“I just wanted to say good-bye,” said a mom standing on our front porch with her daughter–a young lady I had watched in our co-op since she was a little girl. “We won’t be home schooling next year. I wanted to see you in case we don’t run into each other.”
Her face revealed how difficult the decision had been. Her husband was out of work. Her perfect part-time job was being eliminated. She needed to find full-time work, so daughter would be going to school.
As I gave her a hug, I wondered, “Another one?”
The issue hits home for our family. With a now-disabled husband, our income cut 40%–I’m not sure how long we can keep going. The issue of “will I be able to home school?” has loomed large and consistently in our struggles. We have cut our lifestyle and I’ve sought more speaking bookings just so I can keep the home school going. But, it’s tough. As I’ve seen families all around us handle their economic crises by mom returning to work and the kids to school, I’ve wondered, “Is that us?”
How can the home schooling community counter this growing trend?
A few questions might help.
Is each home schooling family living in a financially responsible way? Do we have savings? Are we cutting debt? IS each of us working so that we can share with those in need? Eph. 4:28. The financial strain on most home schooling families is huge–most of us already live on one income. Before crisis,I felt we were doing a great job if we could buy school books on our limited budget. I didn’t see how we could plan for more savings. But, on the other side of crisis, I would urge families to try. My husband’s commitment to no debt freed us greatly to keep home schooling.
Is the home schooling community living in a financially responsible way? Do we hire other home schoolers? Do we buy products from home schooling entrepreneurs to keep their income going? Are we ready to financially help struggling families? Our family school has survived precisely because people have helped–mostly home schoolers and our church. People have taken seriously God’s command to reach out in support which has allowed me, stepping out in faith, to plan for another year. How many don’t have that support?
We have wonderful people working on the governmental side to guard against the legal attacks on home schooling. Our home schooling communities have developed superb response mechanisms to these.
But, Satan isn’t stupid. He’s flanking us. Economic hardships have become a huge opportunity for him to take out families. Has our community recognized this threat? Are we developing responses to this attack? The legislative efforts won’t mean much if families simply quit because they can’t hang in there financially.
The good news? God knows the struggle and has a plan for it. If home schooling is God’s will, He will provide for it. Perhaps, as wonderful an opportunity as this is for Satan to defeat us, it’s an even greater opportunity for God to pull us together. Perhaps God is strengthening the community through causing us to care for each other in tangible ways that not only build us but witness to His love for the world in a way that draws others into His family.
I don’t know all the answers, but I would plead with home schoolers to find them. Let’s not ignore the threat. Let’s not miss the opportunity. Let’s reverse the trend.
Tess Worrell writes and speaks to groups regarding issues of family life and living as a Godly woman. She and husband, Mike Worrell, live in Madison, Indiana, where they are in their 14th year of home schooling. She would love to hear your insights. Comment here or email her at tess@YourFamilyMatterstous.com. If you would like Tess to speak to your home school or church group, you can learn more about her speaking at YourFamilyMatterstous.com.