Homeschooling my children was never part of my plan. I grew up in public school—it was all I knew—so when I first brought my son home, my instinct was to recreate the very institution I had just pulled him out of.
I remember the moment clearly. I received yet another phone call from the school about my son’s behavior. It was the fourth call that month alone. Something in me finally snapped. I told the principal I would be withdrawing my son that very day. Of course, there was pushback. I was told it wasn’t necessary, that they could get him the “proper” help he needed. I politely—but firmly—declined. I explained that it was my husband’s and my responsibility, not theirs, to help our son.
There were only two months left in the school year when I brought him home. At first, I only withdrew my second son. My oldest wasn’t getting into trouble and had decent grades, so I left him where he was. I had no real plan. I just knew something had to change—starting with my son’s heart and behavior.
So instead of immediately jumping into schoolwork, I decided he needed to earn the privilege of school. It had become something he took for granted.
I created a strict routine filled with indoor and outdoor chores. He cleaned bathrooms, washed walls and baseboards, deep-cleaned the kitchen, mowed the lawn—anything I could find. By the end of the week, he was begging me to let him hit the books. Since the school year was almost over—and I truly had no idea what I was doing—I spent the remaining weeks simply getting reacquainted with my son.
And honestly? That was the hardest part.
He went from being gone nine hours a day to being home all day long. And what I discovered during that time stopped me in my tracks.
Let’s pause here for a moment.
This realization hit me in the gut and broke my heart: I didn’t really know my son. He had been exposed to behaviors and influences at school that were not acceptable in our home. We raised our children to know God. We attended church every Sunday and midweek. We were active, involved, volunteering. From the outside, we were “doing everything right.”
Or so I thought.
In my brokenness, I cried out to God and asked Him for wisdom and direction. I felt Him clearly lead me to the book of Nehemiah. As I read, the Lord spoke to my heart and showed me that there was a crack in our foundation—and it needed to be rebuilt. God used Nehemiah as our blueprint for rebuilding our home.
It became abundantly clear that I needed to bring both of my sons home and homeschool them. I could no longer assume that biblical values were being instilled simply because we attended church. We needed to live our faith intentionally, daily, and within our home. We needed to actively live out Deuteronomy 6:6–7:
“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Another verse that anchored me during this time was Jeremiah 33:3:
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Our decision to homeschool was not met with applause. In fact, it was met with strong opposition—from family, friends, and even leaders within our church. I was told I wasn’t “qualified” to teach my children because I was a high school dropout with no college degree. A youth leader even told me my kids needed to stay in public school so they could be “witnesses for Christ.” My boys were just 12 and 11 years old.
Still, we pressed forward.
I didn’t know how it would all work or what it would look like, but I trusted God to lead us. And He did. It wasn’t always pretty. There were seasons I felt like a complete failure. But I remained faithful to what He had called me to do.
Now, looking back over the last 12 years, I can say with confidence that we made the right decision. When I think about the time we’ve had together—the conversations, the discipleship, the relationship—I wouldn’t trade it for anything. That time allowed us to bond in a way I don’t believe would have been possible if my children had been gone nine hours a day.
Philippians 3:12 beautifully captures my heart:
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”
Dear friends, if your children are in public school, please hear me clearly: I am not saying homeschooling is the only way. While I am a strong advocate for homeschooling, I recognize it is not for everyone.
If you take anything from this post, let it be this: as mothers and fathers, we have a higher calling when it comes to our children. Our time with them is short—so incredibly precious. Tomorrow is not promised.
Cherish your children while they are young. Live intentionally. And I wholeheartedly encourage you to live out Deuteronomy 6:6–7 in your home. I truly believe it will be one of the greatest gifts you give your children—and your children’s children. ❤️
If this story resonated with you, I’d love for you to stay connected. Whether you’re homeschooling, considering it, or simply seeking encouragement as a parent, I share reflections, resources, and real-life experiences from our homeschool journey to remind you that you’re not walking this road alone.
