How we came to the decision

It has been one year this month since my husband and I made the final decision that homeschooling was the right path for our family. It was a long process of several years that brought us to the decision. Why did we decide to homeschool?  About four years ago when my oldest son was only about one and a half years old I started really thinking about his education and what the options would be for him. We had just moved to a brand new state and I really wanted to look into a bilingual education. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out.

A year after that we moved again  in the same city, and I met a family in our new ward at church who was a homeschooling family. I was intrigued. I asked questions and thought it would be very overwhelming to be a homeschooling mom. I thought the mom of that family was probably super mom homeschooling all four of her kids and I could never do that! But I still had a lot of respect for her and thought it was interesting.

When I was pregnant with baby number three I decided my son should go to preschool for two days a week. We sent him and it gave me a little break, but it was hard to be consistent with the things we were doing at home. It just didn't feel like it flowed. It was difficult to get a routine going. He would also come home cranky and very tired. I feel like the whole thing of me pushing school at home and at preschool was just working him too hard for a little four year old. I kept getting thoughts and feelings (that I now recognize as promptings from the Lord), about homeschooling. But I felt so very inadequate and unprepared!! How could I have the time and energy to homeschool my son with two other little babies at home?

I had so many doubts and questions. I had a lot of encouragement from my husband and my sister telling me that I COULD homeschool, and that everything would work out. I prayed, and prayed, and finally felt like the Lord answered my prayer. I think i knew all along, I just needed an extra push of motivation to make the decision to do it.

I feel homeschooling has been a tremendous blessing for us! I don't believe homeschooling is for everyone, but I do believe that if the Lord lets you know that homeschooling is the right path for your family He will give you the strength, energy, knowledge to do it. Homeschooling is like motherhood I believe. You can never prepare enough, you just have to do it! Once you dive in the Lord will give you the answers you seek and help you accomplish what he asks you to do. I am so glad we made the decision! This year has been wonderful! In another post I hope to write about all the many lessons I have learned as a newbie homeschooling mom this year.