Reaching the Finish Line by Linda Patchin

The following article is reproduced by express permission of CHOIS Connection, a magazine for Idaho home educators. For a complementary subscription to CHOIS Connection, visit the website for Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State at www.chois.org.

Reaching the Finish Line
by Linda Patchin

By the time that you read this, my second child will have graduated from our family homeschool. Please indulge me a bit as I attempt to describe what this is like. A new beginning and fresh experiences await my daughter as she glides across the stage to receive her diploma; a joyous moment for every parent! I smile through my tears, for I cannot help but recall every milestone of her life, and to recognize how quickly the years of her childhood have flown by.

My firstborn was two years old when I heard Dr. Raymond Moore being interviewed by Dr. James Dobson on a Focus on the Family radio broadcast. I was not a regular listener, but for “some” reason, I just happened to listen on my car radio that particular day while running errands. I remember sitting in the car long after I had reached my destination so that I could finish hearing the interview. I heard Dr. Moore describe schooling at home, and his words hit an eager target. At that moment, I knew that I would homeschool all of my children throughout their academic careers, until they were ready for college.

Ambitious? Yes! Inspired? Absolutely! It’s amazing how that single interview changed my entire life plan. Since then, I have homeschooled through learning the alphabet, difficult pregnancies, phonics, new-home constructions, multiplication tables, viruses, chapter books, caring for aging parents, algebra, funerals, chemistry, remodeling projects, geometry, hubby’s business trips, Latin, personal illness, physics, and . . . you get the picture. Real life has happened all around us every single day, and yet our homeschool has continued to operate and to flourish. Two of my children are young adults now. They entered the “read” world with tremendous academic potential, and with the grace, maturity, ambition, and self-discipline that every parent longs for. Will I continue to homeschool my two younger sons? Of course I will!

Looking back, I can see that every single step that I have taken on this homeschool journey has been taken with a healthy dose of fear and trembling. I remember feeling inadequate to teach my firstborn to read. I considered putting him in school just until he learned to read, and then bringing him back home. Instead, I kept him at home and I learned patience and perseverance, while he learned phonics.

I recall a dinner conversation with one of my husband’s business associates who made it clear that homeschooling was acceptable in the primary years, but that, “no parent could adequately teach algebra and chemistry at home!” Since my oldest was about ten years old at the time, I literally spent years letting this man’s words simmer on the back burner of my mind, allowing doubt to feast on my confidence. In spite of my lack of faith, God provided the perfect curricula, not when my son was ten and I was worried, but when he was in his teens, and ready to begin these intimidating courses. In other words, in God’s perfect time! Through this experience I learned that my God was more than able to equip me to do what He had called me to do, above and beyond my wildest imagination. How much I regret the wasteful “stewing” that I engaged in.

No matter where you are on your homeschool journey, preschool to college, there are seasons of life when there are justifiable reasons to feel intimidated, inadequate, and down right afraid. These are very real and very human emotions that you should not be ashamed of, or reluctant to admit. Fear is one of the most basic human motivations. Its unruly energies can be used for great harm or channeled for great good. God can use our fears to make us more useful in His service. Whenever we are afraid, we have the potential to do the impossible because that which is impossible in our own strength is made possible with God’s help. Fear makes us more likely to forsake our own resources and rely on God instead. In this way, extreme fear can lead to extreme faith. This is the kind of faith that perseveres through self-doubt, overwhelming circumstances, and stinging criticism.

Although it is normal to go through seasons of self-doubt and fear, it is not normal to linger in that season and let it eat away at your peace. Here are some suggestions that may help you to progress from fear to faith:

· Talk to other home educators, especially a trusted friend who has been homeschooling longer than you have. She may be able to provide you with the keys that can unlock mysteries for you.

· Spend some time researching new curriculum choices. It may very well be that you are using a “tool” that isn’t appropriate for your particular child. Blame the textbook first, before giving up on the teacher or the child! This is particularly true in the high school years. I have seen curriculum changes transform my children.

· I have never known a parent who quit homeschooling for lack of curriculum choices, but I have known many who have quit for lack of vision! Spend some time reading books that will renew your resolve, for example, The Heart of Homeschooling by Chris Klicka, or The Spiritual Power of a Mother by Michael Farris. Attend the CHOIS homeschool convention, or purchase tapes of previous conventions.

· Take a nap! It is easy to get discouraged when you are fatigued. Take care of the teacher. Are you eating nutritious meals and taking vitamins?

· Invest some time and energy in your marriage. Plan a date with your spouse, or put the children to bed earlier. Share your troubles with your life partner, and work together to find solutions.

· Finally, don’t neglect the condition of your soul. Are you prioritizing your own quiet time with the Lord each day? Cast all of your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you. Many times, the Lord has inspired me with the answers to my homeschool riddles only after I have spent time pouring my heart out to Him in prayer.

Though homeschooling often feels like a sprint, it is in reality, a marathon. To complete a marathon, an athlete must devote many hours to preparing for the race. Just as an athlete trains for a marathon, a homeschool parent “trains” by exploring curriculum options, reading inspiring books, attending how-to workshops, and talking with veterans. She equips herself for the race by purchasing supplies and readying her home. Praying!

The gun goes off on the first day of school and the race is on. With eager anticipation, hope, and a little bit of fear, we set off on this lengthy course, determined to cross the finish line successfully. It is imperative that we set the right pace from the beginning. How do we find the right pace? We practice, we discipline ourselves, and we strategize. We experiment with different techniques, curricula, and schedules. We keep going. We find some motivational aids along the way. We keep a steady pace. We get up after we fall down, and yes, pretty much everybody falls down at least once on this particular course. We keep putting one foot in front of the other. We rest at every water spot, not forgetting to thank the folks who hold out the water cups for us as we run by. We periodically take stock and make adjustments. We don’t quit. We smile and wave to the bystanders who don’t understand why we are doing what we do. We slow down when the road gets steep, and we push ahead when things are easy. Settling in, we find just the right stride. We don’t allow ourselves to become discouraged. We get assistance at the first sign of trouble. Prevention and early treatment keep little blisters from becoming festering wounds, which have the potential to completely take us out of the race. We are persistent. We find some “running buddies” who will make running our race more enjoyable. We always keep a sense of humor, and finally, we won’t forget to smile when we cross the finish line! The homeschool marathon can be a long and sometimes difficult race, but the rewards at the end are certainly worth the effort.

“And let us run with endurance the race, that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:4b–5.

Linda Patchin will be smiling through her tears at the Idaho Homeschool Graduation ceremony in May. Her marathon is halfway completed with two children graduated, and two to go. She and her husband, Paul, serve on the CHOIS Board of Directors.

For a free subscription to CHOIS Connection, send your name and address to connection@chois.org, or mail to P.O. Box 45062, Boise, Idaho 83711

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