Very pregnant. And still homeschooling.
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting on 21 Aug 2009.
“Help! We’ve got 2 kids, and my wife’s pregnant. Should we just quit homeschooling?”
[DT: It's not uncommon for homeschooling dads to get nervous when baby's on the way. In her reply to this anxious dad, a mother of 4 shares what she believes is the heart of homeschool and what her family did when she was expecting. This encouraging testimony is #3 in a series of responses that I began posting on 18 August]
I ALSO GRAPPLE with personal insecurities every now and then. During such times I do lose sight of God’s purpose for me, but as I watch my children grow, and reflect, I’ve so much to thank God for 
I’ve 4 kids (ages 11, 10, 6 and 1+) so I know the needs are real and can be overwhelming. Although homeschooling has not been always easy, it is not impossible either. My husband and I planted a new church last year, and my youngest was born in the same year. Busy is an understatement. I’ve no word to describe it, but God was our strength and his grace was sufficient.
With every pregnancy and birth in the family (two of my kids were premature babes) my children continued learning. Each time, learning took on a different form but the process still went on! Nevertheless, one lesson stood out every time: SERVICE ABOVE SELF. No matter their age, I’ve observed my children have learnt to be selfless and serve the new baby and their mum with love and respect. Along the way, they have become more independent conquering new tasks.
Last year, my girls began a project on “babies” during my pregnancy. Then during my confinement month, they did intense research all by themselves – books, internet, discussing issues with adults – to come up with a lapbook each. They kept adding more information as they went along and finally on their baby brother’s 1st birthday this year they presented their project to him and all of us in the family.
The girls’ lapbooks had a song they composed while baby was still in the tummy, stories they wrote, a slideshow of baby’s milestones, interesting facts on reproduction, breastfeeding, babywearing, and puberty. They also put up posters and mini-display booths on nutrition, cloth diapers and sarong-slings, etc for viewing. That was something for my father-in-law who remains very skeptical about homeschool even after all these years! None of my kids went to public school, and to think that they did the lapbooks all by themselves as a gift for their l’il brother.
When the girls were younger (under 6), we just read a lot, played a lot, and we talked a lot about whatever was happening around us (we still do all that). As you can see, learning is not confined to textbooks and workbooks alone. If we duplicate the school system at home, we miss the true essence of homeschool. It will really be good for you and your spouse to really understand its essence and KNOW your motivation behind your decision to homeschool.
Seek God daily to keep your focus and purpose, as well as creativity and opportunity to enhance the learning process. God is so ready to give. We have never lacked resources (we don’t even buy a curriculum) and strength. Did I say strength? Oh, how we all need it, but not our own but God’s divine provision upon whom we depend totally.
You will be in my prayers
Selina
2 Comments so far...
moses Says:
22 August 2009 at 12:12 am.
Amen! We homeschool due to conviction that is it a call. As such, it is not open for reconsideration. Instead, we realize that the challenges that come with the calling is PRECISELY ordained by God for our transformation into a deeper love for Christ and likeness to Him. To flee family discipleship due to the growth context God lovingly places us in is foolishness. So we rejoice. This is not some blythe reponse but grounded in God’s promises. (Rom. 8:28, Eph. 1, James 1:2-4) etc.
Of course, as the father, I need to realize that the RESPONSIBILITY for homeschool falls on my shoulder. Even though I may delegate much of the actual activities to my wife as she’s home, I must bear the responsibility to equip the family to home disciple well.
Pei Yin Says:
27 August 2009 at 10:51 pm.
Hi Moses! Thank you for your encouragement of this simple reminder that God will equip those whom He has called.
My hubby and I just started homeschooling this year. You mentioned that as a father, you need to take the responsibility for homeschooling. Could you elaborate on this? What exactly is the role of the father in the homeschooling family? At the moment, I feel as though the mommy is doing all the work! My hubby is also very interested to know and I’m not able to help him here.
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