I have a friend who called me one day to ask if she could sit at my house and do her paperwork.  How odd, I thought.  But sure, I replied. She had completed homeschooling and lived alone in her home. She said it was too quiet and she wanted to hear the noise of busy homeschool children. I thought it was a rather odd request but I sort of understand where she was coming from now a days. She missed her busy home. She missed her homeschool lifestyle.  She missed her relationships probably most of all.

Unfortunately,  I find myself still grieving the fact that I am no longer homeschooling.  The following is an “off the top of my head” very random list. This is purely cathartic for me and probably of little use to the reader. (not that many read these posts) Hopefully,  this will begin the process for me to re-evaluate and develop a new normal. Hopefully this will help me to discover what the Lord wants me to do now. Although I was not convinced at the time, my dear friend and homeschooling mentor warned me that those carefree happy homeschool days that were once a routine, will never return. She explained that  one may never go back to those happy childhood days.  Our kids become adults and these relationships, however precious do change.  Pining for the good ol’ days will not bring them back….she reminds me.  Still though, I need to come to some peace and closure.  I need to be grateful for this new season and look at the years to come with fresh hopeful eyes.  Indeed,  there is so much ahead especially with Christ.  But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Cor 2:9  What a comforting thought this is! ~ Anne

1. I miss reading and discussing good literature with my children and on occasion with my husband.

There is a sweet homeschool Mom at my church; a mother of many, who seems to have more clarity than most when it comes to homeschooling and raising up children. When possible I try to chat with her and glean just a few tidbits of advice from her.  What a blessing and encouragement  to have those folks in your life who are willing to share because they have traveled the road you are on and understand some of your worries and concerns. Their confidence and clarity helps you to have confidence as well. Sometimes I receive more from her than I would from attending any homeschool conference. The Bible reminds us women folk to do this very thing…to pass on and teach those good things.  We are to be models of godliness…of women who love their families and who are confident that God is working in the lives of their families.  I must confess, I’m not always the best example of godly confidence,  but I do know that God is faithful and He can be trusted with our lives and the lives of our precious children.

Last Sunday this dear Mom spoke just the words I needed to hear.   She said that “Life is real, but school is artificial.” She reminded me that school  does not prepare one for actual living.  School does not prepare one to care for a family….to love babies and grandparents.  School does not prepare one to walk through a devastating illness or other crises.  School does not prepare one to seek the Lord on a daily bases, to forgive and repent; to practice hospitality.  School does not prepare one to be helpful and handy around the home. It does not prepare one to shop wisely and keep to a budget. School does not prepare our daughters to be keepers at home or our sons to be spiritual leaders for their families. She reminded me that homeschooling is learning about real life.

I felt better just hearing those words because our homeschooling journey reflected more of this idea than the ideas in a scope and sequence chart from an Abeka catalog.  Our journey was less academic and more practical. Trying to strike a balance between following a structured academic program and allowing for normal family living, we fell somewhere in the middle. We ended up skipping the Latin program, but tore out the carpet instead.   We took a year off  around Junior high to work on life skills and growing up. Although I was always second guessing myself, I went with my instinct to practice moderation. I think it worked out okay.  Homeschooling is indeed about real life, and I’m so glad. 

The blessing of homeschooling has been that I have had many more hours with my precious children than I would have had if I enrolled them in government school.  More hours, more family meals together, more reading and cuddling, more hospitality with friends, more time at home just being together.  It’s been mostly very wonderful! 

It seems like yesterday I began homeschooling my boys; why didn’t someone tell me it would  be over so soon? The highschool years seemed to especially accelerate and slip through my fingers like sand as I desperately tried to make them last. Even though I’ve had more hours than most, it was not enough for me. There are so many lessons we never began…and so many wonderful books we never opened. It’s silly I know,  but I find myself actually grieving as if someone has passed away.  I’m one of those weird homeschool moms who spent nearly every waking moment thinking about ways to teach, train and disciple my children. How could I relate to them…connect with them better?  What should we learn next? What book should we read?  What are their strengths…their weaknesses?  What should we focus on next?  It’s not an easy task to simply turn this off after graduations.

I find myself in a new season now.  I’m more of a coach…still a cook and meal planner.  I have time to clean now, which is nice.  I’m able to spend more time with my dear mother-in-law who needs me more now. I’ve neglected areas in my life that I will now be able to catch up on.  I’m seeking the Lord, and asking for wisdom as always.  Praying for my family all the time and asking the Lord to help my young men to make wise choices, to walk with Christ and to live a life of integrity.  I guess life is this way…just as the Bible reminds us over and over again. “As for man, his days are like grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” Psalm 103: 15-16

Thank you for reading my thoughts!
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I thought this video was interesting and better explains this agreement without all the panic and politics.  If we stayed in this program it would cost the USA more than any other country and China and India will not have to reduce emissions at all…in fact,  they will increase under this agreement.  As always the USA will give the most and lose the most. This plan if followed perfectly by the year 2100 MAY reduce the temperatures by 0.3 degrees. This is a push to redistribute wealth to the world and promote globalism. “I pledge allegiance to the world” is the idea behind this and it really is unscientific after all. Follow the money and we will probably understand the real motives behind it.  Let’s do our homework on this so we will be able to avoid the panic and group-think and hopefully discuss the issue with actual facts instead of politics and hysteria.