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What exactly does homeschooling mean? Does it mean at schooling at home all day? Or for the school hours the public school system sets? Does it mean out of public school and instead schooling at home? Is it a locational thing? Can a family homeschool on the road?

These are all things I have heard mentioned in homeschooling circles and spoken about myself. I don't know if there is a clear-cut answer in all cases. Some families homeschool very well traveling the states or the world, keeping their family strong and teaching their children as they go. For some families, that would be a monumental disaster.

I used to think I could homeschool our children whether we were home or not. In other words, there were times I had to be at the church to run the sound for this or that event or I had to run this meeting or host that dinner. I *needed* to organize the music and prepare the songs for Sunday Worship, prepare to sing specials, lead the teen worship team, lead children's worship.... the list went on and on. And I had to go to a Creative Memories meeting once a month and scrapbook at least once a month. All of this was time for our older children to learn with me, I told myself.

Not that they didn't learn. They did. Amanda learned how to work the sound board and PowerPoint. Amanda, Jocelyn and Rachel all were in any skits or music specials, major productions, solos; because I was usually involved in leadership of them. They were good learning experiences. But, was it homeschooling?

Amanda and Jocelyn, at 14 and 13 could set up an entire Creative Memories display and tear it down and pack it up to leave. Amanda was very well-versed in speaking to customers - strangers - about Creative Memories or homeschooling or children, whatever topic they struck up with her in conversation. I remember when she was 14 and Isaac was just 4 months old. Amanda was carrying him in the front carrier, and everyone thought he was her baby. She was amazed they would think that, but, she was a natural at taking care of him, because she had learned so much from her previously-born siblings. All of this, speaking to customers, knowing a trade, caring for children - it is all good learning experiences, but is it homeschooling?

Honestly, what is homeschooling? Is it staying home, baking bread, sewing all of your own clothes, milking the goats, gathering eggs, butchering chickens, having a home business, sitting at the table working on workbooks.... Is that homeschooling? Yes. And no. To some, it is. To some it is not.

Or is homeschooling more about what our life is *not* like?
Does it mean our children are not running with their friends at the mall or not in front of the television for 5 hours a day, but rather their minds must be at home? Not at the sitter's, not at the neighbor's, not in a classroom, not at extra-curriculars all day?  No, that doesn't fit all homeschoolers either. And, frankly, since I don't want you judging what homeschooling is for my family, I won't worry about what it is for yours.
But, I will tell you what it is for us.

Homeschooling is about the heart. It is about keeping their hearts at home. It is about being at home where we can teach our children and stop teaching and discipline our children or stop teaching and pray with our children. This is all teaching to us. It is about keeping our children home to learn where children - all children - learn best: at Daddy's or Momma's feet. Period. I know some families don't get that opportunity. I am sorry for that. Children's hearts truly long to learn at the feet of their parents.

What does it mean to have your heart at home?
Why do we keep them home to school? Just to keep them away from the big bad public school system? To keep them away from bad influences? Or is it to keep their hearts at home? For each of those reasons, but mainly to keep their hearts at home. It does no good to keep them from things if their hearts long for those things. To keep their hearts focused on the family and home, rather than what their best bud has or the latest fashion or newest model toy or whatever they see and crave with their eyes is what we are striving for. Our children did learn so much when we were involved in outside activities, but we all paid the price for that learning. Their hearts belonged to their friends or the Awana teachers they helped and the status that gave them.

We keep our children home to give them a heart of wisdom and a vision for their future. Kids cannot get a vision for their future as adults if all they do is hang with the kids. They cannot get their family in their hearts if they are so busy hangin' with their friends. They cannot get a passion for home and responsibility if they are always online, gaming, leading with other adults or 'cruising'.

As Believers in the One True God, we are to keep our minds stayed upon Him. We are to bring every thought captive to Christ. We are to use our time and our possessions wisely. God ordained the family as the unit we learn in. The unit we grow in. Friends and clubs may have their place, but they cannot become the master and the family the servant. These exist to serve the needs of the family, not the other way around.

So, what does it mean to homeschool in the Dixon family? It means no matter where we learn we direct our children's hearts to home. We do not let their hearts become wrapped up in friendships and material things or even Christian groups. They have friends. Their friends do not come before their siblings. They have material things. We can watch and observe that these things do not become idols.  They have interests of their own. These interests do not influence the family. What a disservice we would be doing to our children to give them an appetite for friends and other interests that they will have to set aside as adults to have a Godly marriage. How do I know that? Because we have already been down that path. Thank God He gave us mercy and showed us the error of our teachings before it was too late.

To us, this means that we are working toward a home that is loving and the focus of our days. It is the focus of our learning and responsibility. We do not have our hearts set on outside pressures. We cannot escape the presence of outside pressures, but we must strive to keep them in their proper places, and not at the expense of our family and keeping their hearts at home.

blessings!

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Comments

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by EEEEMommy

Awesome post and wonderful explanation!!!
How well equiped your children will be to face life!
Well educated!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

Amazing post. So true and so dear to my heart.

Love,
Marsha

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by quietcajun

The bottom line of what I hear you saying is homeschooling is the process of tying heartstrings! Right?

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

Yes, tying heartstrings. But, not just tying them. Tying them to love of God and home before all other things. We can teach all the academics and all the life-skills we want to, but if they are bending to their own wills and not God's, then it is for nothing. We will have raised a bunch of intelligent children who do not know God. And, even if they do, if we don't tie those strings toward home, they will not have the interest in home they will need as spouses and parents.
blessings!

Friday, January 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by hsfamily

Thanks for sharing this!
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/salt
www.homesteadblogger.com/tagblog

Monday, January 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I have to remember this when I get frustrated by our lack of progress through the chosen curriculum. There is so much more to life than curriculum and facts. My children are learning to love in a very real way by living here and working together. Thank you for the reminder!

Peace to you,
Renae
http://reflective.homeschooljournal.net/

Thursday, January 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by dawilli

Lovely post- great food for thought!

Enjoy your children,
ali