Homeschooling the Herdman’s: schooling during Covid-19
It feels like an episode of the Twilight Zone, right? Masks, virtual school, health and temperature checks, zoom classes or homeschooling. Many of us have been thrust into roles we never imagined, balancing families, jobs, curriculum, digital devices and our sanity. (Because at the end of the day, these beautiful people God has entrusted to us still expect to eat dinner!) Add to these wild conditions the fact that some mommas are also public school teachers too, or are finding themselves teaching their special needs kids without many of the usual supports. Even the veteran homeschool moms are dealing with canceled co-ops and no field trips or play dates. There are challenges for all of us, for sure.
Our kids have been in various types of educational scenarios over the last 18 years and I’ve discovered some principles that are just as relevant to 2020 as they were to other seasons of our lives. I hope you’ll find these insights helpful and ENCOURAGING!
1. ANY FORM OF SCHOOLING CAN BE AN IDOL.
I loved my years of homeschooling, and believe homeschooling can be the best option spiritually IF GOD CALLS YOU AND PUTS YOU IN THE PLACE TO DO IT. It wasn’t until God called us out of it that I realized I had made it an idol (trusting the METHOD to guarantee success over the MESSIAH). A dear friend once said, “Homeschooling is not the litmus test for being a good momma.” God was teaching me that there IS no litmus test … only obedience and grace. So whichever venue God’s called you to – embrace it. But don’t worship it. He might just call you out of it in a few months (God has a way of knocking down the “Asherah Poles” we cling to most tightly).
2. COMPLETING MY GOD-GIVEN ASSIGNMENT MEANT NO MORE COMPARING.
If you aren’t familiar with the Herdmans, check out The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. Because, when I had 4 kids at home, I was shocked to discover I was homeschooling the Herdmans!
Other kids were quietly reciting “Glory to God in the highest”, while my kids were shouting “SHAZAM!” I was trying to contain my “wild childs”, while others seemed to be raising the “Cleavers”. This comparison was foolish for a couple of reasons. First, no matter how “put together” folks look on the outside, things are not always as they seem.
But more importantly, I had to realize that “those women” did not have MY CHILDREN, MY PERSONALITY, MY HUSBAND, MY BACKGROUND, or MY BUDGET, so the comparison was pointless. I now (try to) appreciate our quirkiness and disabilities and shake off self-imposed expectations of anyone else’s standards but GOD’S.
3. PEACE COMES WHEN I PURSUE HIS PURPOSE.
In the midst of the chaos, uncertainty, unrest and unkowns surrounding us here in 2020, peace comes from being in the will of God. Notice I didn’t say SAFETY is promised – only peace, and the promise of bringing Him glory through obedience.
God whispers to the anxious soul, “Shhh … Relax … Rest … I’ve got this. I keep in PERFECT peace him whose mind is fixed on me.” Our kids’ redemption will not come BECAUSE of us, but because of HIM, in SPITE of us!
Today, I have kids in four different schools – college, public high school, private high school and homeschool middle-school. but pursuing GOD’s purpose for my kids puts my mind at peace as my heart is completely dependent on His “new-every-morning-mercies” to complete the work in them.
4. NO EDUCATIONAL DECISION HAS TO BE PERMANENT.
Our motto? “Year-by-year, kid-by-kid.” Public school, homeschool, half and half, private school, virtual school — you name it, we’ve done it. I have the freedom to choose AND to change directions mid-stream. We often think we must have the whole thing mapped out, but goodness, when was the last time everything went EXACTLY according to your plan? (ME: NEVER!) GOD doesn’t change, but our seasons, ministries, and methods often need to (enter a pandemic). I’m choosing to listen to the One who has our BEST at heart and the final destination in His hand.
However God leads you to educate your children, I challenge you to do it seeking HIM above all else. Every venue still takes ENORMOUS amounts of intentionality on OUR parts to raise them in the truth of God’s Word against the backdrop of a fallen world. The effectiveness of their discipleship will be a direct result of our own, intimate walk with Christ.
I’d love to hear from you how you’re finding peace in your schooling decision, and what you’re doing to maintain it! Leave me a comment (link below title above:)
