If I could have a dollar for every time I hear people tell me that they could never home school because they are not patient enough, I might become rich by the time I die. That response always amuses me. I think these people somehow feel because we stay at home with our children and also home educate them, that makes us more holy, loving, and have the patience thing all figured out.
I’ll be the first to stand in line and say that I am not an ideal, perfect mother that has it all together. I don’t possess a patient look on my face all day or a patient tone in my voice every time I speak to my children. But I don’t allow that to stop me from doing what I know is best for my children – keeping them at home with me and educating them in the ways of the Lord to the utmost of my ability.
What you do have to possess in order to home school is conviction. A determination that what you are doing is the very best thing for your child, and that you must press on through the dark and dreary days – which will be there I promise.
Our spiritual life is not always a bed of roses. We all go through highs and lows, feeling close to the Lord and heeding His word, and at other times drifting away and needing to be convicted to come close to Him again. But we don’t quit on the Lord. We don’t stop believing in Him, discount His word and walk away. We just strayed for a minute.
So it is with homeschooling. Don’t quit even though the day is long. Don’t give up because you just became frustrated at your child and you feel unqualified. Don’t believe the lie that you are not good enough for your child. God has called you to be the mother and yes – even the home educator most of the times to your child. He will be faithful and provide you the strength you need even though the days may be long and weary.
Homeschooling challenges you to grow in these three areas.
Prayer, Perseverance, and yes – Patience.
With the Lord’s help you can obtain all three. And for your child’s sake – you must.
I needed this today, Caroline! Thanks so much!
What a fabulous post! I will share this. I have been homeschooling for 12 years, so yes, I would indeed be rich if I had a nickel for every time someone has said this to me.
We don’t home school yet because our little one is still little, but I often have mothers tell me that they aren’t patient enough to be a stay-at-home mom. I don’t think they realize that I’m not patient enough either! But Praise the Lord he doesn’t call the equipped, he equips those he calls. Staying at home has definitely grown my patience and my prayer life! Thanks for the post. I love your blog!
So very true! I’ve had that said to me I don’t know how many times!
I heard this at church on Sunday and it had a big impact on me: “don’t pray for patience, pray for strength.” Too often we pray for patience just to make it through something until it is over. What we should be praying for is the strength to not just endure our life but to be all that God wants us to be while living it. This applies to many things, but for me right now, it applies to me being a mom and homeschooling.
Yes!! Thank you for sharing!
After fifteen years homeschooling and going into our sixteenth year, I can give this a hearty “amen”! People who have told me that I must be so much more patient than they are give me far too much credit. I get tired of people thinking that I think I am better than they are because I homeschool. I’m not better than anyone. It is pure love and determination that allows us to do anything God calls us to do. And God’s good grace. Where I have floundered, he has overcome!
Thank you for this message Caroline. I needed to hear it. What kind of baby carrier are you wearing in your photo, if you don’t mind saying-
It is a Beco Baby Carrier. I Love it!
Thanks for posting this! Perfect timing as I’m facing another year ahead of me!
God has amazing timing. Such a great post that I needed to read just this week. So encouraging to know that the struggles and low times are not only had by me.
I have heard that phrase often as well! I think patience takes practice, like anything else. The more you do it, the easier it will be! And, of course, there will always be setbacks. I don’t homeschool because I’m patient. Homeschooling helps me become patient!
What an enlightening post. A family I know just decided to put all 6 of their children into the public school after having homeschooled them for the past 8 years. I was disheartened by this and it made me wonder if I can do it when someone who worked soo hard the past 8 years just up and decides to put their kids into public school. It wasn’t because of extenuating circumstances, just because and that scared me. Thank you for this uplifting post to encourage me that I can do this and I WILL do this because my children NEED me to!
Amen!
Thank you so much for this beautiful and encouraging post! I needed to read this just about now, as I am getting overwhelmed getting everything together to start a new school year with my 4 children. I have heard that many times, as well, and it really saddens me. Many blessings, Lisa
Thanks! I already printed this out to keep in my binder for those days that will come! I am not “officially” homeschooling yet (as in the family doesn’t know it officially yet, my kids are 3, 2, and baby almost due) but I have those days already… I will need the encouragement for sure. The Lord has done such a wonderful work in my heart already (I was totally not a patient person) but I’ve seen such a big change already. Thank you for your wonderful blog and encouragement! God bless ya!
Amen and amen, thank you for your obedience to the Lord in sharing this with us! God bless!
Thank you for your honest post. Isn’t it the truth! I hear this all the time, and I’m feeling defeated in the very area of patience right now. How many times I have gotten down on myself for yelling at/not being patient with my children. We all need prayer for more of HIM in our lives!
Oh!!! I thought I was the only one who ever heard that!!! How many times I have to tell everyone that I am the most un-patient person they know and yet… I STILL homeschool. EXCELLENT POST
YES! I’m working on obtaining more patience but I’ve so not arrived yet.
Such a blessing to be reminded that all is not in vain. I get the “I’m not patient enough.” response all the time, and all I can think of when people say that to me is, me neither, lol. Only someone who is never around me would assume that everything’s always running perfectly and that when it’s not, I’m perfectly cool and calm. We all assume that the reasons we aren’t or “can’t” do certain things is simply because the other person is more talented, gifted, or that it’s their personality by nature. Instead we need to remember that we all inherited a sin nature from Adam and Eve and that anything any of us do well or rightly is completely by God’s grace. I feel as though I am the worst mother/wife/homeschooler ever, but my husband often reminds me that is exactly why it will work, because we have a real need for God to do it for us. Thank you for always being such an encouragement!
Thanks for sharing, as a new homeschooling mommy, I really have had my doubts that I wasn’t good enough or doing a good enough job. This puts things more in perspective for me. Thank you again.
((hugs)) you can do it! Homeschooling still does not come easily for me, and I was homeschooled all my life! But I press onward because I know it’s the best thing for my children. It definitely draws me closer to God as I pray for guidance over curriculum, attitudes, schedules, etc.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one who gets the “you must have patience of Job” statement. I’m not! I fail miserably but you are so right, this is a calling and a leading from the Lord and I just trust he will somehow get us through this journey for HIS glory:)
Blessings to you!
Tiffany
I Thank God, very encouraging:)