Taking it one year at a time...

I keep hearing on an increasing frequency families who talk about taking homeschooling one year at a time.  Usually followed by "we are looking for the Lord's leading in our children's lives and asking direction each year as it comes" or "we re-evaluate what the Lord wants for our children each year".

 WOW!  What pressure for a wife and mom!  The message here is that if she does an adequate job then she will be allowed to school them for another year or maybe semester.  Then here comes the evaluation! 
If God has called your family to homeschool, then why would He change his mind?  If you feel that God is leading you in a different direction, is it possible that you were not called to homeschool to begin with?
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19 NIV

I think there are a few reasons people change their minds about homeschooling. 

• not enough prayer went into the decision- ie- a clear answer was never heard. 

• you are homeschooling with out the blessing of your husband.

• not enough research went into the decision- you underestimated the level of commitment that it takes.  Not even thinking of lesson plans and courses of study, I am mainly speaking to being around your kids for most of the day every day every week.  If your kids are gone most of the day, it is easier to ignore that ugly eye rolling or character trait that is driving you crazy.  When your kids are in your face all the time (and vice versa) you are in constant contact with who they really are.  Are they obedient and willing to please?  Or are they belligerent and constantly pushing for their own way?  This would be hard to be around all the time.  Who would not want to give up? 

I once read that children are like night watchmen, always having to check to see if the doors are locked.  Are they going to say no when I ask again for the ninth time?  If they know you will cave, they get the message that they are not worth the effort of the fight.  Sometimes this is what it takes.  My mantra is "I love you too much to let you act this way"  I think I read this in a James Dobson book.  Strong Willed Child maybe?

• When you homeschool, you are in your "game face" all the time.  You have to be a good example of what you are teaching your kids.  All. The. Time.  There is no down time, no resting spiritually.  You don't get to sit around and be lazy, unless you would like your children to emulate you in this.  

The point I am trying to make here is that our kids need to know that they are worth all of the time, effort, sweat and tears.  When we go back and forth this does not send a clear message of love to our children. 

• there goes your "me time".  Problem with this is, me time is a lie straight from the devil himself! more on this in another post.  Essentially though, we have bought the feminist lie that we are supposed to be fulfilling ourselves in order to be good at filling others!   I recommend the book "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald.  
• I think home schooling is in fashion.  I think it is looked at by some as a more spiritual option than public school, or a great way to get a head start for little Einstein, or my friend is doing it I think I will try it...etc. 

• We are just not willing to make this level of commitment to our family.  Homeschooling means giving up a lot of personals- money from two incomes, freedom, time, sleep, nicer cars, nicer houses in a lot of cases do to direct result of first on the list.  You get the point.   We forget though, that it is all just ash.  Sometimes really shiny ash, but ash just the same.  What we get to take with us is relationships.  That is it. Nothing else.

When we have not counted the cost of what we start, then we wind up like the builders that Jesus talked about- halfway done and out of money.