struggling with being a stay-at-home mom. In my head, I envisioned getting a little down time once both kids were in school or finding part time work! How would I even go about deciding to homeschool?

Thankfully, God already knew the plan and started showing us the way. Deciding to homeschool was a culmination of several things. Some weighed heavier than others, but altogether they pointed in a clear direction.

There was some trepidation on my part; I certainly didn’t want to be the one to screw up my child’s education! However, as we’re closing in on finishing up the second year of homeschooling, I would not change anything.

In no particular order, here are the things Jason and I considered as we decided if homeschooling was right for our family.

Individual Child’s Needs

Our daughter Q has been a highly spirited child since before she left the womb. She has the best laugh, brings a smile to your face, and constantly moves around. A never-ending bundle of happy energy that can leave one tired. She has laser focus on things she finds interesting but is otherwise distractable.

Her experiences in Sunday school and group classes varied pending the teacher/leader. Younger children have high levels of energy, but hers sometimes reaches beyond and often needs to be redirected.

As time progressed, it became clear she would do better in an environment where she would have one on one attention with the flexibility to move around and change gears as necessary.

Our 4-year-old son is a different story.  I often remind him to let his sister answer the questions herself! There’s a possibility he will be ahead of or learning some subjects with her. Only time will tell if his interest continues!

Curriculum

We try to incorporate our belief in God into every moment of living, including school. It was important for any curriculum taught to align with words written in the Bible. We are not trying to hide other belief systems from our children; however, we want to build a solid foundation on what we believe to be true first.

We also wanted to have some knowledge/control over what is being taught and when. We heard some alarming stories of questions being asked and ideologies being presented in classrooms (without the parent’s knowledge) we felt were inappropriate.

Deciding to homeschool seemed like a better option; to be the ones choosing curriculum and be fully aware of everything being taught. It will also allow us to gauge when they are emotionally/mentally mature enough to process things of a heavier nature.

Budget

We found a couple faith based private and Montessori schools in the area that looked wonderful. Many of them also came with a hefty price tag. Part of living life organically means paying for natural health services out of pocket and a larger grocery bill, our biggest expenses. We were not willing to cut back on those areas to create more wiggle room for tuition.

The cost of homeschool curriculum varies widely, but the ones we were favoring were much more attainable than enrolling in a private school. You can recuperate costs of materials by using again with younger children and/or selling when no longer needed.  

Our Own Experiences

Personally, I loved school (still do) – the structure, homework, and learning. I went to a private academy during my elementary years; I didn’t love it so much. Although I was intimidated to switch to a public school, I very much enjoyed the diversity after I came out of my shell.   

Jason is a very hands-on learner. He excelled at shop classes and anything math related. He did not enjoy the sit-down classroom part very much but looked forward to his early work release.

Two different experiences, so we each had our soap box on why one would be better than the other. In the end, as we considered Q’s individual personality and the fact that she tends to mirror Jason in so many ways, we decided to try homeschooling first.

God’s Direction

This one made the most impact. I prayed about it, wrestled with God about it, went back and forth over it. He was clearly telling me to pursue it, my selfish desires were telling me no, and I still had concerns. However, one by one, God started providing answers and peace.

I discovered some good friend were already homeschooling and would be a good resource. Then two different homeschooling friends offered to meet with me, answer questions, and show me what they used. I got connected to a faith based local homeschool group that meets once a week for music, art, and gym class.

There are good and bad days, just like any other student/teacher has. We work through them as best we can. I have found it most helpful to make sure I have a servants’ attitude before we begin our day. It’s also helpful to remember deciding to homeschool is not final. A child can always be enrolled in public/private school if things don’t work out. Just keep dependent on God to provide strength, patience, and direction.

Have any questions? Let me know in the comments! Check here for more homeschool information!