My children saw one of those ancient black manual machines last year in a museum. I had to explain to them what it was. Boy, do I feel old! The advent of technology has been a real help to many of us as homeschooling families. I especially have gleaned much from it since I moved to the Middle East ten years ago. We don’t have support groups, English language books, advice, curriculum fairs, etc… The Internet has been my lifeline to all these important things. And along the way, through places like message boards and now, blog sites, I have learned that I am not alone. I thought, for a while, that I was one of those few folks standing up against the tide of social and family pressure in teaching my children at home. That can make one feel pretty lonely. But I learned that I am only one of many, many courageous folks like you! Even further, there are large families, many with extreme physical and mental disabilities who homeschool and thrive! Some folks living in places such as Germany and even the US are fighting for the custody of their own children because of this conviction to school their own. What an encouragement this newfound knowledge has been to me. So I guess I just wanted to say today, “Hats off to everyone reading this email! You are an inspiration to many!”
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…”
II Chronicles 16:9
Thanks
ReplyDeletePosted by Mileshouse
We do forget how blessed we are sometimes, hunh?
If it's any consolation, I live in a region with over 4000 homeschool families. You would think I could never feel like I'm alone in this.
Most hs moms around here have lived here their entire lives, have established friend circles and family locally, so time to develop friendships with someone who is likely to move is not a priority. (Actually had a lady tell me she didn't want our kids to become friends, because if we moved it would hurt them.) Don't get me wrong. Most ladies at hs events are friendly, but just not interested or too busy to make another friend. A lot of hs moms tend to gravitate to their church friends and not be interested if we don't share the EXACT same belief system or use the same pre-packaged curriculum.
Since Jan. we've been having home church til we find a hs friendly church that sticks to the Bible rather than whatever popular program is hip OR until we move - whichever comes first.
We've been here 2 years and I have yet to find even one close friend. Most ladies I chat with for encouragement are online friends, hs friends from college who live out of state and occasionally hs moms in our hs group when we have field trips.
I often wish that we could live overseas so that at least I could have an excuse for not finding common ground!
All this to say that, yes, we are blessed to have the internet and online chats to connect so many like-minded Christians.
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February 19, 2006 - I hear you!
Posted by lindafay
During the lonely times in my life, He reminds me that He has promised to never give me more than I am able to handle. This is a sweet consolation. Sometimes lonely, but never alone. I also find that since I don't have many women to turn to for counsel, I call on Him much more. It's certainly a safer place to be. HE doesn't make mistakes!
With you in the journey,
lindafay
I too agree - I think Home Educating can be lonely where ever you are! It's so hard doing something different from the majority and the mainstream, even if other people are doing it to. And it's SO individual, which is of course its strength but also means that you are never going to find anyone else doing exactly the same thing. Plus of course there's coping with the current attack on Home Education in England.
ReplyDeleteI know this is an old post, but I wanted to read your blog from the begining as I have been so blessed by it. Thanks for your hard work and sharing so much of your life with us readers.
Clare