**Was it worth it? Absolutely.**

One of the requirements of a Florida Home Education is that the parent compiles a portfolio showing each student’s progress for the year. I just finished putting ours together and I’m grateful that it’s forced me to reflect on the last year and see all that God has done.

Choosing to homeschool is a calling. I never imagined that I would be that parent. I looked forward to the day that all my kids were in school so that I could focus on my own personal ambitions, Deeply Rooted Magazine being one of them.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Oh, has this become a life verse! 😂

God gave me what I wanted for a season but when Ethan went into full-time ministry, we learned to adapt to an entirely different schedule. We realized that our kids spent the best portions of their day away from us. By the time they got home, they were tired, we had more schoolwork to do, and there was a lot of emotional unpacking to do from their day. (We found this to be the case both at public and private schools.) By the time homework was done, it was dinner, and then bedtime. Add lots of church-related events, hospitality, and soccer practice. It was too much.

In addition to the chaotic schedule, we recognized that someone else was doing the primary discipleship. For 7-8 hours a day (not including the bus) they learned from their teachers, whatever books their teachers assigned, and their peers. In public school, every aspect of their learning was divorced from the knowledge of God. Although our kids did have opportunities to share the Gospel and we had many awesome opportunities to witness our kids discern through topics (like evolution), we knew this wasn’t a great long-term solution. But even private schools came with a myriad of issues and inconsistencies. (Additionally, we found that our kids were learning way more inappropriate things from their friends at the Christian school than they ever learned at the public school.)

The choice to homeschool gave us the time we wanted back and it also gave us the opportunity to custom-tailor their education. Not only could we be intentional about what they are learning, we could also consider each unique personality, interest, and learning style.

The beauty of homeschooling is that it offers so much flexibility. Some days were tough. A friend told me that sometimes school is less academic, and more discipleship. This is true when you are with the same people 24-7. But! Homeschooling offers more time for those deeper conversations. Some of the greatest lessons my kids have learned are not academic but involve spiritual, everyday application. Also, whenever an idea wasn’t clicking (or even when it was) we made the time to explore a little bit longer and linger on a lesson. Even better, we took what we learned and got hands-on with it, whether by working with our hands or physically exploring ourselves.

All in all, we have no regrets about our decision. Homeschooling is both intentional and strategic, utilizing the God-given gifts our kids have been entrusted with. It can work in harmony with a family, deepening family bonds and benefiting the home. I can personally testify that my children are happier and less stressed. I have seen such a positive change not only in my kids but in our family as a unit. There have certainly been days where I’ve felt inadequate and questioned my ability to teach my kids, but overall, I’ve loved learning alongside my kids and teaching them truths that are rooted in the knowledge of God. 2022-2023 was a great year and I’m excited to see what the next one brings. Soli Deo Gloria.