Inspirations on Home Schooling
by Diana Mondonedo
BACK TO SCHOOL! It’s that time of year again. For many this stirs up mixed emotions, while others are filled with excitement. When my children were young, I couldn’t wait to start the new school year. In early August, I’d have them begin with their core subjects: math, language, and reading. Then after Labor Day it would be full steam ahead with all their books. Then when they were grown and heading off to college, it was a different story. Even though I was excited for this new adventure for them, my eyes flooded with tears and my heart with prayers.
In Psalms 127:3 it says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
My husband and I were blessed with two beautiful children! Truly both are special gifts from God! As parents, we strived to care and do what was best for our children. So when our first born became school age, we needed to decide which form of education would be best for our family, Home School or traditional school. After much prayer and research, we chose to Home School. During my college years I had the amazing opportunity to teach a few subjects to some Home Schooled children. This experience gave me the confidence to say, “Yes, I can do this!” Two scriptures gave us confirmation that we made the right decision - Deuteronomy 6:7, “You shall teach them diligently to your children…” and Proverbs 1:8, “…hearing your father’s instruction and not forsaking your mother’s teaching.”
Looking back over my years of Home Schooling, I can remember the road was not always carefree. Balancing the teaching, the cleaning, the cooking, the sports and extracurricular activities, etc. would sometimes become overwhelming! There were sacrifices to be made. Sometimes doubts would attack my thoughts and I would find myself wondering if we really made the right decision. One day I read Isaiah 54:13, “Your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” I clung to this promise and it became the foundation of my teaching. Trusting in the Lord to teach my children, I aimed to develop a love of learning in their hearts, hoping this character quality would stay with them always.
Even though Home Schooling isn’t always easy, the beauty of it far outweighs the challenges. Such as the ability to choose a curriculum best suited for your child’s learning style, the flexibility of scheduling - I always took birthdays off for a fun day to celebrate ( This had the funny result of my son having a hard time attending class in college on his birthday!) - the joy of watching your child learn to read, seeing their eyes light up when they make new discoveries, and the best one is you get to spend all day with them.
God is faithful! I saw His hand guide my children through every stage of their education by teaching them every step of the way, blessing them, giving them favor, providing for their every need, opening doors and creating positions of leadership for them. Through all their hard work and discipline they both honored God by graduating top of their class with high Honors!
I consider it an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity of teaching my children at home, as well as many other students that have sat at my table. I will always cherish all the wonderful memories made during this season. Whether your child is taught at home or attends a traditional shool, these promises still pertain to your family… Your child is a heritage from the Lord. Parents are commanded to teach their children. All your children are taught by the Lord.
Do whatever you can to actively participate in their studies. Read with them and impart a love of learning! Put your trust in God and love your children!
Photo by Elements5 Digital via Unsplash