Surprising Myself

I have never, never wanted to home school.

I like my public school.  I like my personal time.  I like my sanity.

But God.

Last spring, I started to feel that the best option for Therese might just be home school.  She was about to enter middle school, but was academically way behind her classmates (understandably).  She also displayed a love of learning and work ethic that was way above those students she was being grouped with academically.  I began to see how I could keep her home and get her caught up.  I began to see how this would provide us with the time we need to grow as mother and daughter.

I started researching my options and boy was I overwhelmed!  I didn't even want to tell anybody I was thinking about doing this, because I was afraid of the deluge of information that would befall me.  After wading through the sea of options, I found a fit!  And I began to get a little excited.  Some of my fear was melting away.  We'd concentrate on reading and math and the rest would be icing on the cake.  She also has the opportunity to take a class at the middle school and play on the school soccer team.  Truly the best of both worlds.

Today, we are eight school days into this experience.  And you know what?  It's going great.  I have never seen a happier Therese.  She is thriving because all her work is at her academic level.  She is soaking in all the one-on-one time.  She has space to try new things, ask the questions she never could, and has the time to heal from her past and soak in my love.

As for me, God is faithful.  I don't hate it!  Yes, I could do with a few more hours of alone time.  But this just feels so right.  There is so much relief and pleasure in obedience. I am so grateful that God showed me the most excellent way for my daughter, and that He provides the strength for me to walk in it.