I didn’t know there was anything other than public school until way later in life. When I was a child in junior pro basketball we used the gym of the only Christian school in town every now and again. Honestly, I thought it was just anther public school and I didn’t understand it or even think of it until years later.
Furthermore, I didn’t know there was such a thing as home schooling until I was 21 years old. I worked with a guy who told me he was home schooled two years because he was close to being kicked out of school so his parents decided to home school him instead. So I always associated home schooling as something people did because they were kicked out of public school.
It was only after I became a Christian and went to Bible school that I realized that home schooling was a good thing and a great option for those who wanted to teach their kids themselves. I met lots of folks in my Bible School class who were home schooled and I was so fascinated to hear about it. It was so new and they got great educations and had some very solid Biblical training already.
But the great news about living in America is you can home school your child, send them to a Christian school if you have the funds, or send them to public school. Three options and I am sure there are more. But living here on the mission field where we work, we are only left with option A (home schooling).
So at the beginning of the year we find ourselves so excited to begin and teach but by week 2 or 3 we find ourselves going through days where we feel like pulling our hair out. Having two girls in school and two hanging on mommy all morning (although thankfully, Livia still takes a morning nap, so that helps for a bit of it) makes it quite challenging for LaShawn. I act as principal and at least once or twice a week Allie or Kara has to “come to my office”, usually resulting in a motivational speech!
They are actually very smart but trying to make them focus in this type of environment is a feat! There is such a thing as good peer pressure that all kids get in a school setting with multiple students whereby they must conform to sitting in a seat until told to get up, not blurting out every thought, and just focusing on the task at hand. Those principles are easier for some kids and harder for others. Our kids still don’t understand that the harder and faster they work, the quicker school is done.
But we praise the Lord our kids are learning and going forward. Some days may be difficult, as there is much more to be done than schooling. In the midst of those difficult days, LaShawn is still so very thankful to have the opportunity to spend time with the girls, teaching them not only how to read and write properly but also what it means to love the Lord with all their hearts. It is such a challenge and we sure appreciate your prayers each day!