I could never home school because........

Myth #1           My kids wouldn’t listen to me.

Fact:#1            When I hear people say this it makes me sad as I see the frustration, anger and hurt in their faces. There are so many issues that surround this statement, but let me start with one in particular.

            There is hope! Your children can change. They can be taught to honor and respect you. To see now this can be “undone” we must first look at the sources of the disrespect or disobedience.....

First, we drop our kids off at school where:

            1.         They are placed in a class of same age students who’s lives are filled with media and music that is disrespectful to parents and adults.

            2.         They are bombarded with a worldview that tells them there is no right or wrong, everything is relative.

            3.         The come home to music and TV that is filled with harsh language (e.g. MTV and others), disrespect and vulgarities.

When parents spend time with them there is normally conflict over their behavior. The next day we have the same scenario all over again, and this goes on day after day and year after year. It should come as no surprise that the children are disrespectful to their parents.

When you take you children out of school and begin to home school them, you can begin to strip away the causes of these negative behaviors and you will see changes in your child(ren) very quickly. It won’t be easy at first, but be diligent in putting positive, Godly examples into their lives.

It is also important that we as parents begin to model the behavior that we expect from our children. If we don’t want them to use sarcasm, then take away your own sarcasm, etc. Begin to model your own behavior into that which you expect from your child(ren).

Praise their good behavior, punish the undesirable behavior. Praise goes a long way with children. They desire your approval; they desire your respect as well. I like to use the method of “Praise - correct the behavior - and more praise.”

Get back to basics - simplify your life and get rid of distractions such as video games, limit tv, etc. These things take away valuable time that you could be spending together.

Whether you home school or not, you ARE a teacher to your children. They model much of their behavior from their parents. Spend time with them, read good books to them (even if they are older).  It’s amazing how loved someone feels when you sit down together on the couch and read together. I like reading books to my kids that were written pre-1960’s. There is a goodness and wholsomeness that doesn’t seem to exist today. It’s good for the kids to hear it. It is also good to take off the pressure of life for kids by eliminating electronics and relaxing with a good book.

Above all, the key to changing the behavior of your child depends upon their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately God is the only one who can truly change hearts and minds. Teach your children the ways of the Lord, read the Bible to them. Honor Your Father and Mother is a command given to us by God himself. There are no “ifs” after it. It is a command. When the laws and rules of the home come from God it is different then when a parent makes up a rule. Our rules at home are based upon God’s law and respected because they come from him, not from me or my husband.

Myth #2: What about Socialization?

Fact #2: This question inevitably comes up when speaking to someone about schooling your children at home. I like to look at the other side of the coin. When your children are at school, they are being socialized by their immature classmates. They are probably learning disrespect, unkindness, pride, worldliness, bad attitudes, peer dependence and many other negative traits. When you homeschool you become your child’s primary influence and being a well-adjusted socialized adult with a strong faith in God you will surely be a better example for your child’s behavior.

There are also many opportunities, especially in the south Florida area, that are tailored specifically for homeschooled students. There is a physical education program, upper level math and science classes and I, myself, run a homeschool music conservatory.

It is also important to become a member of a homeschool support group. Many offer weekly or monthly field trips and other various activities. Many offer spelling bees, science fairs and even group yearbooks. You will certainly not be alone in this journey. You can be in a group of like minded moms that have faith at their core and desire to raise their children according to scripture.

Myth #3 I don’t have the patience

Fact #3  This answer is one that troubles me ...  Biblically we know that our “desires” have a great deal to do with what we do and don’t do. I see this answer as one that would be more appropriately worded, “I really don’t want to give up my “me” time.” My answer to that is this, God gave you your children as a gift. The time that they are with you is relatively short compared to their lifetime. Spend all the the time together with them as you can. Enjoy them, teach them the Word of God, pray the they will be used mightily by Him, pray the the Holy Spirit would teach them. Pray the God will mold and spape you into the teacher that you should be to your children. You will never regret the time that you spend together sharing books and wisdom from the Lord. If you still need some “me” time, there are PE and music programs available to the kids to give you extra time.

Myth #4 Won’t my children be missing out academically?

Fact #4  Actually homeschooling testing scores are far above those of public and private schools.

Myth #5   I can’t homeschool because I am not a certified teacher.

Fact #5   A Nationwide Study of Home Education: Family Characteristics, Legal Matters, and Student Activities found that there was no difference in students’ total reading, total math, or total language scores based on the teacher certification status of their parents (i.e., neither parent had been certified, one had been, or both had been).

The fact is that homeschooling materials are very helpful in how to teach the material. Many even come with DVD’s or can be done online. Also, you know your child better than anyone else and will be able to explain to them in a way they can understand.

Myth #6   Homeschoolers do not live in the real world, with normal people where there is diversity

Fact #6 Homeschoolers do live in a real world. These children still live in the same neighborhoods with real people of various ages and political agendas. Being in a school; however, is not a “real world” situation.  They are grouped together by age and often don’t have contact with anyone outside their grade level.

Parent are able to teach their children Biblical values and character traits that those in the public school system will not have the privilege of learning due to the lack of freedom and diversity that exists there.

Homeschooling kids are closer to their parents and are more involved with what the parents do, including their parents social and political activities.

Myth #7 Homeschoolers are “stuck at home.”

Fact #7   Homeschoolers may not be in school, but they're involved in sports teams, community classes, with their support group, scouts, music programs,

Homeschooling families are not limited by school schedule so they are free to utilize their time and free to come and go. They can go on vacation anytime. They can go abroad and do homeschooling there.

Often we go to different parks or other locations to do our school work. We are not confined to the classroom as in a traditional public school.

Myth #8  Isn’t homeschooling expensive?

Fact #8   Not at all! Homeschooling can be the most economical way of schooling your children. It can be done for free up to about $1000/year for the most costly of programs. Compare this to the cost of a single month of a private school.