This post is from contributor Kasey Norton
I’m going to let you in on a secret.
My house is pretty much always clean, tidy, and organized but that is where my homemaking giftedness stops. I am not a whiz in the kitchen, bringing forth gourmet-style meals that meet the highest health standards.
Nor do I have an eye for decor, creating a haven of peace and rest for my beloved family and friends. I’ve pored over websites and magazines, attempting to recreate the simplistic beauty found there, only to end up with hmmmm when I was striving for WOW!
So with my creativity barely bobbing above the surface, homeschooling has proven to be something of a challenge for me. And most of the time I end up feeling a little bit like an auto mechanic trying to perform dentistry. Clueless.
My desire to homeschool, combined with the call on my heart to do exactly that, should make me a force to be reckoned with. And I am. Just not in the way one would hope.
But I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t matter. My kids don’t need me to be good at it. They don’t even care if I’m good at it. They just need to see me fully immersed in this process of learning with them.
And they need the tools to go where they’ve never gone before…because that is what life is all about. I helped to write a book on homeschooling {<<—–affiliate link} that was released last week and the one thing that really struck me as I read through it is there is no wrong way to homeschool.
Which also means there are a whole lot of right ways!
We don’t have a fancy homeschool room. In fact, we don’t even have a homeschool room. My kids do their studies at the table, outside under a tree, or hanging upside down off the couch.
Yes, I look around at all the un-fancy and cringe at the lack of structure. But then I remember–being free is good. Freeing your child to learn in the way that best suits him is like handing him the key to unlock a whole life full of adventure. And that is exactly what he’s going to find if you keep allowing him to.
We have rules and guidelines under which our home operates. Character training and scripture are the focus of not only every school day, but every day of life. The other stuff is a bonus. A little extra cream on top of that pie.
Boxed curriculum is great if that is the kind of teacher you are and you’re teaching that type of student. But mine shriveled a little and threatened to die. They needed space to wiggle and explore. They needed time to dig into what really piqued their interest. With the exception of math, we’ve never made it the entire way through a single set of workbooks. Not because we’re slackers but because we use the workbooks as a catalyst to go further, to climb higher and to dig deeper.
Homeschooling isn’t just about book learning or creating great test takers. It isn’t only about preparing them for college or for their future job. It’s about fanning the flame of their hearts and encouraging them to go where the Lord leads them. That’ll look different not only for each family, but for each child within that family.
And it can take place even if you happen to be the self-professed worst homeschooler ever. Because where you are willing to give all you do have, He’ll make up for whatever you don’t.
Latest posts by Kasey Norton (see all)
- Homeschooling When it Isn’t Your Gift - April 5, 2018
- Finishing Out the Homeschool Year When You are Way Behind - April 8, 2014
- When Homeschooling Means Your Kids Are Left Out - January 10, 2014
- Beholding the Beautiful - December 2, 2013
- Homeschooling: The Forgotten Subjects - September 17, 2013
Thank you for sharing this. Most days I feel like the worst homeschooler ever because I don’t even kepp a lesson planner. I’m terrible at keeping up with schedules. Instead I have an index card on my fridge with the subjects that we cover so I don’t forgot one. I’m a no frills kind of girl. 😉 Sometimes I cringe at the lack of structure too, but I try to remember that it’s only for a season. 🙂
Can we trade gifts? LOL kidding! But great reminder.
My house. Nearly always a mess (I am working on it). My skills are in being creative. My house looks like a stereotypical artists house Haha! And although I want a clean and tidy house, and I am working towards it, this is a good reminder for me. Everyone has different strengths, in everything.
I have sterlite boxes from the dollar store that each workbook or material needed for a subject is in. I set them all by the table in the morning. I let her pick which subject to do and we dive in. I love it. She loves that she has some control over her day. As we complete each subject, I put its box back on the shelf.
That is genius!
Thank you for these lovely words, sweet friend! A great reminder for me that I need to use the gifts I have instead of trying to be something I am not! God knew what he was doing when he created me and called me to homeschool! You are such a blessing, Kasey 🙂
Completely agree with Kristin! Absolute genius!
Beautiful! This really is just what i needed.. i have been feeling like a home school mom failure lately.. I’m barely starting “official preschool” with my son but i feel like I’m doing it wrong when he tells me he doesn’t wasn’t to do this or that, or he’s bored with an activity i thought he’d love. The Lord has sent me on this homeschooling road, so i know it’s the right thing to do, i just feel like I’m doing it wrong. Thank you for this post! May God continue to bless you 🙂
Amen! Thank you Kasey 🙂 We homeschool moms really need to hear this message – often.
Thank you SO much for sharing 🙂 glad to know that I’m not alone in my *un-gifted-ness!
You have no idea how much this post brings peace to me. I am homeschooling my three for the first time and am feeling super inadequate. But I love training up my littles. And I believe Jesus can fill what I lack and then some, so thank you for reminding me of this.
I never homeschooled but I did teach piano to kids. Homeschooled kids were far and away the easiest to teach. They seemed to relate to adults better and were more motivated than either public schooled or Christian schooled kids. I have horrid memories of some public school situations. Also have some good memories, but I would think home schooling would be worth it. It just wasn’t an option when I was growing up.
Thank you for that… Very cool idea. So simple.
This morning I had a breakdown, I had left the room for 10 minutes, leaving my 1st and 3rd grader to continue doing flashcards with each other. Upon my return, my 3rd grader was outside, my 1st grader was running through the house in his superman cape and muddy shoes. I snapped. I yelled at them. I told them that if they didn’t straighten up and show me some respect and do what they’ve been told to do that by the end of the month if there was no improvement they were going back to public school. I told them that I had given up so much to do this for them, not for me, because I don’t want my son labeled as ADHD, and because my daughter has Familial Hemplegic Migraine Syndrome. I told them apparently I was not going to be able to do this, because I end up fussing at them nearly everyday to get them to do anything. I’ve tried behavior rewards of several varieties, nothing works. They don’t care. This morning and last night I had prayed asking God to show me with clarity that homeschooling was His idea for our family. Then this happened, so I was assuming that He was either testing me, or He didn’t want me to do this. I sat down at my computer, because I’ve given up schooling for the day, and I started sifting through my e-mails and Facebook, and I came across this post that really spoke to me, reminding me that it’s not all about the books, or the lesson plans. Thank you so much. Today by the way is October 9, 2013.
Could Moses speak? Was David Strong? Did Abraham have any sons? Not at the time that God called them to their tasks. Moses had to use other ways to lead God’s people out of Egypt. David used a stone, not his muscles. When God gave Abraham a HUGE promise, Abraham’s wife was barren. God will begin to equip you as you take those steps to do the will He has set out before you. Yes, I went to school to be a teacher. I knew the techniques, how to write and implement a lesson plan… yet I was NOT called to be a schoolroom teacher. I was called to parent my children in all aspects. Teaching them what they needed to know. I don’t know a lot of us who have degrees in that. But God will equip us as we seek first His kingdom. We can do this! God says so… and we aren’t alone in it. (OH THANK GOD!) I shared this article with all my friends who say, “I wish I could homeschool” Oh but you can!!!
very inspiring for my budding homeschooling endeavors! I will start next fall with 4k or may wait to be more formal with it until my daughter is 5 even. She already knows most of the 4K grad things and I do not want to make her bored with schoolwork. Thank you for the reminder that there are so many styles and that that is ok!
Did you end up continuing to homeschool. I have many days just like this.