When Family Disapproves Of Homeschooling

homeschoolingI must admit, I wasn’t too shocked when I got the phone call from my mother-in-law voicing her concerns about my decision to pull my then 5th grader and 3rd grader out of public school to teach them at home. I mean, we had just moved to this state and extensively researched the school districts we were going to build our house near.

I remember it like it was yesterday, me still in the drivers seat trying to explain to her that it was a calling I had to obey! Heck, I didn’t know how I was going to do it, let alone try and explain to others the methods to our madness. All I knew was that God had called me and I chose to obey. I chose to beg and plead and TRUST that He would equip me with what I needed to take us down this path.

Fast forward 6 years and she doesn’t blink at it. She sees that her seven grandchildren are happy, healthy, EDUCATED and socialized…. she even laughs because she always brags at how much we do and how excited our kids are to go to co-op every week… You don’t see that many public students blasting social media with that much excitement about learning…

But she took the time to hold off judgement and see exactly what ” being homeschooled” meant. Now, she is my biggest supporter (and defender).

I would love to say that I escaped the prejudice and ridicule from the ones closest to me, but we haven’t. Some family still will never agree, more for the fact that they have never taken the time to actually ask me what it means to homeschool, why we do it or what we do. But that’s ok, I guess. It won’t change the view my husband and I share on it, nor will it affect our vision. God entrusted these children to me and at the end of the day, the parents always know best.

I know many of you have gone through similar experiences or perhaps are going through them right now. All I can say is hold on tight. Don’t lose that hope and vision that God has spoken to you. If he brought you to it, He will bring you through. It’s a promise and God never breaks his promises!

“Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10

Over time, they will see that your kids survived and became productive members of society, they can read and write and even do arithmetic. They usually graduate high school with a higher self esteem and awareness ready to take that next step in life, because MOM has prepared them for what life has to offer.  Many form businesses and community connections way before their 20th birthday, and every bit of information from the Museum, Zoo, Historical Landmark can be quoted from memory because while public students visited once, homeschooled children have been weekly guests.

They WILL be socialized- more than you can ever imagine- with more people than you can ever imagine- because homeschoolers actively seek out others. We are a strong community that comes to each others’ aid at a moments notice. An underground world that’s bursting with opportunity and wonder. We plan “school time” around our social calendar, and when we go to co-op, the kids have classes with other kids of ALL ages.

Most of us spend the spring traveling to different homeschool conventions to and fro. Meeting our favorite authors and shaking the hands of the writers from our favorite curriculum. Moms load up their 15 passenger vans with every type of book, game, embalmed animal and science kits they can get their hands on. The sight of moms and dads pulling wagons FULL of those treasures would make any public school teacher drool with envy, because WE get to pick what we like. WE get to buy any book that makes our brains burst with eagerness to learn.

“Is it possible homeschooling can work?”

I love to share our world with others, especially the critics- although some critics can never be satisfied. In that case, lay the fight down and walk away. It’s just not worth it. People are scared of what they don’t know and understand and sometimes it’s not up to us to make them understand. Just continue looking up and God will lead you victoriously down the road less traveled.

XOXO

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Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

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About Amy Wyler

Hi I'm Amy. I blog under the name Gigi, at Gigi’s Place. Happily married for 17 years, and homeschooling my 7 children, I have a huge heart for wives, mothers and women alike. Being raised in a society that promotes perfectness and pride, I encourage women that superwoman has left the building… and in her place stands a woman with a heart after God. Through my love of social media, I hope to encourage you all from my Little Red house, where I live , love and do life!

7 thoughts on “When Family Disapproves Of Homeschooling

  1. Jeanne

    Loved this article!! It has blessed me to no end, for I do have a mother in law who still questions my homeschooling decisions; even AFTER graduating 2 homeschoolers. One is a 4.0 student at a State University and the other went into the military.

    Reply
  2. Jessica

    Love this! When I informed my mother 10 years ago that I was going to homeschool my son and any other children I had, well she didn’t take it very well at first. She worked in the public school system as an attendance clerk (and still does). She came up with every excuse and concern in the book. I told her I didn’t expect her to understand but this is what my husband and I felt we needed to do. Well after my son turned six she changed her mind. She saw how happy, educated and socialized he really was. She is now my biggest supporter, she is always telling everyone about how well my kids are doing. If anyone in the school system starts putting down homeschooling she is the first to stand up for it. I have other family memebers that just don’t understand. I had an aunt ask me if I was going to do this clear thru. I ask “Clear thru what?” She said “You know, until they graduate.” My reply “Yeah! I wouldn’t have started it if I wasn’t going to finish it.” I truly believe this is what is best for my children. My children love it and don’t feel like they are missing out on anything. In fact they get tons more experiences than if they were in public school. I am glad my mother is on board with us now. As for the rest of them, I wish they could understand but if they don’t it doesn’t bother me, because in the end it is my husband and my decision and what God is leading us to do.

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  3. jessica

    Thank you for this. I needed it. We are so excited to homeschool our 3 year old daughter. I am getting the funny looks and the” socialization” concerns! I want to shout from the mountain tops that it’s not about keeping her in a bubble, it’s so much more than that. I have fought and tried not to listen but our wonderfully patient God keeps turning us to homeschool we finally fell to our knees and surrendered. He knows what is best and he made me her mommy, no one knows better than my husband and I how to raise her. Thank you again for the encouragement, I have loved the community of homeschooling moms. There is no other community as supportive and welcoming.

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  4. Michele Martin

    I would just like to say, “AMEN & AMEN!” PLEASE IT SISTER! Next year will be my first year to travel this homeschooling Journey. I will have a little girl going in the 1st grade and a son going into 4th. God also as well called me to homeschool. For 3 years when my son was in grades K5 – 2nd I would drive almost 4 hours a day to bring him back and forth to our church school ” Calvary Academy “. We live almost an hour away from our church one way! During that time we had our house and land up for sale in hopes that we could move closer, however over 4 years it never sold. So very sadly this school year I had to enroll my children in public school. One in K5 and one in 3rd. A little while after the school year started every day God would tug at my heart to homeschool. At first in prayer everyday I round cry & cry because I knew with out a doubt what he was calling me to do, and at the same time I felt like I wouldn’t be able to homeschool them successfully. In so many different ways the Holy Spirit has spoken encouragement to me to go forward with His will on this Journey. A few weeks ago when my husband told me that he thought I should homeschool our children, without even knowing that I had been considering or struggling with being called of God to do it. I told him that I knew he was right, that God had already been dealing with me about it, and I feared what might happen if I didn’t obey & accept our Lord’s call. So I said “yes Lord yes, I will trust you and obey.” The very next day I started cleaning out one of our Large spare bedrooms, and am turning it into a classroom setting. Day by day I am getting more and more excited to be on this new adventure. However you are right there are those that don’t agree with my decision, but most of those people aren’t followers of Jesus Christ anyway so they don’t understand how I am “called” to do this, but they do not have to understand, and I do not have to explain. I only have to obey and follow. I hope & pray that my homeschooling Journey will turn out as good as yours has. 🙂 God Bless, M.L.M.

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  5. Debra

    Thank you and well said! Earlier in the year, I decided to trust that the Lord would provide what was needed to teach our children. When we walk in faith and trust there is peace. As we try to walk in our own strength, there is a most definitive lack of peace.
    I read this today along with Psalm 4:3-Just the right encouragement to press on! Thank you for your words!

    New International Version
    It was not by their sword that they won the land,
    nor did their arm bring them victory;
    it was your right hand, your arm,
    and the light of your face, for you loved them.

    Reply
  6. Lila

    “People are scared of what they don’t know…”. YES! Thank you! I needed to hear that after a heated discussion with my sister who just gave me her “speech” about how she is worried about us homeschooling (but can give me no tangible reason to be worried). The only explanation is that she is scared because she has no clue about what and why we homeschool. And she has never asked. [insert frown]

    Reply

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