I never thought I would be homeschooling my children. I remember talking to my best friend about how homeschooling could make kids socially awkward and weird. Well, the joke is on me because here we are, starting our fourth year, and I love it. My husband, Walther, and I both attended public school and figured our children would be the same. My in-laws were both teachers, and we felt homeschooling was not for us. Then we met our kids. It's so easy to make plans for your hypothetical children, then you meet them, and suddenly, this tiny person makes you rethink everything about your parents, your choices, and how you want to parent.
Our oldest, Oliver, was such an easy child. He was a calm, good sleeper, great eater, and generally pleasant baby. However, at his three-year-old wellness check, our pediatrician said he wasn't hitting the milestones for communicating for someone his age. We took him to speech therapy, and he slowly started to talk. When he turned four, it felt like time was running out. We would have to send him to school, and my heart ached at the thought of being apart for so much of the day. I worried he wouldn't get that one-on-one attention that would help cultivate his speech. In prayer, I could feel the Lord start to nudge me to homeschooling, but I knew Walther would not go for it, and when I brought it up at dinner one night, his response confirmed what I knew. He was absolutely against it. I went to Adoration and told the Lord, “Look, if you want this for us, then you are going to have to convince Walther.”
Enter Lucia. We had our little precious daughter when Ollie was three, and by the time he was four, Lucia had taken up a small throne in her father's heart. Walther was extra determined to raise a daughter who knew her worth, so he read a book called “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters” by Dr. Meg Meeker. He came home one day and declared: “WE HAVE TO HOMESCHOOL!” That was that.
Oliver is in 2nd grade, Emilio is in 1st grade, and Lucia is in Pre-K. We also have a two-year-old menace toddler, Mateo. We are busy! I absolutely love it. It has been rewarding and crushing and incredible and sanctifying. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. Our house is full all the time. We are building a family culture based on quality time, prayer, meals together, and reading aloud. This has made our family thrive. Our children are smart, funny, determined, and unafraid to try new things. Of course, there are struggles, and we are slowly working towards learning to read, but they are so joyful. They are creative, kind, and generous and know their place in this world. And yes, reading and math are important, but knowing and loving God is our number one goal. Every day, we wake up and strive for that goal together.
Do I sometimes have a cocktail at 4:00 p.m. because of the chaos? Yes. Do I love the life we are building? Also, yes. I am now a huge advocate for homeschooling and am so passionate about encouraging moms (or dads) who take on this vital task. I will write a lot about homeschooling and am an open book regarding our many, many, MANY challenges and victories. And if you're worried about your kids and the number one question people have: what about socialization? Don't worry, I have another post coming.
I was homeschooled from pre-K all the way through 12th grade, and it was one of the biggest blessings in my life. Thank you so much for sharing your family's homeschool journey with us; I can't wait to read more! Just curious, do you go through a homeschool program or do you put it together yourself? I only ask because my family used Seton, so whenever I meet another homeschooling family, I have to ask in case they're fellow Setonians :) Whatever works for you is absolutely the best for your family, and I'm so glad it's going well for you all!
I really enjoyed this.
I was speaking to a dear, old, friend the other day on the topic of our precious babies being in their 30s. For some reason, we both said, more or less simultaneously, how grateful we were that, u like now, we did not have to home-school the brats.
It's ugly out there. My pal and I were Catholic and "Little Ivy" educated - with a scant time in public school in my case. We privately / Catholic educated ours. The grand children - we worry.