Tomorrow is the first day of school.

Most Moms and Dads are preparing their kids for school tomorrow.  They have gathered all the school supplies, met the teachers, and went back to school shopping for new clothes and stylish back packs.   Here at the Beasley house it is similar and yet different.  We too have gathered school supplies, bought some new clothes, and are preparing for the first day of school.

However, there will be no bus rides, no packing lunches, or even meeting the teachers.  This is because Mom is the teacher. Tomorrow we will wake up early.  Sit around the table, eat breakfast, and start our school at our dining room table possibly still in our pajamas. Early afternoon we will take a nature walk through a park and finish up our school work at the park.

When my oldest was in Kindergarten I felt the need to pull her out of public school and start homeschooling.  This was a shock to those closest to me because I was never one to even consider this!  However it is amazing what God calls us to do even when we feel we are not equipped for such a thing.

I set out on this journey honestly having no idea what in the world I was doing and yet here we are in our fourth year.  Each year is a time of so much growth and learning not only more about my children but also myself.

Homeschooling is such a great reward.  However, it does not come without sacrifice.  This past year took an incredible toll on me and I was really considering enrolling all 3 of my kids in public school this fall.  It sounded so good!  All 3 at the same school and I would have my days to myself and my time to work on my business and all the other things that longed for my attention.  It was so tempting.   However, I knew deep down in my heart that this time in my life was meant for my children.  Homeschooling is our calling until we feel God says otherwise.

Honestly this realization was hard for me.

I felt I was being pulled in all different directions and not being effective in anything.  Maybe it was the mom guilt.  Maybe it was the truth.  Whatever it was it was bringing me down.  When we decided that we were going to do another year of homeschool I knew some things had to change.  Luke had mentioned having work days and school days.  At first I wasn’t for this idea because it went against my idea of how school was supposed to be ran.  5 days a week!   It took me awhile to grasp the idea that homeschooling is unconventional and as long as my kids are learning and growing at an acceptable rate then doing school 4 and sometimes 3 days a week is okay!   I have also changed changed some curriculum around and have joined some homeschool groups.

Excitement and expectation has replaced my fear and doubt.  I am looking forward to what this next year has for all of us.  Watching my children learn and grow has been such a reward and this year with all 3 of them in school it is going to be such an adventure!

Each summer I do yearly pictures of the kids.   Today I took them out to the Neon District in Norfolk.  It is surreal that I have a Fourth grader, a First Grader, and Kindergartner.

This road we chose is not easy… But with these 3 it is so worth it.