What We Wish We Knew Before Homeschooling

Great resources to help you navigate parenthood and grow in your walk with The Lord:
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Ever since 2020, there has been a massive shift in the educational system. Many parents have wrestled with the decision of how to approach their kids' schooling. Asking the questions: Do we send our kids to school? Should we choose to homeschool them?

In part 1 of this conversation, we're exploring the pros and cons of homeschooling. We're sharing what we wish we knew before deciding to homeschool and giving some insights we learned along the way.

Listen in for strategies to find the best fit for your family's needs!

p.s. this is part 1! stay tuned for part 2!
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The At Home with the Beveres podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to get the audio-only version so you can take it on the go!

We love hearing from you! Drop a comment to tell us what spoke to you in this episode. If you have any questions you'd like us to tackle in future episodes, drop them in the comments as well, and we'll work hard to get to them!

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[athomewiththebeveres]

Are you considering homeschooling? We’d love to know!

[nataliebarbosa]

This is my 3rd year homeschooling, I pulled my 3 children ages 8, 10, 12 out of the public school system and it was the BEST decision I have made for them. Teaching them and raising them according to their gifts and talents is a blessing that we can give to our children ❤

[lionofthetribeofjudah]

Absolutely love this!! I’m a veteran homeschooling mama and I wouldn’t change a thing. So happy I homeschooled my kids. Now my daughter is choosing to homeschool my first grandchild!! So happy and excited to help her out!! ❤❤

[erynw]

Juli and Addison,

Here's a messy write-up from personal experience:
I and my 6 siblings were brought up with the 'unschooling method' (I didn't even know that was a thing until I came across it much later). My Dad was less academically oriented than my Mom, and he particularly stressed the importance of learning on your own. They both provided us with plenty of dictionaries and Biblical commentaries. (Lots of Puritan authors and early exposure to core values/doctrine). We also had morning and evening devotions which Dad made mandatory. All this is while we served on the mission field.

Now, we had the entire day to ourselves...
My siblings and I used to play house for hours on end and interestingly enough, we developed a monetary system complete with little paper money and a taxing system from our crude understanding of how an economy works. This was all thought through in creative play and my older brother led the charge--we were all 10 years and under. (I particularly recall trying to copy my older brother's handwriting and create more money wherein he pointed out that all the real checks had a special symbol which could not be replicated apart from his own hand). There were other things like elections, voting for town mayor, term limits, vehicle licenses and so forth. This was back when we had no internet. Children soak things up like sponges and the penchant for creativity is amazing.

All that to say, I want to emphasize that although my older brother took offense with the way our parents raised us, I would not trade what they did for a normal schooling education. The most invaluable thing they passed onto us were THEIR Biblical values and lessons learned--lessons which were forged from their own hardships and trial. Working alongside them and having Biblical truth taught to us in real-time was extremely valuable. Those things don't go away, they stick with you for a long time and inform every decision you make as young adults navigating life.
I learned the most from hanging around my mother and helping her in the kitchen than I did from my Physics degree--especially as it pertains to life. My desire to be a neurosurgeon and help people in underdeveloped areas comes from both my parents. They'd always go out of their way to help poor people and that kindness would lead people to inquire about God from them. Your character is scrutinized way more by kids and is the best piece of advice they will take away into the real world. Even the gracefulness with which a parent accepts a misstep is a valuable lesson of humility to a child. At the end of the day, you're not really teaching, you are a demonstration of God's very real and intimate love to them.

Ultimately, as parents you are raising souls of whom each are bricks in the kingdom of our Lord. It doesn't matter whether one is a janitor or an engineer, as long as God's will and His will alone is one's ultimate love and desire...all will work itself out because HE works it out.
John Owens (PhD in Divinity) remarked to King Charles about John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's Progress) "I would willingly exchange my learning for the tinker's power of touching men's hearts."

[audreyestelle]

Being a stay at home/homeschooling mom is literally sanctifying! My children are teaching me how to be more like Jesus in character ❤

[krissydavidson]

Our daughter has ADHD - we removed her out of public school after 2nd grade due to multiple issues including alot of targeted bullying. We prayed over whether or not to homeschool her diligently, did our research, had her tested, talked to her pediatrician, interviewed diffenret Co-ops and seeked out the best environment for her to learn in due to her ADHD...it also helped we have many friends who actively have taught and or teach in the public schools to help guide and encourage us(although we are still met with scrutiny, doubt, questioning of our homeschool choice!) I want to encourage you to reach out to your local Co-ops, talk to your homeschooling association, local libraries and churches sometimes will host talks and post resources about these issues, and most public schools even if you don't attend offer services such as screening and resources to help with learning disabilities. Praying for you and that resources and doors will open up to help your child's needs!

[SavannahMares]

Unschooling is learning to learn! It’s learning to love learning! One must trust the process. Colleges love to accept unschooled students because of their love for learning and studying!

[HarperThomas-Hp]

Hallelujah!!! I’m favored and blessed with $60, 000 every week! Now I can afford anything and also support the work of God and the church.

[dnmccurry]

You guys have entered the intense time of life period, as parents of teenagers. It stays intense. The Lord strengthens your muscles through this time.

[elizabethmcgrath]

This was so well balanced, thank you. Homeschooling and homesteading and homemaking although all good things, has becoming the holy grail and I think an idol in many Christian households today. But it’s good to see you can’t fit God in a box, there are so many ways to raise our children in the world. I think you guys have done a great job of listening to God, listening to your children and listening to each other and not killing each other while you’re at it! Koodos!

[melaniemungia]

Please so part 2. Please keep talking about this. This is A very difficult thing that all parents are navigating right now with the world going bonkers. It's hard to know what to do as a Christian, and when you feel so exhausted and drained being home homeschooling.

[tayshavargas]

I am in a similar situation. I pulled my kids out of an amazing christian school. I feel in my heart God called me to homeschool but I am not equipped… so I decided to obey (along with my husband). I am super scared, no family around or community. Church moms are clicky and they already have their groups.
So I feel I am jumping off the cliff without a parachute but trusting God.
I will put my kids in the waitlist for next school year so if this fall I can go back to our school.

[trisyadarmayanti]

😂when you said that as a homeschooler Mom means becoming back a leaner, so related.
This is our 3rd year with our 13 and 10.
I can say, we made a wonderful decision. We can see our children slowly enjoy and find what they're fascinating beside school.

[margaretwakefield]

So lovely how these parents talk to each other

[melaniemungia]

This topic is an answered prayer. I was asking God for one of the Beveres to discuss this. Thank you. Praying about continuing homeschooling or trying to get into a charter school.

[abbymayen]

To be continued! Can’t wait for next episode. Planning to home school my 2 boys ages 1 and 4.

[ATMM]

You all do not know how much this was needed. Ive been racking my brain on what to teach my kids for homeschool. We pulled our kids out a great Christian School. Our two older kids (9, 6) have dyslexia, which we have paid out of pocket to get them special tutoring, and they are doing well. But the LOrd spoke to me so clearly to pull them out of that school and teach them. I fought him for a year and then finally decided to be obedient. The issue for me is I dont want them to get behind or struggle later in adulthood. I have no idea what to do from day to day. And the curriculums are soo expensive.

[briggseats]

More homeschool content please :) love all the parents advice. And wisdom

[jennyc]

Thank you so much. Your commitment to the highest good for your children is very apparent. ❤❤

[gabzilove]

I dont have kids yet, but when i do, I'd love to homeschool. My best friend is having her first bavy in October, and I'd love to be able to homeschool her kids as well if she's up for it