Our (not-so) Perfect Homeschool | Homeschooling Through Pregnancies • Clarissa R. West

We homeschool year-round. Though, that was not how I intended our school year to be. (READ: Our New Year-Round Homeschool Schedule)

Many years ago, when my oldest was just 3-years-old, I started my “homeschool journey”. That is when I started to think seriously about homeschooling my children.

That is when I looked into the legal side of it and discovered HSLDA. I also had older sisters who were homeschooling and I went to them for advice.

I had this romantic notion of how our homeschool would look. The perfect schedule, the perfect curriculum, the perfect children, the perfect… you get the point – everything would be perfect.

Gentle Homeschool Resources

Shepherding a Child’s Heart The Shaping of a Christian Family: How My Parents Nurtured My Faith Be Still My Soul: Reflections on Living the Christian Life Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace The Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Homeschooling Habits: The Mother’s Secret to Success (Charlotte Mason Topics) (Volume 1)

Our (not-so) Perfect Homeschool | Homeschooling Through Pregnancies

The perfect plans I made did not work out, but we learned through tiring times that learning can happen outside of the structured school hours. The first several years of our homeschool were dictated by my pregnancies – 8, to be exact – and our children’s medical needs.

Our schedule looked something like this the first several years: do school books 4 days a week for 3-6 months (dependant on what comes next–>), stop for about 3 months while mom has pregnancy sickness (lots of educational -or not- movies get watched during this time), do school books 4 days a week for about 5-6 months, stop for about 1 month while mom recuperates from having baby, repeat. lol.

So, as you can see, we have worked around pregnancies and newborns, not-to-mention bad days because of medical/special needs. But, it has worked.

I think the “secret” to this success is, that my kids have simply been supplied with the proper tools, attitude, & atmosphere to love learning. They do not always enjoy doing schoolbooks, but understand the value in learning and knowing the satisfaction in learning something new.

Bottom line is, I don’t have to be an expert in childhood education, I don’t need a teaching degree, I don’t need to be “the perfect homeschool mom” (is there such thing??!)… I simply need to water and nurture, gently prune and cultivate the love of learning in my children, starting with the seeds of the Fruits of the Spirit.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

But, you know what matters more than whether or not my kids pass standardized tests or are very well learned?? Their souls. The above verses pretty much sum it up nicely.

I don’t need to try and explain why I homeschool my children with my limited, imperfect, fleshly-self. I find I can quote from the Lord Himself, and He does all of the explainings for me.

And, I can be at peace with our decision and thank God for His mercy and grace that covers us and supplies all of our needs… even though I am not a perfect homeschool mom.

Because of Him, my children will not lack in knowledge & wisdom. When all else fails, when our day is not going well, when the schoolbooks are left on the shelf due to sickness or otherwise… His Word is all we need to have a complete and successful homeschooling day!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)