Jesus. Yoga Pants. Homeschool.

Introduction

This is not the story I had planned. With my Masters in Counseling and Doctorate in Educational Leadership, I envisioned myself making a difference to a lot of people. I envisioned a fancy office, lunch breaks, and using the bathroom without a toddler sitting on my lap. I expected paid vacations, promotions, and being referred to by my colleagues as Dr. Bruce instead of “MOMMMMMMMM!” I had a plan that was well thought out, full of achievement, and selfish. I also had a pretty average and privileged life, not rendering itself to much of a testimony. I always wanted to have some sort of testimony I could share. Then I got it.

There is nothing like motherhood to break you and make you look at life with a fresh perspective. My entire testimony is my motherhood journey. God took this selfish, career driven woman who lived for vacations and molded her into a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom. The dress code isn’t as glamorous, the pay is nonexistent, but the benefits…Thank You, Lord. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to look at life and see what really matters. Thank You for giving me the ability to stay home with my children so they could teach me how to be a mother. Thank You for opening my heart to Your calling to keep them at home with me throughout their school years. Watching them grow up and learn about Your world is a privilege.
It is also a choice. Choosing to stay home with your children for an extended number of years is a sacrifice of yourself. You sacrifice part of your income, and the extras that went along with that income. Your way of life may change due to less finances, such as a smaller home, older car, hand-me-down clothes, and couponing. Your vacations may be fewer or closer to home. Your heart may sometimes ache for adult conversation, recognition, or accomplishment.

But your accomplishment is right in front of you. You are making a difference in the lives of your children, and the potential for the impact of their lives is limitless. Live with no regrets, my friends. And I promise you, you will never regret spending time with your children. You will never regret investing in them.
Shortly after the birth of our oldest child, my husband’s work relocated us to a new town. I felt isolated and lonely, strangely lonelier with a new baby, I suppose because my life and schedule revolved around her. I was an unintentional stay-at-home mom due to my husband’s relocation, and not feeling fulfilled in that role.

We started attending a small church, where I met a friend who has had more of an impact on my life in the one year we lived in that town together than she probably realizes. She was a mom of four. That in itself made no sense to me. Having one child made me feel like I was treading water and never quite enough. I asked her about it one day. I said, “Don’t you feel like with each child you have there is less and less love to go around?” She replied with a joyful smile, “No, it is actually the opposite. Each child we have has that many more siblings to love them. So really, each child has been loved so much more.” It made sense, but I didn’t fully understand it until I had my second child. Then my third. If God blesses us with more, I know I will be reminded of my friend’s wisdom.

She always seemed so content. More than content, really, she seemed so joyful in her role as a wife and mother. She frequently volunteered at church events and stayed busy homeschooling her four children. She would sometimes ask me if I ever considered homeschooling. I would dodge the question by saying we had several more years before we would have to think about school. I would mention it to my husband in the evenings and we would laugh together. No way would we homeschool. Once our kids were in school, I would return to my work. I even asked my friend once, “Aren’t you worried your kids will turn out weird if they are homeschooled?” She confidently answered, “Oh, homeschool kids are only weird if their parents are weird.” I now ponder what exactly that means for my own kids.

This is our story. A story about a family that never intended to homeschool. A story of God calling us to something we didn’t want to do, with a list of fears and doubts to back us up. Then our story changed. We became a homeschool family. It’s more than school, really. Homeschooling is a way of life. It’s spending time together, finding learning opportunities in everyday activities. It’s giving your child the gift of time, teaching them to slow down and be present. It’s less technology and more play. It’s teaching your child how to learn, and to love learning.

My intention behind this book is that you could be considering homeschooling today, read this book after you put the kids to bed tonight, and be encouraged to step out in faith tomorrow to begin your homeschool journey. My hope is that our story helps you find (or reignite) your passion for homeschooling.