How many times have you been accused of sheltering your children from the real world because you homeschool? After experiencing this confrontation numerous times, I finally realized an important fact my accusers were ignoring — they sheltered their children from the real world, too. Most caring parents draw a line and set limits on what they allow their children to experience. The only difference between my sheltering and theirs was that I had simply drawn our children's line in a different place. R-rated movies, magazines and books that promoted sex outside of marriage, violent video games, and other activities that violated God's Word were not a part of our family life. The standards I wanted to set were for training in righteousness, not for training in the ways of the world....
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Alpha Omega Publications - Homeschooling
Daily Focus
"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:2-3).
How is your homeschooling starting today? Has another late night and early morning drained your energy level and given you an attitude that is less than positive? Fatigue can make cowards of us all and turn the daily housework into mountains and the homeschool responsibilities into huge obstacles. Just when you think you can't take anymore, you need to step back and regain your focus. Your children need you to bring a positive perspective to their learning experience....
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How is your homeschooling starting today? Has another late night and early morning drained your energy level and given you an attitude that is less than positive? Fatigue can make cowards of us all and turn the daily housework into mountains and the homeschool responsibilities into huge obstacles. Just when you think you can't take anymore, you need to step back and regain your focus. Your children need you to bring a positive perspective to their learning experience....
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"OK," I asked my daughter. "Where is the book report you were supposed to have done today?"
"Oh, that was due today?" she responded innocently.
"Yes, you knew it was due today. I reminded you last week, remember?" I replied.
I could see another excuse beginning to form in her mind, and from past experience, I knew what was coming....
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"Oh, that was due today?" she responded innocently.
"Yes, you knew it was due today. I reminded you last week, remember?" I replied.
I could see another excuse beginning to form in her mind, and from past experience, I knew what was coming....
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"God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27b).
In all my years of teaching, "popular" was one word I never heard used to describe homeschooling. Many times I heard words like illegal, over-protective, and crazy, but certainly never popular. Going against the educational norm led to some hot debates, especially within my family. When talking to relatives who were certified teachers, I never heard phrases like, "Oh, how interesting!" or "That's great, how can I help you?" Instead, my ability and sanity were questioned, and I was warned about the practicality of such an undertaking. Even today, 25 years later, most people still think it's odd that I homeschooled my children....
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In all my years of teaching, "popular" was one word I never heard used to describe homeschooling. Many times I heard words like illegal, over-protective, and crazy, but certainly never popular. Going against the educational norm led to some hot debates, especially within my family. When talking to relatives who were certified teachers, I never heard phrases like, "Oh, how interesting!" or "That's great, how can I help you?" Instead, my ability and sanity were questioned, and I was warned about the practicality of such an undertaking. Even today, 25 years later, most people still think it's odd that I homeschooled my children....
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"Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6b).
Do you ever feel like you haven't accomplished a thing at the end of your homeschooling day? Do you look around and see even more piles of projects to finish and messes to clean up than when you started? Have your children learned a new set of multiplication tables today, but they've entirely forgotten the historical facts they learned about George Washington yesterday? Some days you may wonder if you can be your children's teacher. Maybe they would be better off if they went to school. Stop! Think about what just went through your mind. From where are those thoughts coming? Are they from the One who called you to teach your children and promised you the strength to do it, or are they from the one who would see you fail?...
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Do you ever feel like you haven't accomplished a thing at the end of your homeschooling day? Do you look around and see even more piles of projects to finish and messes to clean up than when you started? Have your children learned a new set of multiplication tables today, but they've entirely forgotten the historical facts they learned about George Washington yesterday? Some days you may wonder if you can be your children's teacher. Maybe they would be better off if they went to school. Stop! Think about what just went through your mind. From where are those thoughts coming? Are they from the One who called you to teach your children and promised you the strength to do it, or are they from the one who would see you fail?...
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"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy" (Proverbs 31:20).
I brought home more than our fourth child from the hospital when I gave birth that day. I also brought home a whole new set of anxieties about homeschooling and my ability to meet the demands of a family of six. Feeling weak and tired, I knew my energy supply was running low. I simply couldn't take care of a new baby, maintain a house, and homeschool, too....
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I brought home more than our fourth child from the hospital when I gave birth that day. I also brought home a whole new set of anxieties about homeschooling and my ability to meet the demands of a family of six. Feeling weak and tired, I knew my energy supply was running low. I simply couldn't take care of a new baby, maintain a house, and homeschool, too....
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"The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance" (Psalm 112:6b).
"And he did evil in the sight of the Lord," read my youngest son out loud as we studied the kings of Israel and Judah in our homeschool Bible curriculum. After reading the same sad statement in regard to three or four more kings, my son looked at me with a sober face and said, "Mom, weren't there any kings who did good in the sight of the Lord?"...
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"And he did evil in the sight of the Lord," read my youngest son out loud as we studied the kings of Israel and Judah in our homeschool Bible curriculum. After reading the same sad statement in regard to three or four more kings, my son looked at me with a sober face and said, "Mom, weren't there any kings who did good in the sight of the Lord?"...
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"I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (Psalm 101:2b-3a).
I can still picture my two little daughters playing their favorite game during recess time from homeschooling. With the "Little House" books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder as their inspiration, they loved becoming Mary and Laura whenever playing alone or with friends. Since we had read the entire series several times during our nightly story time, I shouldn't have been surprised this was their favorite game. Living in the heart of the Midwest made the stories even more alive in their imaginations....
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I can still picture my two little daughters playing their favorite game during recess time from homeschooling. With the "Little House" books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder as their inspiration, they loved becoming Mary and Laura whenever playing alone or with friends. Since we had read the entire series several times during our nightly story time, I shouldn't have been surprised this was their favorite game. Living in the heart of the Midwest made the stories even more alive in their imaginations....
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"Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me" (Mark 9:37a).
I could hear my youngest son preaching to his older brother and sister in the living room. Earnestly, he was telling them to behave and stop fighting. However, like a bucket of water on a raging forest fire, his words had no effect. Frustrated, he tried again to get their attention, quoting Bible verses that said why they shouldn't be arguing. His strong leadership qualities (his siblings called them "being bossy") and sense of right and wrong would not allow him to walk away from the problem. Unfortunately, because he was their "little brother," both his brother and sister refused to listen to his counsel....
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I could hear my youngest son preaching to his older brother and sister in the living room. Earnestly, he was telling them to behave and stop fighting. However, like a bucket of water on a raging forest fire, his words had no effect. Frustrated, he tried again to get their attention, quoting Bible verses that said why they shouldn't be arguing. His strong leadership qualities (his siblings called them "being bossy") and sense of right and wrong would not allow him to walk away from the problem. Unfortunately, because he was their "little brother," both his brother and sister refused to listen to his counsel....
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"And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:44).
When was your defining moment of deciding to homeschool your children? Mine came one day as I stood over the kitchen sink washing dishes for the fourth time. After running all day to keep up with my preschoolers and the housework, I felt as limp as the dish rag I was holding. I had been thinking about homeschooling, but quite frankly, the thought of being a homeschooling parent for the rest of my life wasn't too appealing right then. As my children entertained themselves with one of their favorite Christian music tapes, the words to the song they were playing echoed in my thoughts. In that moment, something happened. The Holy Spirit convicted me and said, "Are you willing to be my servant?"...
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When was your defining moment of deciding to homeschool your children? Mine came one day as I stood over the kitchen sink washing dishes for the fourth time. After running all day to keep up with my preschoolers and the housework, I felt as limp as the dish rag I was holding. I had been thinking about homeschooling, but quite frankly, the thought of being a homeschooling parent for the rest of my life wasn't too appealing right then. As my children entertained themselves with one of their favorite Christian music tapes, the words to the song they were playing echoed in my thoughts. In that moment, something happened. The Holy Spirit convicted me and said, "Are you willing to be my servant?"...
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