Today should have been the first day of school for our four children. We home school and are looking forward to another year of learning together. My husband and I spent hours pouring over curriculum, going to a meeting for advise (and to change schools). We're very happy with our choices, and excitedly placed the order for the new curriculum, and began the waiting game ... and so now we wait. I ordered with what I thought was enough time for the curriculum to arrive well before the first day, but, no.
And then ... enter 'Mr Doubtful'.
Have you met him? He's the guy that makes you wonder whether or not you are actually cut-out for this homeschooling thing. You know you're only technically a day late, but Mr Doubtful gets into your ear and whispers, "you really aren't organised" ... and then there's, "do you know you're teaching a high schooler Elisha?" ...
... On and on Mr Doubtful goes ...
"Can you really teach your first grader to read?"
"Are you going to be able to keep up with everything?"
"Are you going to be able to keep your home clean,
you do realise you're a perfectionist don't you?"
"What do other people really think of you home schooling your children?"
"There's going to be lots of gaps in their education you know,
you'll miss teaching them something important" ...
... one day in ladies! One day in, and Mr Doubtful is here already!
Well I think it's time that Mr Doubtful gets told the truth, don't you?
I think my answer would go something like this ..
"Well Mr Doubtful, I see the point in all of your questions. But let me tell you something ... I am equipped to teach my children, not because of myself, but because of Him who strengthens me. You're right, I don't have it all together. I will make mistakes this year, and every other year. But that's o.k. There are many things I do right.
My home will possibly, more often than not, look like a scene from WW3, with dirty dishes in the sink, piles of washing sitting, sitting ... sitting, floors that need mopping, dust that multiplies seemingly by the millisecond ... but I'm not creating a castle, or a kingdom, or a display house; I'm creating a home. And a home is where life happens; so home is where mess happens.
I don't run by your 'must-do to impress' schedule, but rather I run on God's time; doing what He asks of me. I know, I know, teaching a high schooler is daunting, but it's not impossible. Teaching a child to read will be challenging, but it can and has been done. God knew we would choose to home school Mr Doubtful, and He will help us through. I will miss teaching them important things, you know why Mr Doubtful? Because I'm not super-mum, and I don't want to be. I'm mum, chosen for these children to love, nurture and enjoy, and God says I can do this. And there will always be someone who disagrees with our choices, but they're not the ones who live with them.
At the end of the day Mr Doubtful, you are just fear talking. And perfect love casts out fear. So say what you will, but excuse me if I'm not listening to you; I'm too busy teaching my kids".
