| I always knew I wanted to home school our | | | | children, and why I believed our son would do |
| children. When I was in high school, I babysat for | | | | better in a home environment. |
| a home schooling family, and they had such | | | | Volunteering in a classroom isn't always possible, |
| exciting projects going on. Later, when I was | | | | but if you can, I recommend it. If you're thinking |
| student teaching in university, I discovered a | | | | of home schooling, watching how your child |
| more important reason to home school. It simply | | | | functions in a classroom can help prepare you for |
| wasn't possible to meet every child's needs in a | | | | what's ahead. And, if you're ultimately not able to |
| classroom setting. | | | | educate your children at home, you're building |
| My husband, however, took some convincing. He | | | | important relationships with your children's |
| hadn't had any exposure to home schooling | | | | teachers and showing your children how much |
| families, and thought teaching our two kids at | | | | you value their education. |
| home would put too much responsibility on me. | | | | 3. Explain to your husband why you want to |
| We ended up putting our eldest child in a public | | | | home school. Does your husband know why you |
| school, but three years later, he was so unhappy, | | | | want to home school? Or does he think your |
| we were ready to try anything. We took him and | | | | desire is a passing whim? Present your reasons |
| his younger sister out of public school and tried | | | | and try to explain what's on your mind. |
| schooling at home instead. It's made such a | | | | This is where I found volunteering in my son's |
| positive difference in our lives, we plan to educate | | | | classroom so helpful. I could explain to my |
| both our children at home all the way through high | | | | husband what I observed in the classroom, and |
| school. | | | | how home schooling could make a difference in |
| After home schooling for five years, my husband | | | | our son's learning. |
| has become one of the strongest advocates for | | | | 4. Explore other educational options. No matter |
| home education I know. In fact, when I feel | | | | how much you want to home school, it's |
| frustrated and suggest that we consider public | | | | important to remember that this approach to |
| school again, he completely shuts me down. He | | | | education is not for everyone. I've met several |
| sees what a difference this way of life has made | | | | moms who insisted on home schooling their |
| in the lives of our children and our family. | | | | children, and a year later, realized it was the |
| Now, none of this is to say that I believe public | | | | wrong choice for their family. |
| education is not as good as home schooling. | | | | Home schooling is hard. Being unhappy with your |
| Teaching your children at home is not the answer | | | | current schooling arrangement is not a good |
| for everyone. However, home schooling is the | | | | enough reason to home school. Explore your |
| right choice for my family. | | | | other options as well before deciding home |
| If you believe home schooling is the right choice | | | | schooling is the only alternative that will work for |
| for your family too, but your husband doesn't | | | | you. |
| agree, there is no magic pill that can make him | | | | Consider private schools, online schools, or maybe |
| change his mind. I do, though, have some | | | | even an after school tutoring program. If your |
| suggestions that may help. | | | | husband doesn't agree to home school, perhaps |
| 1. Pray. One of my favorite Christian authors, | | | | he'll be more open to one of these options. |
| Stormie Omartian, says in her book, Power of a | | | | 5. Find current research about home schooling. |
| Praying Wife, that before talking to your husband | | | | Gather facts about home schooling to show your |
| about anything, you should talk to God about your | | | | husband. Not to shove in his face and prove your |
| husband. | | | | point, but so you can be prepared when he does |
| If you believe that God wants you to home | | | | ask questions. |
| school, spend time with God and ask Him to | | | | Find out how local home schooled students |
| reveal that to your husband as well. | | | | perform on standardized tests; learn if they're |
| 2. Get involved in your child's school right now. I | | | | admitted to your city's university (usually they |
| had always been involved in our children's | | | | are); look for groups you can join to meet other |
| education, but when our son's problems became | | | | home schooling families, and for your children to |
| more serious, I volunteered in his classroom | | | | make home schooled friends. Then, when your |
| every week. I got along well with his teacher, and | | | | husband does ask questions about home |
| she was concerned about him too, so this | | | | schooling, you'll have all the answers you need at |
| arrangement worked very well. | | | | hand. |
| I was able to see the classroom environment | | | | None of these suggestions will guarantee your |
| first-hand, and see how my son's behavior | | | | husband will change his mind about home schooling. |
| compared to the other students. Because I was | | | | But they will help you communicate with your |
| in the classroom so frequently, I was able to | | | | husband about both your desires for your |
| explain to my husband what was happening, and | | | | children's education, and help you make educational |
| where the problems lay. This helped him | | | | choices that will work for your entire family. |
| understand my desire to home school our | | | | |