The Practice Art of Deschooling
“I am weird. You are weird. Our children are weird. And we wouldn’t have it any other way because weirdness births dreamers and artists, authors and poets, mathematicians and scientists, and those who see the world through a different lens. Weird, as it turns out, is wonderful.”
– Wild + Free
I fought to write this as I still learn to navigate homeschool life. But I want to share it anyway.
I vowed to never homeschool because I never wanted my kids to be “weird” or “socially awkward.” Sad I know. My mind thought “school is public school and that’s all there is to it.”
Get up early, put them on the bus, drop off at school, wait an hour for pick up after school, school activities, school curriculums, I thought education meant only in public school. After all, the teachers have the education to teach, I do not. Right?
Til I felt the nudge and the deep whisper of the Lord calling me to homeschool my children.
Three years ago I suddenly became a bit interested in knowing about homeschool but I never dug deep into it. I simply asked a few questions of a close friend of mine, asking her how she did it, and that was about it.
Although homeschooling is not one size fits all, it’s what works for each family.
In our homeschooling, I have learned to relearn again. Relearn my children and how they receive teachings, relearn my way of teaching, relearn some things within our schedule, and relearning what the Lord wants to teach me in it.
My children also needed to relearn to be children again as I had seen public school strip the childhood from them. And what I mean is, feeling the rush, the pull, the pressure of the demands to hurry with each lesson to be crammed only for them to feel the stress on their shoulders.
The first few months I, myself, felt the pressure to hurry and teach them, only to see myself racing and pacing the floor not getting anywhere. The Lord didn’t call me to rush and push. This causes stress, anxiety, pressure and worry.
He called me to be SLOW + STEADY.
Rushing to the next task doesn’t lead to flourishing but rather it leads to mentally and spiritually draining, burn-out, and not enjoying the adventure.
This is where the Lord had to strip off the americanized mindset of schooling off. He had to “deschool” me.
The Process of Deschooling
I have to be honest with you. It is a lot harder to deschool public children and moms than it is homeschooling right away. Why? Because we became so accustomed to the worlds ways without realizing this later becomes a problem… showing you, at least him showing me, how corporatized the school has become. Getting them up early, hustling and bustling their way through the door to hurry and get all their schooling (work) done only to come home around 4 o’clock, with little time with the family as more work (homework) is needing to be done, dinner to be made, showers, short family time, and bedtime. Only to start all over again the next day.
Now don’t get me wrong nor take this the wrong way. We have had some great teachers along the way that have helped my children thrive while they were in public school. We had some who had patience with those in their “feelings,” who helped guide them with Christ’s love. But we also have seen some nit-pick finding every little thing wrong with them, only to leave this mama feeling uneasy to leave my children with them.
As the Lord began to deschool my mind, I began to view it in this way:
“my children have plenty of time to grow up but little time to enjoy their childhood adventure.”
Where is the adventure, freedom and creativity in this? It was lost somewhere along the lines that needs to be founded once again. We wonder, we think, we question, where did my little ones go? How did I get here? There has to be more to this life with my children and family.
It isn’t until the Lord strips you away from those places showing you there is freedom in homeschool. At least he did this for me. Showing me the freedom homeschool has and the wonder and adventure it is for children to enjoy being a child. To enjoy their childhood. To find themselves again filled with wonder awe and adventure, finding themselves in the Lord and how they are created, not molding or fixing them to who others think and want them to be.
My heart sank to my stomach when the Lord began to reveal things of my children on who they were becoming. Especially my oldest in whom is a teenager. I only wish I could have listened to that still small voice years ago and not listen to what others had to say of those who oppose homeschool. But Hey! I was one of those who opposed homeschool so no judgement here, just my firm boldness. I am thankful now for the Lord’s redeeming hand in redeeming these stolen places of my children.
The Practice Art of Deschooling is hard and challenging. The Lord has to strip that mindset off to replace a mindset of Him. To strip the public school agenda and to place the homeschool agenda of FREEDOM. He had to show me what each of my children needed… that though the world and others say, “you and they need a break from one another,” (although this is true we do need to breathe and recoup ourselves, this should NEVER stop you from the calling the Lord places upon your heart). You may even hear others say, “they won’t receive the same education or ‘fun’ as public school kids they will miss out on things,” let me begin by saying, yes they may not be participating in those activities but there are other activities for homeschoolers. Don’t get me wrong, there will be seasons to public school and homeschool. Only the Lord can tell you and direct your steps. But homeschooling isn’t any less of an education. It’s relational built and life skills being built in ways the world doesn’t prepare you for.
But for us, homeschool is where the Lord has us. Him wanting us to experience the FREEDOM of homeschool.
Is there structure? Of course.
Is there curriculums? Absolutely.
Is there routines? Of course.
Everyday is different, but everyday has been an adventure with them and because of that, I truly am thankful to have chosen to obey the still small voice, the whisper of the Lord.
My only regret…. I wish I would’ve listened sooner.
Beginning this journey, I had no idea what I was doing or what curriculums I would use or how to structure my day. Mistakes happened along the way, but I learned to go along with the day and try again the next. I am seeing what workbooks work for us and which don’t. We take our time on a subject for each one who struggles in a certain subject and we make it fun by including play dough, paint, books, whatever we need to bring on the fun and adventure in homeschooling.
We don’t start our school at 8 in the morning. We start it later.
We don’t just sit around and do nothing. We do the work either hands on, visiting the zoo or library and learning more of certain cultures and places.
We don’t have desks, we use our table, living room floor or sometimes the couch.
We don’t have a “homeschool room”, although those are really cool and nice, we are bringing learning in our home filled with adventure and freedom, not bringing public school into our home.
We don’t just rush through the subject to get on with the next. We let it sink in ensuring they received what we learned.
Homeschool is different for every family. We do what works best for us, as most homeschooling families. Don’t let the fear of “not doing it right” stop you from the whisper and calling of the Lord.
The Practice Art of Deschooling
The Practice Art of Deschooling has shown me to be SLOW + STEADY. Never to rush through subjects. Never hurry but settle in and take it slow. Rushing through subjects is what the public school did and taught us to do, to have them reach higher levels of reading, academic levels, always “achieving” and “striving,” when we were not created to strive to achieve but strive to be the gatekeepers as we embrace peace within our minds and hearts.
Some children are created with such a gift of advancement. I have one.
Some children are created with a gift of hands on. I have one of those too.
Some children are created with a gift of tasks and organization. I have one.
Some children are created with a gift of play. I have one too.
Each child of mine is different and learns differently. I had to accustom myself to how they learn by allowing the Lord to deschool my brain to be taught with how He wants homeschool to be for the sake of my family.
“Delayed learning isn’t always a setback but can be an advantage. Children, as it turns out, do better with a prolonged childhood.”
Free + Enjoying. Filled with Adventure + Wonder. Bright Ideas + Imagination. Play + Laughter. A childhood that is enjoyed throughout without feeling the pressures and demands of the world.
Reclaiming Wonder
The Practice Art of Deschooling is reclaiming wonder all over again, even as us adults.
We forget the beauty of nature, wonder, peace, and stillness. The Practice Art of Deschooling is learning to let the Lord lead us with each passing day, showing us how to homeschool our children by removing more of the public’s school mentality to embrace the freedom of homeschool.
With each parents goals and passions for their children, it should always be led by the Lord. He knows their calling, He knows if they will be an all-star pro in baseball or football. He knows if they will become an engineer or an artist. Each child has a mind of their own filled with wonder. But with limited childhood activities, they cannot navigate through “boredom.” Children need to find themselves in a spot of boredom. This is where ideas, creativity, imagination, play come in and you begin to see the wonder within their eyes.
At least that is what I have seen the past few months within my children’s eyes as we have homeschooled.
Seeing these crazy inventions, creative drawings, imagination play, all come to life bringing wonder through and in their eyes.
This… is childhood.
Homeschool is tough. I’ll admit that. There are days you doubt and wonder if you made the right choice. There are days you just want to quit and send them back to school. There are days you question your worth and compare yourself to teachers. But even then… in those challenging times, in the times others oppose your decision and have you question your calling, those who try to out-talk your children or you to go back to public school, remember those days of childhood-ness. The ones you see your children in joy and at peace. The Lord working in their lives and hearts, instilling them more of who they are created to be. No one knows your family or children more than God and you. And no one can change your mind but God. If you hear the still small whisper, the gentle leading and nudging, follow it. He is faithful to fulfill every need of yours in the hard challenging questionable times. And He is faithful to bring you through in each passing season.
Homeschooling isn’t easy. But it is doable with the Lord. It is only by the Lord who can give us the strength to get through the days, who gives us the boldness to stand for what we believe, who gives us the audacity to stand for what is right, and to walk in grace and truth as we lead our children more and more to Him with each passing day.
Mama, you can do this through Christ who gives you strength. What God has called you to, nudged you to do, he equips you to do it with each passing day. He doesn’t leave you, He is with you every step of the way. Take each day to the Lord and invite Him in your day. Let Him lead your day in homeschooling and you will begin to see something beautifully planted and flourishing within your family. Whether you have one child or ten, it can be done with the Lord. Whether you have a two year old or a seventeen year old, it can be done with the Lord. Never let the fear of man entrap you and snare you in, but rather, carry the fear of the Lord and He will guide your every step.