It is easy to get discouraged in the day-to-day struggles of homeschooling. That’s why it is important to have a homeschool vision statement. It is a reminder of why you are homeschooling and the goals you are aiming for.
The Year I Wanted to Give Up On Homeschooling
At the end of a particularly rough homeschool year, I came to my husband and said ”I am done homeschooling!” My husband knew I meant it this time.
Yes, I had been known to say that at the end of some rough homeschool days but what I usually meant was that I was done with that day. Both my husband and I knew that I’d pick up the next day and homeschool on.
But this time was different. It had been an exceptionally tough homeschool year. Every single day had been a struggle. Our curriculum was far from being completed. I was exhausted and wondered if my kids had learned anything at all that year.
It had been a difficult year of juggling little ones and struggling to teach older kids. I had some health issues of my own that slowed me down most days. I was so burnt out and ready to be done with homeschooling before the school year was even half way over.
So, at the end of the homeschool year, I told my husband “I am done homeschooling! I don’t want them to go to public school but you better figure something else out because I can’t do this anymore.”
Our Homeschool Vision Statement
My husband and I took the summer to talk and pray about what to do. We kept going in circles and as the end of summer approached we didn’t have any answers. Eventually God reminded us of our vision statement for our family.
To raise and educate children who love the Lord with all their hearts and minds, who are equipped to defend their faith, and who are dedicated to using the gifts and talents God has given them to serve and bless others for the glory of God.
Knutson Family Homeschool Vision Statement
We looked at the vision we had for our family and asked the question, “How can we best accomplish this vision?” The answer for us was homeschooling. We didn’t see how we would find the time to accomplish our family goals apart from educating our kids at home.
Raising Kids Who Loved God
We looked at the first part of our homeschool vision statement. It read, “To raise and educate children who love the Lord with all their hearts and minds.” We asked ourselves, “Can public school accomplish that?” For us, that was a big no.
We pondered if sending them to a private Christian school could accomplish it? We realized that a private Christian school could educate their minds but we wondered who would take the time to invest in their hearts? Who would instruct them to love the Lord with all their hearts and minds more than the parents that God had given them? We agreed that homeschooling was the best way to meet this part of our family’s vision.
Raising Children Who Could Defend Their Faith
We read the next part of our homeschool vision statement. We desired to raise children who were equipped to defend their faith. The Lord brought to mind all of the conversations we had had with our kids at random moments. They had asked us tough questions about God, His Word, the world and their own faith.
We realized that because we homeschooled our kids, we had so many more opportunities to answer our children’s tough questions with truth from God’s Word.
Would they ask those questions after a long day away at school? And if they did, who would they ask? Us or their teacher or peers? We wanted to make sure that our kids were adequately equipped to defend their faith and we knew homeschooling provided more opportunities for us to equip our children.
Raising Kids Who Loved Their Neighbor
Finally, we looked at the last part of our family vision statement. We want to raise children who are dedicated to using the gifts and talents God has given them to serve and bless others for the glory of God. Homeschooling gave my kids many opportunities to serve others, especially their family.
I had been consumed with academics but God was showing us that there were more important things than just a rigorous academic experience. This vision statement reminded me that I wasn’t failing at homeschooling. I was actually working towards our family vision!
Creating a Homeschool Vision Statement for Your Family
I know as homeschool moms we really like practical tips. We want to check off our to-list and feel like we accomplished something. I want to encourage you, though, to think long-term. Know why you are homeschooling, set long-term goals and have a vision for your family.
If you don’t know why you are homeschooling then, when things get tough, you will give up. Think long-term and determine what you want to accomplish in the end of your parenting (and homeschooling) journey.
Perhaps you want to create positive social experiences for your children or strengthen family bonds. Maybe you want more opportunities to disciple your kids and share God’s Word with them. Perhaps you are homeschooling to help your child overcome learning challenges.
Imagine your child on their graduation day. Who do you want them to be? What knowledge do you want them to possess? What skills do you want them to have? Where do you want them to be in their knowledge of God and their relationship with Him?
You need to come back to your long-term goals time and time again as you are facing the struggles of homeschooling.
What is your vision for your family? What are your goals for homeschooling? Take some time to write down why you are homeschooling and what your long-term goals are for your family. Write out a homeschool vision statement that you can look at throughout your homeschool journey.
A Homeschool Vision Takes Time to Accomplish
Remember that a bountiful harvest at the end of your homeschool journey takes time and effort. I don’t just mean hours. I’m talking months and years. Building family unity, overcoming learning challenges, helping our children mature in their faith, are things that grow slowly over many years.
On a day-to-day basis, it might seem like you aren’t getting anything accomplished. In some seasons, the progress will be really slow and require a lot of effort. In other seasons, you may see exponential growth.
Don’t get discouraged when you don’t see the progress that you were hoping for. Remember that the harvest that homeschooling will reap, takes time and effort and dependence on the Lord.
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