Are We Doing This Thing?

I remember when we began to discuss homeschooling for the first time way back when I was pregnant with our first (see photo). I was surprised to even be considering it because my husband and I both had public school backgrounds and didn’t feel any pressing needs to change that experience for our (then future) kids.

We had some dear friends we met in our early married life that homeschooled, and watching their family and the love they shared for each other was the first seed that was planted for becoming curious about homeschooling.

I remember one night laying in bed, super pregnant, reading a book on homeschooling for our (then utero) child. Let’s just say I like to be prepared. I felt a need to be on the same page with my husband about this, so I remember wanting to firm up our answer THAT night to the question, “Will we homeschool or not??”

In his wisdom, knowing how I run hard after a passion for 6 months – 2 years and then quickly move on to the next thing, he said, “We still have around 5 years to figure this out. If this is still something you’re interested in then, that will be very telling to me.”

I agreed because I know how I can be. I can become obsessed and excited about something for a season and then move on from it just as fast.

I put the topic on hold in my heart. And sat with it for the next years.

Surprisingly to me, the desire didn’t go away. It just grew. By the time we had to make a preschool decision for our first, that was the year we “got our toes wet” by dipping them in the homeschool pool. We got a preschool curriculum and had fun reading books together and doing some light activities.

As each year goes on, we evaluate and see if we want to continue. Every year brings about its own learnings as everything continues to change. Different grades, different kids’ ages, more kids needing to be schooled, etc.

So far we’ve had really sweet seasons, and really difficult seasons. There are days where I’m so content and joy-filled with the gift of homeschooling and other days where I question everything and want to walk (or run as fast as I can) away.

But as each year passes I look back and feel grateful for the gift homeschooling has been. We may not homeschool forever, but I cherish these years that we’ve been able to learn and grow together.

So where are you today – in a sweet season or looking for an escape route, or somewhere in between??