Interview: my Mother-in-Law!

 I'm thrilled to introduce today's special guest as we continue to highlight grandparents and their involvement in home schooling. Stacey is not only a veteran home school mom and grandma, but she's also an education consultant for the Home School Legal Defense Association and my mother-in-law! I can personally attest to the depth and breadth of encouragement and aid she has rendered in our home school! (Even if you're not related; I highly recommend membership or checking out the consulting and other resources available from HSLDA  if you aren't already familiar with this organization!) Read on for some of her insight and testimony of home school!

Me: When were you homeschooling and why did you decide to homeschool your kids?

Mom: We started homeschooling in 1991. From the day my babies were born, I had always dreaded the day that they would go to school. I just could not imagine sending my little ones off every day. I loved being a mother, and I loved being with them! I had a friend that was getting her master's degree in education and wrote her final thesis on homeschooling. She gave it to me and told me I needed to read it. Homeschooling was a new idea I had  never heard of before! That paper just confirmed and legitimized everything I already felt about wanting the absolute best for my children and wanting my kids to have a better school experience than I did. Now convincing my husband was another story...

Me: Looking back, in what ways did you see God's work through your home school and what would you say was the most rewarding part of home schooling?

Mom: Relationship, relationship, relationship! Honestly, I thought that was the best part - spending time with and building relationships with our four children and them with each other. Also, having the daily opportunity to share our faith and relationship with the Lord with our children was a significant part of our homeschool.

Additionally, looking back, it is very rewarding to see how each of the children have become successful adults, I believe at least in part, because of homeschooling and the opportunities that it provided to tailor their education to their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. 

We are blessed more than we deserve as the legacy continues.  All four kids and their beloved spouses already are or are planning to homeschool their children. 

Me: In what ways can homeschoolers involve and utilize grandparents in their home school? 

Mom: It is such a blessing when grandparents live close by and can be a part of their grandkids' homeschool. Grandparents' support and approval is so much more common these days than it was back when we were homeschooling. When we started homeschooling, both sets of parents were extremely skeptical and concerned. After just a few years, my parents jumped on board and were very supportive as they saw the benefits and fruit.

I know lots of folks that involve grandparents by having a planned day, once a week, where the grandparent does the teaching or covers a particular subject. Others take the grandkids on regular field trips which gives the parent a regular teacher planning day. 

Whenever my parents were in town, my treasured dad really embraced our "everything is a learning experience" philosophy and helped us to make every day a "lifestyle of learning." I really appreciate that he loved to share profound insights and Godly wisdom with our kids.

Me: What would you like to tell homeschool moms today (maybe something that helped you, or that you wish someone had told you?)

Mom: ENJOY YOUR KIDS. While I did try to have fun with the kids, I wish I had lightened up a bit more. I think I was like many moms today; we put way too much pressure on ourselves. While it is natural that we carry a very heavy burden of responsibility for academic excellence, unfortunately, it is easy to get so caught  up in the required credits and check off lists that we forget to convey a love for learning. We also need to take the time to teach our kids practical life skills that will allow them to be successful and self-sufficient adults and spouses. 

Lastly, it saddens me that moms are often way too hard on themselves! Please resist the temptation to compare yourself to other homeschooling parents. While it doesn't make a better homeschooler, I think it may be helpful to recognize that homeschooling generally comes easier to those that have the natural gift of teaching. But if you're not one of those, don't despair; our faithful and loving God has given each person their own unique gifts and strengths! Maybe yours is field trips, science labs, hands-on activities, recordkeeping, music, art, foreign languages, etc. Find your wheelhouse and share it with your friends/community. The "likes-to-stay-home introverts" will really appreciate their "love-to-get-out-of-the-house" field trip planner friend! Or organize a children's choir in exchange for someone organizing your recordkeeping. If you love writing, grade papers/give student essay feedback while your friend that loves science plans a dissection day. Collaboration and cooperation are the keys to sharing our talents with one another AND slaying the envy dragon.

This post originally appeared in the Home School Corner of the Crossroads Bible Church Women's Ministry blog.