Homeschooling: It’s Never Too Late to Start
By Contributing Writer, Marci Ferrell
When Natalie shared that August’s topic would be homeschooling, I had concern as to what I could add or share about this month. Most of the contributors here are seasoned homeschooling parents or have been homeschooled themselves, while my experience is homeschooling one child…and not until he was in eighth grade.
My hope is to encourage you that you can begin homeschooling wherever you are at in the lives of your children. Just because you didn’t begin in preschool or third grade doesn’t mean you can’t start right before they are going to enter or are already in high school.
I have shared in a past post that we became Christians later in life. As non-believers, we hadn’t even heard of homeschooling, and as new Christians, when we met our first homeschooling family, we just couldn’t believe you could do something like this. We thought they were…well….crazy.
Shortly after we came to faith we pulled our kids out of public school and put them into a Christian school. We recognized fairly quickly that public school was not the place for our children as growing believers, but it took a while for us to recognize and the benefits of homeschooling.
Over the years we watched our friends who homeschooled (the ones we thought were crazy), and we saw the differences in their relationships with their children, not to mention how much we just enjoyed being around their children. They communicated well with adults, were responsible, well mannered, had a love for the Lord that was evident, and were just an all around delight to be with. Not anything like the world would stereotype homeschooled children.
Our Journey Into Homeschooling
When our son, Josh, was in seventh grade, he approached us and asked to be homeschooled. At this time our daughter was a senior in high school, and they both attended the same Christian school together. My husband and I talked, prayed, and thought deeply about bringing Josh home to educate him ourselves. Josh was a good student but had found himself compromising and not standing for Christ when he should have, and he truly had convictions about how this was affecting him spiritually.
Our final decision to bring him home was based on how this was affecting him spiritually. This was an eye opener to us, as we assumed he was getting a solid Christian education, not realizing the peer influence around him was drawing him away from Christ.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20
Josh finished seventh grade in the Christian school and came home that next year. Amber graduated from high school, so we never had the opportunity to homeschool her, and she continues to remind us of this 
.
Where Do We Begin?
Most homeschooling parents start out with a preschooler and work their way up. We now had a soon-to-be high school student, and at first we were overwhelmed with where to begin. We started slow and initially just brought the Christian school curriculum he was already using to our home. This did not work well for us, and as we became more familiar with homeschool curriculum choices, attended conferences, and talked with other homeschoolers, we found a fit for our family.
The Benefits
We did not realize the joys we were missing out on as a family by not homeschooling. We all grew spiritually as we began having regular time in the Word together, and Christ was the focus throughout our day in every subject. We learned together as a family about history, read great books together, and loved the discussions this fostered over meal times and throughout our day. Josh was able to learn at his own pace and within his own learning style. We saw the Lord sanctifying our family as sins came out that wouldn’t have been addressed or even noticed when Josh was at school all day.
There was no peer pressure tempting him to conform. We learned flexibility when plans were interrupted by visitors or ministry needs. Family vacations became a time of learning. We took full responsibility for his social development and watched him mature socially as well as develop leadership skills. Josh was able to work alongside his father in our home business and learn entrepreneurship skills as he ran his own small film business while in high school.
This is just a blog post so I will not turn it into a book, but I could go on about all the ways this impacted our family spiritually and in our relationships with one another.
My Hope
I see so many homeschooling families put their children into public school for high school, and I always struggle when I see this choice being made as I know the benefits of teaching them at home through these influential years of their lives. We missed out on having Josh home during most of his formative years, and all our days at home were not perfect. But I am thankful the Lord opened our eyes to the benefits of homeschooling and allowed us to have the short season at home with him to impact his spiritual growth and strengthen our relationship with him.
May you seek the Lord and His ways first for your family in your schooling decisions.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:9-10
Tags: home schooling
Homeschooling is such a blessing! After 6 years of public school and 1 year at a “Christian” school, my parents decided to take me out when I was 12 to homeschool me and my younger sister. (She was 9 at the time.) We are now 18 and 15 and I have completed high school. Being homeschooled is definitely counted as one of the things that I am most thankful for. I learned God’s ways instead of the world’s ways that are taught in schools; formed my beliefs and convictions around the Bible instead of what the world taught and what the world told me that I needed to do; learned to value family, and learned that being with family is wonderful. I am now a stay at home daughter and love it. If I had continued in the public/private school system, I believe that I would have gone down a feministic path in life and instead of desiring to please God, I probably would have wanted to please the world. I thank the Lord that He allowed me to be homeschooled and desire to one day homeschool my future children, Lord willing.
Thank you for this post. I always enjoy reading your posts and always learn so much from them.
God bless you and your family!
~Libby
Thank you for sharing your experience, Libby! It’s always a joy to hear the song of a grateful, gracious heart!
Libby, Your story put such a smile on my face because your family sounds like they went through similar paths as ours. Thank you for taking the time to share this Libby – I love being able to know more about you and your family. Sending you a hug
Thank you! It is so nice to know of others who have gone through similar experiences and also to be an encouragement to one another.
~Libby
Also, I forgot to add:
I have so enjoyed getting to know about your family through your and Amber’s blogs. They have been such an encouragement to me. It is a blessing to know of other people who are like-minded and to know that you are not the only ones living this lifestyle when it is so rare in our culture today. I am so thankful that the Lord led me to your blogs!
I think it’s wonderful when the Lord puts in on the parent’s heart to homeschool! As a public schooled (with two years of private school in the middle some where) god fearing wife to my best friend who was also a public school student we are met with great discouragement from my mom and no support in this area from my in-laws, so we look to God in all things. It is hard to not have the support, but God is showing us that even in America we can be living missionaries. I strive to show not only our families but others that we meet along this life path that without God we really can’t do anything not just homeschool, but have a loveing merriage, a devoted family unit, or pure joy. With God all things are possible. When we have a tough day doing our desk work, as that is the hardest part for the kids and me *smile*, we stop and make extra time to focus on God. We watch shows or read books that turn our eyes upon Him. It is with Christ that we school our children at home and it’s with Christ that we grow and learn. We are thankful for the teaching He is doing in our lives and for the constant presence He has in our lives here on earth. *smile*
I am so happy for parents who homeschool with or without the support of those they consider close friends or family. It is truely the best way to scholatically learn and a wonderful way to impart scripture into each moment of the day. Go in peace and know that no matter where you are in your walk with Christ, we are always growing and none of us are perfect or “have it all together” we are all learning and growing in one way or another. *big smile* Keep growing! Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!
Blessings, thank you for being such a blessing today
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I am a homeschooling mother of 12 and have homeschooled them all from the beginning but one of the big reasons that I chose to do this was because my parents homeschooled me. When I was going in to 11th grade and attending a public school, I asked my parents to home educate me. This was in 1984. My mother was overwhelmed by the prospect but proceeded in faith and the Lord provided. This is what I want to emphasize. If the Lord is leading you to homeschool, no matter where in the education process your child is, He will provide what is necessary. We must obey His calling and trust Him to show us the way. There are many helps out there, today, but even when there weren’t, the Lord met the need in my education and continues to as I educate my children.
Thank you for sharing that Lara – great reminder that the Lord truly provides all we need.
Never feel it is too late to start homeschooling. The benefits to the child and family are so great. I have known and encouraged many families to start late. It is wonderful when the Lord is central to homeschooling.
Thanks, Marci
Hello, I’m recently stepping into the world of home school. My son, In 7th grade came to me this week & begged me to home school him. I have agreed, but feel at a lose as to how to start (on a budget). If you can give any advice and tips I would be so grateful! Thanks!
Hello, I’m recently stepping into the world of home school. My son, In 7th grade came to me this week & begged me to home school him. I have agreed, but feel at a lose as to how to start (on a budget). If you can give any advice and tips I would be so grateful! Thanks!!
Hi Sara, that is exciting! There are a gazillion great articles/tips online for homeschooling on a budget! Here’s one I just read the other day over at In The Nursery of the Nation http://www.nurseryofthenation.com/2012/08/can-i-homeschool-for-free.html Have a wonderful year with your son!