I Fail……..{Part 3}

I fail….as a homeschooler.

My children, I fear, will never be nearly as educated as I hope.

I wonder what ever possessed me to do this in the first place.

I am so not gonna have any hair left by the time these people graduate……..

These are just some of the daily thoughts I have as a homeschooling mama. Here are some more reasons why I Fail as a homeschooling mama:

I Fail…..

…as a homeschooling mama because I never liked school myself.

…because school is soooooo boring!

…because I am too selfish.

…because I get tired of my kids. Tired of seeing them 24/7/365, with no breaks, E.V.E.R. Not even bathroom breaks!

…because I totally hate math and it is so hard to teach.

…because I am too much of a perfectionist.

…because I fall behind on my other chores and duties.

…because I still haven’t figured out what in the world I am doing, even after 7 years!

…because I sometimes think that the school across the street is where my kids need to be.

…because I get tired of the funny looks and questions I get when I say I homeschool.

…because my house would be a much quieter place during the day.

…because I am simply not cut out to be a teacher, especially a teacher to more than one grade at a time!

…because they aren’t being socialized enough.

…because I sometimes care more about what the world thinks than what the Lord thinks.

After so many years of the negative thoughts, words, looks and insinuations, I have given serious thought to “just putting my kids in school”. I.Am.Not.Doing.This.Any.Longer.

Then the Lord quickly and gently reminds me to read Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (NIV version)

A sweet reminder that I must impress (to affect deeply or strongly; influence in opinion; to urge; to press; to impose a particular characteristic; to apply with pressure) the moral values of our life upon my children. That no one (save their daddy and God) loves these children nearly as much as I do.

My children were chosen just for me and that God made no such error on His part in picking me to be their mama. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (NIV version) The Lord may have been referring to Jeremiah himself, but I believe that God knows us and our life plans before we even get on this earth. So that makes my heart content, I home school because this is what the Lord had planned for me.

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things all things through Christ which strengthens me.” A Bible verse that I personally live by. If you ask my kids, this is my Bible verse. When I begin to get funky about something, this is the Bible verse I first call to mind. I Am Nothing Without God. Because this verse reminds me that I am not alone and I do not have to carry this burden by myself.

Speaking of not carrying this burden alone, the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (NIV version). That pretty much tells me, anything that I am overwhelmed with, any burdens, and anxieties, any stress, any anything, I can give it over to Him. I am so very thankful that I know I can count on Him to help me, at anytime.

So because the Lord has deemed this what I am supposed to do, told me that it is very important and allows me to dump everything on Him, I will succeed.

I will succeed….

…because I can and will cry out to God when I am weary and feel like I cannot “school” one more day.

…because I love these precious children far more than any other person possibly could.

…because there are more important things in life than just science, history, math and spelling.

…because I know that when the reading starts to come, it will come, without much help from me and they will all learn to read.

…because I know deep down that I am not the only mama that gets overwhelmed.

…because the dishes and laundry will still be there, my children will not always be here. They grow too quickly and I have so much to tell them before they are gone into the world.

…because art ROCKS and I can cram a load of info into my “little sponges” just by talking with them about their pictures.

…because honestly, “socialization” is for the birds! My kids are the most people friendly kids I know…better socialized than the kids across the street that do go to school.

…because I love to read and literature can teach more things sometimes than a text book.

…because Philippians 4:13 is not a lie, I can do it, the Bible says I can do anything with the Lord’s help!

…because the internet is a fantastic resource for me and my homeschooling self, dig and it will be found….what I need, every single time.

…because I see everyday what I put in is being blessed by the Lord…society can suck my toes, this is what we are supposed to be doing!

With my biggest support coming from one of my sisters, the unrelenting support from Hubby and with the Lord’s blessing, I CAN and WILL homeschool every one of my precious children. Until the Lord says otherwise, we are on the right path.

Be encouraged today and know that this is a battle that must be fought sometimes on a daily basis. The souls of these little people that we are given responsibility for hangs in the balance. The Lord has great plans for each of us and our children. Who am I to say that homeschooling isn’t what we are supposed to do? Who am I to tune out the words of the Lord? I will pour out as much good as I am able so that my children have a firm foundation to stand on.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

Proof right there that this is the only way. When our sponges get to big to suck everything in, it is too late to impart to them the greatness of the Lord and His wonderful ways. Now is the time, do not regret your decision to homeschool your gifts. It is the opportunity to put as much good as we can before the world is at their doorstep. Their foundation must be on the Rock, just like the man in Matthew 7:24-25, be wise and build your house upon a rock so that when the floods come and the wind blows and beats upon the house, it will not fall, for the foundation is founded upon rock.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom will I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised…” Psalm 18:2-3

So onward I march, to the beat of a different drum and know that this is the way our little family will “do school”. With the Lord’s blessing, knowing that I can rely on Him in any time of trouble, or when I am too weary and in need of rest. You too can overcome the woes and worries, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” Philippians 4:6”

Homeschool is perfect for us, on most days. When the school day arrives without joy, then I will cry out and let Him hear my voice.

Be blessed as you continue your journey in impressing, training and helping to create a firm foundation for your children.

If you have a homeschool trail or joy that you would like to share, I would love to read it. As we have had so very many of them ourselves!

In His grace.

Callie

You can read the previous I Fail posts here:

I Fail……{Part 1}

I Fail……{Part 2}