Normally I tell my kids that it's not always about them. Normally, this is true. But 2020 was...unique. With spikes in homeschooling some homeschoolers rejoice that others will discover the joy of a home education. Other homeschoolers worry that ill-prepared parents will struggle and create cases for the government to add more government regulation to homeschooling. One thing is for certain: The world is watching. Like never before the world is aware of and tuned in to the various homeschoolers in the neighborhoods, towns, cities, and parks.
If you were the only model for homeschooling what would the world see? More importantly, what do you want them to see?
Every year we encourage you to take some time to dream about and create a vision for your homeschool. What does your ideal homeschool day look like? What does your homeschool day actually look like?
At the end of the day, I want my neighbors to think of homeschooling as not only a valid education, but as a high quality education. Our home education focuses on glorifying God, respecting His creation, growing knowledge, seeking wisdom, following God's plan, and loving our neighbors.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to be perfect. While we have our mind focused on the ideal, we live in reality. Ideally we want our children to love learning, in reality, learning is hard and we are sinful creatures. That's what it means to live in a fallen world. Finding the balance for your family isn't going to look like the balance for my family. Reconciling the ideal with the real is an essential life skill that we can model and teach to our children.
What message are we, as homeschoolers, sending to the world? Because now more than ever, the world is watching.