Why Do I Do This?

This may seem an odd question...but it really is a good one! Let me explain....

Tonight I attended a homeschool meeting. There was a lovely woman speaking about homeschooling, marriage and children. I thought it would be good to go and see what she had to say. So, I bundled up my little man and left Dan with the girls and headed off. I was not disappointed...so glad I attended:-)

One of the questions she asked and suggested that we ask ourselves, was "why we were doing it"? And by "it", I mean homeschooling, as well as those things that take up our time...such as, children's sports events and other things that consume our time. I really think this is an essential question to think about. When you start out homeschooling, you have alot of ideas of what you are doing and why. There are things you are certain you will do and things you wont do. But as the year goes on, you sometimes get off track and begin to forget what this is all about, why it is you do this day in and day out. Things begin to stress you out or you begin to over commit yourself or your children because you can't see what it is you first believed. So, it takes stepping back and re-evaluating your plans, your commitments and most importantly...reminding yourself why you started in the first place!

So, why do I do it? Well, first and foremost, is that both my husband and I feel convicted that God has called us to this task. It is our duty as the parents of our children to teach them.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deut. 7:1

I want to know that in every aspect of my children's lives they are surrounded by God. I want them to know that He isn't just to be taken out on Sundays, but He is in every thing we do. He can not be ignored.

I want to know who they are influenced by, to know that they are surrounded by people that are uplifting. I desire our family to be close and to do things together, I want to know that Dan and I have their hearts.

“The greatest classrooms of this nation or any nation are not in any school or university. They're around the dinner tables in the homes.~ Richard Berendzen

I want to give them a superior education and a varied experience. I want to raise daughters that embrace Godly womanhood, desiring to be wives and mothers some day, but accepting all in God's timing. I want my son to be a strong, Godly man...a man willing to stand fast for God and to marry a Godly woman.

These are just some of the reasons why I homeschool. If I sat long enough I could think of more. If you homeschool, have you thought lately about why you are doing it? I'm glad I was encouraged to think on this. I think I'll keep doing it:-)

Blessings,

Sommer