Homeschooling truly is one of the biggest blessings from the Lord, and I am incredibly grateful to Him for allowing me the privilege to be a homeschool mom. However, being a homeschool mom has its challenges, and there have often been times that I have been brought to my knees in discouragement and frustration. We don’t have anyone to let us know how we are doing or evaluate how we are teaching, and so often, we can be left to wonder, “Am I doing ok with my kids?”, or, worse yet, “Am I failing my kids?” Sometimes I feel at a loss because I just don’t know what I’m doing, how I’m doing, and if I should be doing anything differently! I don’t have a boss to report to, so I evaluate myself and perceive myself to be way off track many days! I’ve learned, over the past 8 years, that I am my own worst critic, and I fall victim to the comparison trap more often that I’d care to admit. It has taken a few years for me to break free of deeply ingrained false ideas concerning what education is supposed to look like. I am thankful that God led me to Master Books for many reasons, one of which is the gentle approach that encourages me to spend more time enjoying my kids rather than worrying about whether our school looks like school for the rest of the country. I finally have broken free of the need to complete checklists and the guilt that comes with not finishing my to-do-list. It has been truly freeing to get to the end of the day and realize that it is ok that we didn’t get to every little thing. Although I still have a difficult time comparing myself to others and I still question myself throughout the school year, I no longer am captive to the idea that I have to finish everything. That is a win for me! Since the Lord has led me to Master Books, He has used the Master Book community to help keep me grounded and focused on what matters. The app, in particular, as well as the online summits, have been a huge source of encouragement for me. The Lord uses all of you to work on my heart, encourage my spirit, and strengthen me in my homeschool journey. Anytime that you share your wins that have been born out of struggle, I am encouraged that I, too, can experience these moments in my homeschool. When I see pictures of not-so-perfect days or homeschool spaces, I can breathe a sigh of relief that my messy tables are indeed normal. Reading the advice that many of you offer in response to other overwhelmed mamas, breathes a breath of fresh air into my spirit and helps me pick up new ideas and insight that can also help me. I have not seen another online homeschool community so helpful, loving, and supportive as this Master Books family. I feel safe, seen, and even prayed for as I walk through life’s challenges. So thank you, fellow homeschool moms, for being a part of this community and being one of my biggest sources of encouragement! Keep up the amazing work and know that you are seen, loved, and a valuable part of all of our homeschool journeys! I wanted to share a Master Book resource that has been of great value to me over the years. The book, "Education: Does God Have an Opinion?", has been an excellent resource to remind me that homeschooling is what God wants me to do for my kids. On days of doubt, I think back to what I read in Isreal Wayne’s book, and remember to keep pressing on because this is God’s call for my family. If you have questions, doubt, or even are facing criticism for homeschooling, you have to check out this book! https://www.masterbooks.com/education-does-god-have-an-opinion-paperback-single Blessings to you all, dear Master Books family! May you all be encouraged as you all have encouraged me!

Posted by Danielle Houser at 2025-03-24 20:33:08 UTC