I have great respect for all types of educators.  I used to be one in a public elementary school setting myself.  I know many teachers personally, and their reasons for showing up every day come from a heart of love for their students.  I’m in no way putting down public or private education and/or educators by what I’m writing.  

I landed my first teaching job one week before I found out I was expecting our first child.  That was quite a week!  No matter how much I loved my job outside of the home, I always had a heart tug that made me war within myself everyday I left my children with someone else while I went out to educate others.  I wanted to be a stay at home momma so badly, but finances and our standard of life told me there was no way I could.  So I worked outside the home with inner heart turmoil for 12 years.  

My oldest was turning 12 and I was expecting our fourth baby. I was starting to see my oldest 2 daughters change in ways that didn’t at all match what my husband and I had always taught them and poured into them.  I could see how peers and culture were influencing them…and not in a good way.  They were believing lies about themselves, always crying, comparing everything they had and what they wore/did with the “cool” peers, and no longer wanting to spend time with family.  Only friends mattered.  And the attitudes and disrespect were startling!  I could no longer stand it.  My husband and I prayerfully sought out how I could stay home.  I knew how to teach.  I wanted my children to have not only a fantastic education, but even more importantly, be surrounded by God’s truth and love each day.  The more I prayed, the more I sensed God saying that my children were worth fighting for.  The enemy wanted them to veer from what God’s plans were for their lives.  They were on the downward spiral of their sweet spirits being destroyed.  I came to the realization that no sacrifice was too much to fight for their lives and spirits.  So I put in a month’s notice, and decided to stay home with my 2 youngest babies and school my 2 oldest babies at the time.  

That was 7 years ago at the time of writing this.  And let me tell you, the change was obvious within about 2 months of having them home.  I surrounded them with truth about themselves. I intentionally taught love for siblings and family over any other relationships.  I added God’s Word to their daily curriculum.  I addressed attitudes and behaviors the moment they showed up.  They could no longer stomp off and go to school and keep me out.  They became SO close to me.  The crying stopped.  The comparison stopped.  Family became the closest relationships with friendships (and select ones) second.  My sweet hearted, obedient, loving girls were back! 

I check in every summer to see where the oldest ones stand with our schooling.  I care about how they feel.  Neither girl that I pulled from the public school system has EVER wanted to go back.  My younger ones know nothing but homeschooling.  And they all love it…as do I.  

I now have 5 children.  And #6 will be arriving in roughly 2 months.  Early last year, we were blessed but surprised at birth to have 1 with special needs in the mix as well.  I have a lot on my plate, but homeschooling has been so valuable that I’ll never let myself look back and change ship.  Their hearts matter.  Their self esteem matters.  Their family values and relationships matter.  It helps shape who they become. My firstborn just graduated from our homeschool. And I look forward to graduating all the rest in the future.

If you are on the fence about homeschooling, let me encourage you.  You will NEVER regret what you pour in.  You’ll NEVER regret all the precious, fleeting time you spend with your child(ren).  And you’ll NEVER find another teacher anywhere, no matter their level of degree, that knows your child(ren) like you do.  You know how they learn best, their hearts, their emotions, their triggers, their love language, etc.  And you’ll NEVER find anyone that cares as much for or about your child(ren) as you.  

Will there be sacrifices?  You bet.  A lot of them.  Can you make it with the sacrifices?  100%. And it will be 100% worth it.