The World is Your Classroom

We can apply the lesson learned from God's Word ( Deut.6:7),

You shall diligently teach My word (commandments) to your children, and you shall talk of them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.

Traditional education confines a child's natural ability to learn. Homeschooling your child/ren does not have to be confined to structured blocks of time. The world is your classroom and any question they may ask can be used as a springing board to teach. We must remember children are imitators. They are constantly learning whether in or outside of the classroom. Children are inquisitive and full of questions. Create an atmosphere where they are free to explore their curiosities. Take their questions and transform them into discussions that create a dialog between you their teacher, and them. Incorporate their interest into your lesson plans and watch their enthusiasm for learning increase. Teach outside the limits and constraints a traditional education imposes. If the world is your classroom then every moment can become a learning experience to enjoy, share and participate in with your child/ren. Expand your horizons and dare to teach outside the box.

Homeschooling Requires Commitment

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.

Homeschooling requires commitment that will keep you steady during the course. There will be days when you may feel like throwing in the towel. Your children may be uncooperative and stretch your patience beyond what you may think is tolerable. Just remember why you chose to homeschool and try to always keep mentally focused on the end results, the finish line. Your commitment will keep your feet on the path, it will keep you focused. Believe me, when all is said and done you will look back and say that it was worth it all. Take a lot of deep breaths, frequent breaks, and remember the special relationship you share with your children by being their parent and their teacher. Savor this time with them. Don't be in a rush or push so hard that you take the adventure and joy out of homeschooling for them and for yourself. There will be times when you will have to be pliable, able to bend a little in order to maintain their enthusiasm. Always remember as their parent you are the most qualified because of your love for them. Trust that love to guide you in dealing with them when they may not be very loving.

The Choice to Homeschool

My decision to Homeschool my children did not come about lightly. In fact it was not my idea at all.
Circumstances and situations seemed to lead me down a path that I did not originally intend nor desire at the time.
As a young teenager I was very active in school and had dreams of being a career woman. I graduated high school with honors. I married young and had my first child at the age of 17 years old, Lavinia, a beautiful baby girl. This would have deterred most but, not me. I had envisioned being a doctor since I was 8 and intended to do so no matter what. Life got in the way for a while but, at the age of 23 I enrolled into college. I completed two degrees within a four year time frame; a BS in Chemistry and Biology. From there it was on to Medical School at UT Memphis. I attended for three years when once again life got in the way. I had to drop out with full intentions of going back to complete my degree but, God had other plans for me. By this time I had given birth to a wonderful baby boy, Jamal, who was now 9 years old. Within two years of dropping out I had two more baby boys, Xavier and Marckell.
What followed, at the time seemed to be a disaster, but looking back I now know that it was all leading me to my destiny: My husband lost his business, we were divorced, I lost all material possessions , filed bankruptcy and had to move back home and live with my sister. The biggest blow was when I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1999. I began dialysis and questioned, "Lord, why me?"
During all of this my trust in God was strengthened and my priorities were set straight. When the doctor told me I had CKD (chronic kidney disease) I didn't think about a career or things. My only thoughts were about my children. At that moment I realized what was really important in life . From that time till now I know that God gave me children as a Blessing to me. My desires started to change. I found myself wanting to pour all the love and knowledge I had acquired into my children. It was like my eyes were opened to see all the wonderful blessings that were around me.

When the time came to enroll my two youngest children into school, I had an unsettling feeling in the gut of my stomach. Within my spirit I knew God was calling me to homeschool my kids but, like Moses I gave God all kind of excuses why I was not qualified to do it and proceeded to reason with God why a single mother, who was the sole bread winner, could not take on a task such as this. I tossed and turned over the issue and could not find peace until I gave in to God and told him, "O.K. I don't know how I'm going to do this but I'll trust you to show me the way."

Ten years later, I can say that He has never let me down. It has not been a piece of cake but, God has met all of our needs. I have a much closer relationship with my children. I tell them all the time that I am learning as much as they are. God is teaching me as I teach them.