HOMESCHOOLING BEGINS WITH HOME
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LORD, CHANGE ME! |
When I first began homeschooling my oldest child in 1994, I started many academic pursuits when she was way too young. Conflicts arose between my daughter and me because I simply expected too much from her. As I renewed my mind about academics, I began to believe homeschooling begins with home.
I stopped outside activities for a season so I could be home with my two young children and purposefully develop the tool of home.
I also began to surrender my mindset to the Lord, asking Him to transform me through the renewing of my mind. I started to lay aside my agenda, based on the scope and sequence the system advocates, and change my daily routine to allow for margin.
One of those changes involved spending long, lazy days at home bringing my children alongside me in household tasks as well as establishing a family reading time. Reading aloud with my children became such a precious time of learning—for all of us!—that eventually I let go of my fears of the system.
fear of man
is one aspect of dying to self.
The Lord had clearly shown me that I needed to trust Him and not a curriculum. As I yielded willingly and obeyed wholeheartedly, I learned of His faithfulness to provide me with wisdom related to the pursuit of elementary-“school” academics.
I gained confidence in hearing from the Lord about academic pursuits, my burden became light, and my daughter and I began developing a deeper relationship as we processed real life together rather than followed someone else’s curriculum.
I do use various textbooks and curriculum now, but they are not master of my life. Rather, they are tools for a particular season and purpose. My Head and Master is Christ Who leads me through His Spirit.
WHY IS THERE STILL CONFLICT? |
As we continued with homeschooling, of course there were times when conflict did arise. The Lord had been renewing my mind and giving me wisdom about not pressuring my children to fit an academic scope and sequence but rather encouraging them to develop a love of learning.
How? Through coming alongside them and validating their personal pursuits during their free time and through coming alongside them in relationship. I had changed because I was abiding and obeying. So why were there still conflicts?
Although I knew in my head that my children had sin natures, in practice I was taking all the responsibility for the conflicts on my shoulders. When conflicts arose, being an overly responsible mother, I continued to examine my heart thoroughly. That’s when the Lord turned my attention to the purpose of conflict between me and my children and between one child and another:
and deal with their flesh so their flesh won’t rule them.
This revelation strengthened my resolve to value conflict rather than fear it and run from it because I had no idea how to handle it.
I had experienced God’s parenting of me through change. Why? So I could lead my children through that same process. I began to receive wisdom when dealing with my children during deskwork conflict and also during conflict with each other.
I hope this testimony encourages you to yield your whole heart to Him and seek the Lord for His wisdom for your particular circumstances.
over the flesh in your Christian walk so that
you can lead your children in that same process.
Additional Christian homeschooling articles:
- Skills and Knowledge (Overview Article)
- Family Reading
Lord, build up each member of this precious woman’s home
and Your Body, the Church.May she press on in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all men generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith.
~James 1:5-6aReturn to Homeschooling Articles Page
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