There is such a spotlight on homeschooling right now due to the horrific actions of a California couple who claimed to be homeschooling their 13 children, but used that time to mistreat them. In California, a debate has stirred over whether the state should even allow homeschooling. We cannot let the actions of a few overshadow the millions of parents who are courageously opting to homeschool and doing a great job!

One of my most cherished blessings in life was the fact that I got to homeschool my five children.

I believe in homeschooling because I have seen the incredible fruit of it in my own life, and in the lives of so many others!

My heart is with parents who are homeschooling their children, which is why I want to send my love and support to them right now when people are putting homeschoolers under the magnifying glass.

If you are able and willing to homeschool, I want to share some insights that will help you navigate this challenging but rewarding undertaking. This is the first of my three-part guide for homeschoolers that includes practical tips, candid personal stories, and heartfelt encouragement.

Remembering your high calling

If you feel you are being called to homeschool, I want to encourage you to believe that YOU CAN do it!

When I first had the thought to homeschool, self-doubt quickly came against me. I could never do that. I don’t have the patience for that. These were the lies the enemy was throwing in my path.

I got so many messages that I was inadequate and so many messages that I should send my oldest daughter, Amy, to preschool because that’s what everyone did.

I remember another one of my fears about homeschool was that my children wouldn’t have “normal” common high school experiences, like prom. I know, it sounds silly now, but this is how the devil was coming against me: fear, doubt, and insecurity.

No matter how hard the enemy tried to convince me otherwise, the call to homeschool was on my heart, and God helped me overcome my reservations and told me, “YOU CAN do it!” And I knew He would be with me every step of the way!

When you release your children into a public school, think about everything they are going to be hearing from the teachers and from the other children. Luke 6:40 reminds us that “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Remember, prayer is now illegal in public school and the curriculum is secular. So, not only do you release your authority into someone else’s hands, but also you turn it over to a Godless environment!

But God has given YOU authority over your child.

Deuteronomy 11:19 instructs us to “Teach them [God’s Word] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

You have the opportunity to protect their innocence and develop their hearts and minds to serve God and others.

When you homeschool, you have the authority over your child’s environment; you can control what is going into your children’s young minds.

Homeschooling advantages

There are so many false myths about homeschooling. Society will tell you that homeschooling is strange and homeschooled kids are socially awkward and don’t perform as well academically. In the majority of cases I’ve seen, it has been exactly the opposite!

The National Home Education Research Institute reports that children who are educated at home typically score 15 to 30% higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.

When you choose to homeschool, you are making an investment in your child.

Research proves that children thrive when they receive constant physical affection. All children want their parents’ love, attention, and direction. All children thrive in an environment full of hugs and laughter. When you homeschool, you can invest more time into your children, and that is such a huge foundation to building lasting success.

In a public school, physical touch is strictly off-limits, even in a preschool age classroom, and now research has proven that children whose emotional needs aren’t being met do not perform well in school!

Three years after I removed Amy from the Christian school she was attending, we went back to have her tested. I had only planned to homeschool her for a few years and then enter her back into the school system. Do you know that principal came over to me and said, “She is testing on an 8th grade level! If I were you, I would keep doing what you’re doing.” He looked surprised…

I wasn’t surprised! I knew God gave me this high calling for a reason.

As a homeschooler, you are choosing a difficult but rewarding road. You are demonstrating the most important lesson of all—love. You are providing a loving learning environment for your children and, believe me, that is what will build a lasting foundation.

I want to encourage you, if God has called you to homeschool, trust that He will help you walk out that calling!