My Why...

When it comes to the choice to homeschool, everyone has their own why...A reason or reasons that we as a family make the insane decision to forgo financial comfort and cultural norms to educate our children at home.  So, here are four of my why's...

1) I wanted to raise godly, Christian young men.

To me, raising godly young men was (and is) more having than Bible as a subject or curriculum that has verses throughout it. (Though I appreciate both!) It is about teaching them a Christ-centered, global worldview. I want them to see the world, past and present, from the vantage point of the Redemptive Cross. I wanted to develop the desire and importance of being a gentleman and serving others. I wanted to raise boys who will become men of their time and change their world. (A lofty goal that I am totally daunted by at the moment!)

I know some parents will argue that Christian children should go to public school so that they can be a witness to other children. I understand what they are saying but I don't agree. Scripture says "evil company corrupts good morals," and to expect a six year old to withstand the corruption of the World on his or her own when we as adults struggle, seems illogical. Now, am I saying every Christian parent should homeschool. No, homeschooling is a calling and many are not physically able to. But I firmly believe God does and will bless obedience. And it is a good thing, because phonics was not covered in Nursing 101.

2) I wanted learning to match my son's learning style. 

Did you know that zebras are one of the few animals that cannot be tamed? In many ways I think kids are like zebras, each delightfully unique and impossible at times make behave exactly the way we want them to. So, when it came to learning, I wanted my "zebras" to be able to read while bouncing on an exercise ball or hanging upside down. I wanted them to have the ability to take a few extra days to learn a concept without worrying that everyone else mastered it yesterday. Speaking of which...

3) Because being the only student in your grade is a rare gift.

A six years old, N has realized something we have all known for awhile. He is small for his age, as in the shortest kid in the our church's children's department. And, unfortunately, it bothers him. It is hard to convince a six year old that given time, he will grow. Homeschooling provides the rare gift that a child does not have to know he or she is behind or struggling. So, you can end up with a child in a reader on grade level, a math level ahead, and an English level behind, but in his mind he is just in 5th grade. It draws their focus on what they can do and not what they cannot.

4) Medical

Two years ago, N was diagnosed with absence seizures and migraines. His neurologist was thrilled and supportive when she heard we were planning to homeschool him. If he went to a traditional school setting, I trully believe we would have to medicate him. Thankfully, we have not had to medicate him in order to control his symptoms.We have accomplished so much through God's grace and lifestyle modifications. Because we homeschool I can control how much reading N does, and the amount and type of computer/visual media exposure he gets.  I can give him a break or repeat a concept as needed. And he still can get his needed rest every afternoon.

So, what is your why...or better yet, your why not?