This past weekend, I began the arduous task of cleaning out my schoolroom. In the blitz of raising my 7 children, and educating them, I stashed too often and sorted too little. There was just so much action, so many needs, so much that was more important than cleaning. And it looks now as if time stood still in my schoolroom, while the years ticked by and the children grew up.
As I sort and toss the broken crayons and the random multiplication flash cards, I am encountering sweet, scrawling handwritten reports and notes from those beloved children who once made this room so full of life and learning. And drawings and project plans and dreams. Oh, I hope I spent my time with them teaching what really matters! I hope my focus was in the right place.
While you are deep in the homeschooling years, it seems that it will go on and on. It seems that there is time for lots more geography and years for English. Truly, it flees so fast! Shockingly fast. And those little hands that struggled to hold their pencil correctly now wear wedding rings.
It is hard for me to clean out this room. It is difficult to part with those little phonics readers that each beloved child learned to read on. And the adventure stories so attentively listened to while I read them aloud to a rapt audience of shining-eyed children. A whole childhood of training seems condensed into this room.
So what matters? Not the things I worried about for sure, such as getting into college or learning grammar or Algebra. Not to discount those issues, but they aren’t the main thing. The main thing is to help raise a person of integrity and goodness. Kind. Faithful. Trustworthy. Pure. Full of love for God, family and freedom. If that is the result of your efforts, you have been a very successful “homeschool mom” indeed.
Homeschooling allowed me the opportunity to infuse truth and testimony into every subject. Science is the masterful organization of God’s creation, revealed in the world around us. Math, the order and patterns by which the universe works. English: the gift to express, uplift, commune, influence, testify. History: human lives lived in every circumstance and few as favored as ours. The realization that there are no new sins, and that virtue is never out of date. As homeschoolers, we teach a worldview, not just academic subjects. The children learn to see the world through the window of our values. Transfer of values: the first and foremost subject.
What a wonderful project homeschooling is! What a noble thing, mothers, to dedicate your strength and energy to! Louisa, 15, is still homeschooling, but as my last child moves through the high school years, I know our days together are numbered. I have other interesting projects—things to do—but in pondering, I feel nostalgic because there is no career as meaningful and far-reaching as shaping our children’s hearts and minds. There is no project that packs half the power. If you are there right now, in the busy schoolroom stage, know that your efforts really matter. You are making a tremendous difference! Do your best, and make sure you enjoy. It matters.
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This is so true! I was blessed with only two children, but I remember feeling like homeschooling would never end, like I just couldn't go on another year. This year has hit me hard, as my oldest is in his senior year, and my youngest started her freshman year. I realize how little time I have left and it is HARD. I dread going up to the attic in a few months and cleaning out all the school books and supplies. I really miss having the little ones to teach. It makes me more thankful for the little bit of time I have left with my two precious children. Going through a tough ordeal with our son's health this spring taught me even more just how precious my children are. We had to watch him go through an illness and major surgery, and only after surgery did we find out how close we came to losing him.
I remember being a young mother and spending so much of my time worrying and fretting over the unimportant stuff. My son was a very challenging child and I didn't know if I could even continue to homeschool him. But God in His goodness gave me the strength to continue and I will never regret it. I don't care if my kids are academic geniuses. They are both wonderful, respectful teenagers and I am so proud of them both. Yet I so wish I could get a few of the years back so that I could hold on a little longer. Please never wish those young years away. You will most certainly get your wish, as time passes all too quickly.
I guess you wouldn't know how to overcome homeschooling failure. My 11 year-old boy was brimming with love for Jesus as an eight-year-old but because of the way a few others treated him at Church has no interest in being a good person. My impatience with his unsavory behavior at home is not helping. Explaining that the people at Church are not perfect, only Christ is perfect is not helping. He says the Lord doesn't answer his prayers so why believe in Him?
Oh how true Diane!! As I get up a little extra early this morning to plan the full day ahead, it does feel it will go on and on at times!! It is so hectic and at times, I feel unappreciated and unnoticed. But I do know how important this work it, and there is nothing I would rather be doing right now. Thank you for the reminder!!
Thank you so much, Diane! What an encouragement and a blessing your words are to me! It's so easy for me to get wrapped up in the schedule and timeline of homeschooling, but you are right–I get to just enjoy it now while it's here!! What a huge gift to be with my children now. Thank you for your wisdom and encouragement!
I agree! My mom homeschooled all of us, and now I am homeschooling my nine children. I think the very most important thing about having them at home is to spend time teaching them the gospel. My parents were wonderful at this.
Diane, I sit here with tears in my eyes… Thank you for this very sweet article! My homeschooling days are all over and we have moved a couple of times since then, and because of that I dismantled the school room a while back, but your article flooded my mind with those memories. Yes, their little fingers do now wear wedding bands and what a thrill it has been for me to see these children still so sweet and pure! I still appreciate your articles helping us realize that even though we may not have done a perfect job academically, to have this blessed time with them and be able to transfer our values to them– and have them stick– has been one of the very best parts of my life. At the time, it seemed like it wouldn't end, but end it has and looking back I too, am so grateful for the opportunity I had to homeschool. Thanks for all your help over the years!
Thank you!!! I just love reading your posts. Often I wished I could sit and talk with you over a cup of tea or coffee! You have so much to share and offer. Thank you!
My dear friend whom i've only met ever so briefly…
Wishing you and your family a bountiful Thanksgiving. Please know that you are loved and oh so appreciated.
I agree with Laura. I was told about your website from a friend and I often come to your blog to uplift me. Encourage whatever I need at the moment. You are amazing.