Learn with Joy: 5 Things I Have Learned from Homeschooling My Daughter

My daughter and I were on our bed. I was reading an article online while she was doing her own reading. Her chosen books were neatly scattered on the bed. I was quite feeling "unaccomplished" because I knew there were still a lot of things to be done and all we could do was just read. But as I looked at my love bug - how relax she was, and how much she was enjoying the quiet time we were having, I also thought about how surprised I am at how much I am learning as I teach her. 

I never knew how much the Lord would use this tiny person to teach me valuable lessons and profound truths. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that my daughter is being used as the Lord's instrument to train and mould me. What a humbling experience! 

So, what have I learned from homeschooling my daughter?

1. I am not perfect but God's grace is sufficient.
Flashback to my younger years, I had always been a perfectionist.  I would feel frustrated if there was an ink in the page, a crease in my ironed skirt, or a wrench thrown to my meticulously-planned schedule. Even my husband knows it!

• I am not always able to finish what I have planned for the day for our homeschooling, and yes, it's okay. My daughter will tell me, as young as she is, "Mom, it's okay. We can always do it tomorrow. At least we had fun." And every time I hear those words coming from my favourite little human, I feel like I'm being nudged by the One who created her and me, "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

• I am not always the perfectly patient mom, and yes, it's okay. My daughter keeps quiet when my voice is already high-pitched. She's heard Proverbs 15:1: "A gentle answer turns away wrath." She's a doer of this verse. So after I mess up and say sorry to her, she's quick to say, "It's okay, Mom. I know you're just tired." Or sometimes, "You're just mad, you didn't mean it." Oh, I love this kid!

2. It's not about the expenses, it's about the experience.

As I have mentioned in my previous post, homeschooling is not cheap. Having said that, my husband and I use our discernment as to where to put our ample resources. We don't attend all the family workshops available in our area, spend every peso on learning materials, or travel anywhere just for the sake of it. But when we do, we make sure the experience we get is all worth it. We may splurge a little bit on travel or a learning resource when our exposure to it is worth every cent we spend.

3. I can't have it all but I can focus on growing what matters most. 
I wish I could say, "Yes, I have it all together." But that would be contrary to my first statement above. NO! I have my weaknesses and imperfections. I can't do everything. I can't do "all". It's during this time that I am reminded of "just do" what we value most. 

If I couldn't tick off what's planned for the day, I could at least read-aloud to my daughter, and she's the happiest! We snuggle close, we spend time together - and that's what matters most!

4. It's true that "Comparison is the thief of joy." 
Never compare your one year of homeschooling with the 10 year-experience of other homeschooling families. I know, I had been a victim of that. One day, I was reading a blog post of a homeschooling mom. She has an organised schedule, with a very tidy homeschool area in their house, and has a high number of followers. But she's been homeschooling for more than 10 years!

There are pinterest-worthy homeschooling photos and there are the real ones. I have learned that the pictures I see in Pinterest are for inspiration - that we could also do those picture-worthy activities if I would be persistent, determined, and have the ability to edit my photos.

5. The struggle is real, but so is God!
There is never a time that struggle isn't present, but so is our God who calls my family and me to homeschool. Whenever I feel like I want to give up, the Lord always brings me back to why we are doing what we are doing. 

I realise that nothing good comes out easily. There is always a process - and it maybe arduous and long. But the product will undoubtedly come out good, especially if it's entrusted to the loving and creative hands of our God.

We parents may be the one facilitating our children's education, but it's not just them who learn from us. If we are teachable enough, we can learn from them too.

How about you? What have you learned from homeschooling your kid/s? Please feel free to share. I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Learn with Joy: What Homeschooling Is Not

I was pregnant with our daughter when my husband and I were already thinking what kind of education we would like to give our daughter - that was, what school to send her to. You see, as a licensed educator, I used to equate "quality education" with "costly/expensive schools". I believed, at that time, that the kind of school had always something to do with the quality of education a child would get. I would like my child to study in a school where she and her interests matter and she would be trained and prepared to face the world and "live life".

Then I heard about homeschool/homeschooling. The first time I heard about it, I was neither skeptical nor a believer. Out of curiosity, I asked this friend who mentioned it to me what homeschooling was. It was a new idea to us. I had never read about it nor heard other Filipino families doing it. But my curiosity got the best of me. I began to research about it. And like one who hasn't been fed for a long time, I devoured every information I got. Until one day, my husband and I prayed about it and then decided, that yes, we're going to homeschool our daughter.

My idea of homeschooling 6 years ago was a far cry from what it really is. I'm grateful that before we delved into the idea, I was able to do a little research (at that time), and continue to learn more about it these days. I believe that there are a lot of parents out there who are still vacillating between homeschooling and putting their kid/s in brick and mortar school. I just thought this post might give you an idea of what homeschooling really is.

1. Homeschooling is not just a trend. 

The first time I heard about homeschooling, it was not a trend. No one was talking about it, and to think I am an educator. It was not popular. It wasn't as common as send your schooler-kid-to-school-because-that-is-what-you-are-supposed-to-do kind of thing. No, it wasn't like that. Then I realised. Homeschooling is not just a trend that everyone should copy or follow. Homeschooling rather is a tough decision that you and your family make because you know the reason why. It is important that your family's goal and mission are clear to you. Because, to be honest, homeschooling is not easy. Yes, I will say it again. Homeschooling is not easy. But why do we still do it? Because our goal and mission is clear. We know why we are doing what we are doing. 

2. Homeschooling is not building a school in your house. 

If you imagined homeschool to be like "school or classroom inside the house", well, let me assure you, you're not alone! :) That was my idea before! Apparently, homeschooling is so much more than that or should I say totally different from that. You can homeschool without a blackboard and chalk, without a table and chair. Because homeschooling is not a building, rather, homeschooling is the atmosphere of learning that is created in a home and even outside. My daughter and I frequently use our bedroom/bed to do our activities. But learning doesn't stop there. We learn in the kitchen, laundry area, dining table, at the garden, even during our travel time. Homeschooling  is not confined within the four corners of a building.

3. Homeschooling is not just paper and pencil.

When my daughter and I were in Australia, my niece (older than my daughter) was in her summer break. She knew I'm homeschooling my daughter. One day, while she was holding her pencil and paper, she asked me, "Mommy Joy, can you please homeschool me too?" Gladly I said, "Sure!" And you know what she did? She sat in front of me with her pencil and paper. Then I told her this, "Kindly pick up the toys which you have played with a while ago. Please pick up the pieces of paper that are scattered on the floor too." Then she looked at me in disbelief and asked, "Mommy Joy, I asked you to homeschool me." So I told her the greatest surprise of her life (at least at that time), "Yes, I know. That is part of homeschooling, teaching you life skills." Homeschooling goes beyond the holding of paper and pencil. Homeschooling teaches a child one of the most important skills in life, that is, life skills! 

4. Homeschooling is not secluding your child from the world,

Rather it's showing the real world to the child. I can't think of another effective way of learning about life and the real world than to be exposed to the world. While others think (and often this is the primary concern of most parents) that socialisation is compromised, homeschooling in reality gives a child every opportunity to socialise and interact with people from all walks of life. I remember when we were in Australia, while we were in a playground, a mom talked to my daughter and praised her for being a nice older sister because she's taking care of her cousin. My daughter aptly said, "Thank you. But actually, she's not my sister, she's my cousin." When I approached my daughter, the mom happily told me about their conversation. Please know that we don't know this mom. We just met her at the playground. And this is not an isolated occasion. There were many other situations wherein my daughter had "socialised" well - with kids her age, older, younger and even adults. Homeschooling doesn't get socialisation out of your kid's life. On the contrary, it expands your child's world, thereby providing greater and wider opportunity for interaction with society. 

5. Homeschooling is not cheap.

My daughter was 4 years old when my well-meaning Dad asked me in what school I would like to send my daughter to. My family saw a potential in my daughter, and they're all saying she's smart and should be sent to school (By the way, we've been homeschooling her since she's a year old). When I told him and the rest of the family that my husband and I decided to homeschool her, they were all in shock! I'm not kidding! The reason: because they had not heard about homeschooling (so they thought I was radical, haha). My very supportive older sister even asked me that if money were not an issue, where would we send her niece to school. There were also those who thought that maybe because we're saving money or we couldn't afford to send her to a reputable school, we opted to homeschool. You know what though, homeschooling is not cheap! There may be free online resources, or free printable, but it doesn't mean that homeschooling is a giveaway. 

Looking for curriculum that best suits your family's values and lifestyle costs an enormous amount of time and effort. And don't get me started talking about preparing the lessons and activities. How about the materials needed to conduct some experiments, the books that need to be read? Or travelling to some places to create an experience? Folks, these are not cheap! :) Homeschooling may be perceived as "bargain" by many. Reality speaks though, it is not. Nevertheless, it is worth every ounce of sweat and every single penny you spend!

Homeschooling may not be popular now. But my family and I chose this path. We believe this is where we should be. This is where God wants us to be. 

How about you? Do you also homeschool? What other thoughts you may want to add? Or maybe you're someone who wishes to homeschool your kid/s but doesn't know how and where to start? I would like to hear from you.