Homeschooling Myth Busters–"Proof is in the Puddin’"–Part 4

Because the sheltering and socialization issues of homeschooling are such big hang-ups for people, I concluded that it is because so many people have never really “seen” the results. If they had, they would know that these issues are, for the most part, excuses that rationalize their fear of the unknown.

There was a time when the pioneer homeschoolers set out, that they had to step out in sheer faith…they had no evidence, no “finished products” they could look to that confirmed their convictions to homeschool. But that’s not the case any more. We are entering a second generation of homeschoolers with a whole passel of “examples” to gauge the success of homeschooling.

So, for those people who haven’t seen, I wanted to be their “eyes”…I tend to forget, even though the homeschooling movement has exploded in numbers over the past few years, that there are still a lot of people who don’t know even one homeschooling family. We know so many, through personal friendships and acquaintances, that I often assume “everybody knows how wonderful homeschooling is”!

And I must interject before I continue, that homeschooling has many different faces. Families homeschool for many different reasons, and so they cannot be lumped together in one category. And that’s why, when I do overhear someone (usually a teacher) say something like, “homeschooling doesn’t work…there’s this kid in my class who homeschooled and he didn’t know anything when he came to school”…I realize that she has quite a limited understanding of the homeschool world. It would be like my seeing a giraffe for the first time, and the giraffe I saw just happened to be raving mad with rabies. My assumption that all giraffes are lunatics would be quite unfounded

So, on to the heart of my post. We grew up near a family who were the first homeschooling parents in our county. They were pioneers, with little support or “evidence” that what they were doing was going to work. They were homeschooling when homeschooling wasn’t cool

We were friends with them, we knew they were great people, but in my “wisdom” as a teenager, I was so sorry for their children. (The following is a sarcastic assessment of what I really felt at the time.)

They had four children who, bless their hearts, stayed home all the time. They never watched TV, except for an occasional football game, and then they turned it off during commercials. (Oh, how silly!!! These kids were so sheltered!) I loved being around them. But still, I felt badly for their limited existence. Then the real tragedy…as they approached their teen years, they were not allowed to date! Their parents didn’t allow them to listen to secular music, and I was certain that they resented them for it. But every once in a while, when I questioned one of them about these severe rules, he would smile, and say, “I honor my parents because they honor the Lord.” And the whole family had an undeniable radiance.

I lamented their case to my brother…”They’re not going to know how to act in the real world. Why would a parent shelter them so much? And marriage? How will they ever find anybody when they’re at home all the time…and if they never date? Imagine how awkward they would be if they decided to get married!”

Fast forward….the children grew up. First of all, they are all brilliant. They are all strikingly good-looking (not that that has anything to do with anything, just thought I’d throw it in to help you “see”!) They did a lot of public speaking and traveling as a part of their family’s ministry before marriage. Three of the four have married (through a courtship process), the most incredible, beautiful, talented girls you’ve ever laid eyes on. What a beautiful, moving wedding when I witnessed one of their children as he kissed his wife for the first time–the first kiss he had ever had, and she gave him her untouched lips–WOW!!! I sobbed as I realized I would not be able to give that gift to my husband. The unmarried girl has spent several years as a foreign missionary, and is a much-sought after private piano teacher.

One was the superintendent of a major construction company by the age of 24, and then owned his own construction company around the age of 26.

One is studying to be an attorney.

Every one of them are so “social” they make most people feel like introverts. They all love and serve the Lord, and have through their entire lives. They are beloved by all who know them; they are even envied in a lot of ways.

As a young adult, I took a good hard look at my life, and their lives. Recovering from brokenness brought about by my sinful past, thankful for the grace that the Lord gives, but so regretful for the way I had lived, newly married with major life decisions to make, there was no question what my husband and I wanted for our family.

And by the way, for those who claim that such sheltered living neglects the mandate to go out and win the lost…this family, simply living out the beauty of the gospel in their homes, had the greatest impact on me, spiritually, than any other thing in the world. They practiced hospitality, welcomed people into their homes, counseled with them, and I believe, have one of the most profoundly impacting ministries that ever existed.

And while not every homeschooling family looks like the one I described, I will tell you that I know many, many families who resemble it. And while homeschooling CERTAINLY does not guarantee anything, there is a spiritual law at work when we reject the world’s methods of bringing up children, and embrace the beauty of being “set apart” for Him.

We make a grave mistake when we gamble with our children’s souls, hoping to raise them to be godly, but succumbing to the pressure to let them be “normal”…”Straight is the way and narrow is the path that leads to life; and FEW there be that find it”. “Normal” should not be our goal!

It wasn’t “homeschooling” itself that brought about the beautiful testimony of this family and many like them. It was the Lord honoring the hearts of parents who were willing to do whatever it takes–even if it means doing it alone–to raise up straight, sharp arrows for the Kingdom.

Are we willing?

Related posts:

1. Homeschooling Myth Busters–Part 1
2. Homeschooling Myth Busters–Sheltering–Part 3
3. Homeschooling Myth Busters–Socialization–Part 2
4. Deep Thoughts…
5. More Children Would "Hinder my Ministry"…