Sunday, June 13, 2010

Having a rant today

I had not planned on posting today but after some things someone has said to me I felt the need. I chose to homeschool because my children were slipping through the cracks at school.  We also homeschool because it allows us certain freedoms. We homeschool because my son asked us to. We homeschool to learn to love the Lord. We deal with multiple behavior problems caused by a variety of medical conditions. In other words we do it for a variety of reasons.

In the past year no one has outright challenged out decision but many have made innuendos. Innuendos that suggest I am off my rocker and that I do not know what I am doing. That it is wrong or sheltering, that I am doing my children an injustice. I am sure everyone of them feels justified in their thinking. I however know better. I know my children and I know what traditional school has brought them. Heartache and pain! I know that they walk closer in the Lord because we homeschool. I know that they thank me for being their teacher. I know how to teach them the best.

It is inconcievable to me that for me to go to college and get my teaching degree is acceptable. That it is ok to teach other people's children. Yet it is weird, strange, abnormal, and different to teach my own. Different is equivalent to something to fear in this society. That is why I am glad to homeschool, to teach my children that different is beautiful and not something to abhore. To be in this world but not of it.

In the past year my children have grown and matured and changed for the better in ways I previously never would have imagined. They are better for it. Unfortunately there are those who are still only focusing on the fact that we homeschool and that it is weird. They don't do their research and still stick to their biased, uneducated notions of what it means to homeschool. It breaks my heart that they refuse to see the good it has done in our family.

I admit not everyone will be succesfull in homeschooling...at first. It takes dedication, perserverance, patience, and above all love. It is not easy but it is so worth it.  As a matter of fact I was not on board with homeschooling for 2 years. It took me that long to listen to the Lord and follow his lead. I thought I would never have the patience I needed nor the dedication. I loved my kids but man they drove me nuts most of the time. I was wrong! Oh don't kid yourselves my kids are far from perfect angels but now they know how to make good choices and what to expect from life. They are no longer slipping through the cracks.

As for the naysayers, I will educate my children as I see fit. If they take offense they can keep it to them selves. If they don't then I have no reason to associate with them and my family will cease in doing so.  I am finally understanding what it means to be a persecuted Christian for standing up for my beliefs. 




10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the Crew! I just love the design of your blog - the butterflies are beautiful!

I also agree with this post - it's hard not to feel like you're being interrogated sometimes when people ask you about your homeschooling.

I'm now following you on Google friend, and I'm looking forward to reading many more of your posts. :-)

Lisa C. from the Crew
www.teachthemhisways.blogspot.com

JenniferSaake.blogspot.com said...

{{{hug}}}

Angela said...

Your doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do and that is the ONLY ONE to please. Welcome to the crew, great to meet a new member

Angela

i cant decide said...

Hello,
I know what you mean. It does get easier to deal with as time goes by. You just get used to the strange looks and questions and then they don't bug you anymore. Knowing you are doing the right thing really helps.

I'm on the same mini team for TOS Crew this year. I just wanted to stop by to say hi and I'm looking forward to getting to know you this year.

Mrs. Mandy said...

Oh thank you my lovely friends! I feel truly blessed by your encouragement. I think I need to learn the art of killing them with kindness, LOL! Unfortunately I am too well versed in sarcasm instead.

Catherine (Alecat Music) said...

Hello Mrs Mandy.
I'm a newbie TOS Crew member also and have dropped by to say 'hiya'.
I think, generally, most homeschoolers face the kind of opposition you're describing. Most of my friendship circles have taken quite a while to accept what we're doing, but as time's gone on, they see that our children are happy and learning good quality material.
Your post echos many of my thoughts. Be encouraged, as you do know you're children best, and may you continue to develop the best relationship with them through your learning together.
Catherine (aka alecat)

Anonymous said...

Hi! I want to welcome you to the Crew and to let you know that I signed up to follow your blog with Google Friend Connect. I also want to tell you that I think it is wonderful that you chose to homeschool your children even if you don't have the support you would like to have from friends or family members. It can be hard at times, but the "job" of homeschooling mom is one with many rewards too! I wouldn't trade this time with my children for anything in this world!

Blessings from FM Wendy!

Kelly said...

Mrs. Mandy I totally agree. My husband and I decided to Homeschool for many reasons and for some they thought we were wasting our talents. we are given these gifts from the Lord to train up to be more like Him. How can we do that when they spend more time sleeping and at school then with their parents.
Welcome to the crew. I also am a newbie on the Crew. Love your layout and background!

Lynn said...

All I have to say to this is AMEN!!!! Well said.. and I totally agree.. Stopped by from the TOS Crew.. I look forward to getting to know you this year!!

Julieanne said...

I, too, was a public school teacher before our children were born, and I still got the strange looks, the snide comments, and the questions when we first began to homeschool, even from people who loved us tons and knew us well!

Over the years, I have come to realize that a lot of their questions and comments came from fear that we were going to completely isolate our children from "the world", or they would get far behind in their academics. Even solid Christians would question why in the world we would want to do this! (I still don't understand that one.)

As time has gone on, they've noticed that our children are very sociable, have lots of friends, academically are doing well, have nice behavior, and are growing in their faith in the Lord. Most of the comments and innuendos have faded to the background. Whew!

But now we are starting to get some comments from people in our church as our oldest daughter will be entering her second year of jr. high this fall. Oh, well. God knows our hearts and the blessings we are having by spending so much more QUALITY time with our children. I just feel badly that they aren't getting to experience what the Lord has enabled us to experience!

Oh, and welcome to the TOS Crew! I'm following you with Google Friend Connect now.

Julieanne
www.JoyInOurJourney.com

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