This post is from contributing writer, Tonya from The Traveling Praters.
I’ve never forgotten a discussion that took place at one of the first homeschool support group meetings I attended. A veteran homeschool mom stood up and announced that she no longer wanted to homeschool. After homeschooling for 20+ years, graduating three students, and serving as mentor and encourager to hundreds of homeschool moms in our community and beyond, she was done. With one student left at home, she was nearing the end. At the time, this new homeschooling mama just couldn’t understand her heart, until 12 years later, when I became her.
Don’t misunderstand. For the most part, I have loved homeschooling. It hasn’t always been easy. My husband and I have homeschooled through marital problems, learning disabilities, and a debilitating illness, the death of precious family members, numerous doctor appointments, and financial problems, years traveling with my husband’s job and countless other distractions and difficulties.
There have been times when I was sure I couldn’t keep the kids home another moment, but the Lord always provided the resources, determination, strength, and comfort that I desperately needed, just when I need it most. The Lord has taught me many things while homeschooling my children. I have learned to be more patient, diligent, responsible, compassionate, courageous in the face of adversity, and to endure.
This year my oldest child will graduate high school, followed by each of his siblings within the next two years. My work as homeschool teacher will be done. I will no longer be a homeschool mom. And you know what? I’m okay with that.
I’m sure there will be times that I will reminisce about the paper mache cave we built in our living room, or the time we left our mummified oranges outside and they were ravaged by crows, or when my son nearly passed out giving a speech at the science expo, and I’ll miss those days.
Though the thought of no longer homeschooling my children filled me with panic just two short years ago, I’m ready to let go. Just as I watched each of my children emerge from an infant, to toddler, to preschooler, to tween, to teenager; I am now ready to watch them soar into adulthood. Even if that it means that our homeschool days have drawn to a close.
I now understand that dear homeschool mom from that support group meeting, because I’m also ready to be done. Just as my children will soon move in a new direction, full of different opportunities, the Lord is preparing my heart for the road ahead, for a new season of life.
It’s almost time to let go and see what His plans are for me in a new stage of life. I trust that whatever lies ahead, it will be every bit as rewarding as homeschooling my three precious blessings has been. And maybe, somewhere along the new course that He has charted for me, I’ll be able to encourage my children as they homeschool children of their own.
Join Tonya at The Traveling Praters where she shares fun, family-friendly, educational travel and field trip ideas.
What a great post. I totally understand this, as well, although I still have 6-7 years left. My oldest is a sophomore in college, my middle one will be sophomore in high school, and my youngest is a 6th/7th grader. But already I feel like I am in the homestretch, and while I don’t want to hurry it along, I also don’t feel sad. Yet…