As our kids get older, it is important to recognize that they are, in fact, older. We can accidentally (or sometimes purposely), adhere to the old adage that children should be seen and not heard, and continue in it for far too long. When my kids were younger we had many teaching moments about conversations they might hear that they should not repeat, and they were good moments about wisdom and respect.

But now I find that when my husband and I are talking about misconceptions in Christianity, problems in education, or various other real life problems, my children are listening, and they should be welcomed into the conversation.

One of the many discussions we have is the problem with treating our children as outsiders of the church, keeping them at arm’s length, and it occurred to me that we may accidentally do this in our home-school. We may have goals for their education that we have not shared with them. We just might have set them up to believe that education is a distinct and separate part of life, with the “clock-in” “clock-out” mentality.

Remember, it is not too late to change your family culture. R.C. Sproul said “We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea is to live all of our lives in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the honor and glory of God.” When we remember this, we just might see the lines between “life” and “home-school” blurring, and eventually, our children will just see life, and they will be living it with us.