Random Musings of a Home School Mom -Part 1

The home schooling community has literally exploded over the past few years.  Fifteen years ago, one would hear of a brave family who had chosen to home school their children and it was a surprising, if not a somewhat shocking thought.  “You dared to take your child out of school to home school them?”  “How are your children supposed to socialise when you keep them away from other children?”  “What about giving them a competitive edge in a school setting?” “You are depriving them of being exposed to different things offered at school.”

Families decide to home school for a variety of reasons and each situation is unique.  The bottom line is that parents feel home schooling to be the best option for their child/ren.

Today, we face a new dilemma.  The home school community has become the target for many a business, and why not?  The opportunities for outings, special groups for specific technology, art, sports or science programmes, to name a few, are overwhelming.  In fact, there are so many activities on offer that one becomes frantic in searching for “the right extra mural” for one’s child.  I have seen mothers running from one thing to another to expose their children to as much as possible and risking burn out from the constant busyness.

Could it be, that at the back of our minds, we are desperately trying to prove to society that our children are indeed socialised?  Or could it be that we fear that we are depriving our children of opportunity?

The way I see it, is that our children will naturally be drawn to the things that interest them and our role is to wisely direct them as they pursue their purpose and destiny.

In the words of King Solomon:

A man’s gift makes room for him,  And brings him before great men.  Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)