Dear Mom,
You never sent me to preschool, but I learned my ABCs and 123s. I never enrolled in kindergarten, but I learned colors and shapes. I never attended elementary school or middle school, but I learned so much more than anyone could have ever taught me because no one loved me like you.
This week Newsweek came out with an article about parents who are choosing to home-educate their children. It was interesting to see two highly educated parents discuss why they have opted to not send their children to a formal school environment. The article was fascinating, but the entire time I couldn’t thinking about you. You, wonderful you, who sacrificed your life for me and your four other spawn.
People would ask me as a child—and even as an adult—what I learned and who taught me during my seven years of home-education. The truth is many voices spoke into my life to teach me skills for living, but none as pronounced as yours.
You taught me skills for life and being alive. Skills for navigating the world. To cover my mouth when I sneezed, say thank you when given a gift, and to think of others more highly than myself. You taught me deference, not difference. Love, not hate. Joy, not sorrow.
You taught me to be creative and make my own crayons, sandwiches, and plays. You instilled in me the value of knowing truth rather and regurgitating answers, wisdom over knowledge. You let me write stories with misspelled words and grammatical errors while applauding my plot line and character development.
You fought for us to have a normal childhood with science labs and dissections [remember when you forced us to dissect a frog? I still haven’t forgiven you for that!], and theater and poetry, and art and literature, and soccer and tennis, and play-dates and vacation bible school.
When people asked me as a child if I was socialized or if I had a hard time talking to other kids, I found their logic comical because if I had engaged in a 20 minutes discussion with them on the benefits of engaging with my peers, I doubt they should have been concerned with my social skills. And just in case they doubted my educational development or normalcy, I ensured to use big words and make eye-contact to prove that—I, indeed—was exceptional. I knew who New Kids On The Block AND the apostles were. I could sing the lyrics to MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This AND classical hymns. I wasn’t just socially capable, I was a renaissance woman, thanks to you!
People want to view homeschoolers as odd because it’s easier to classify us this way. But we, like our educational instruction and classification, cannot be defined by a box or a test or a blue book. I loved baking bread with you and discussing measurements as my requirement for mathematics. Or learning about chemical reactions in our backyard with Dad and a random science experiment book. Or discovering that the world was so much bigger than Meeker Avenue or California. That the world consisted of broken people who needed more than a desk and teacher… they needed love.
People wonder if homeschooling creates socially inept, intellectually stunted, religious bigots. I’m proud to say that I’m 85% normal, can hold on a conversation with someone with impeccable eye-contact, and believe that Jesus is the hope of the world… not just the good ol’ USofA.
Though my GPA in graduate school was a 4.0, I never felt like I had more potential than when I sat with you as you taught me how to read on our light pink couch. Thank you for sacrificing your life, your dreams, your goals… for me.
I love you more than tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches,
Bibee
Very well said! I am trying to convince my hubby to let me home school!
Love it! As a mommy just starting out with homeschooling (I have a 5yo, a 3yo & an 8month old), your letter is uplifting and super encouraging. Thanks for posting! xoxo
Praying about homeschooling our first, and I have now decided that I am going to let Millie, homeschool him 😉
I wish your mom was my teacher, too! 🙂
Cue my tears! Yeah, they’re rolling. Awwww such a good read Bianca! My husband and his siblings were homeschooled and they LOVED it. This is a part of life that I never had to think about up until I got engaged. We don’t have kids yet but my husband and I have talked about it and he really wants that for our children. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy reading this. Also, i just read the article you posted and yes, I would like my own chickens, and yes, I would like for us to grow our own vegetables.
Hi Bianca! I also was homeschooled and I feel so blessed by that experience. You captured it beautifully… I read your blog every day and rarely comment, thank you for touching my heart.
~D
Awwww, thanks Dani! Such a blessing 🙂
What an endearing sentiment to your mom! I was not homeschooled, but wish I was at times. The way I learn is so incredibly different then what’s taught in schools & while I have a thirst for book knowledge, I only retain things through experience. I hope to one day homeschool my future children and this was a huge source of encouragement. Thank you!
You’re a brave soul, Lauren! Homeschooling is hard, but if you can do it, do it! 🙂
I’m not sure if I could home-school, but I’m glad my mom did!
Thanks B,
Simply Inspiring…. 🙂 God Bless you…..
hugs
e
Very nice!
Another homeschooler who nodded through the whole article, wants to repeat every word, and was touched. Thank you for this.
My mom homeschools my six your old brother in second grade…i totally see how stressfull it is… Your mom should get major brownie points for homeschooling all of you guys!!
i would just like to also point out that I was smarter than you and mom’s favorite. The end.
I cried reading this because I can so identify! My mom also sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears to homeschool me and give me the best opportunity to succeed in life! Most importantly, she helped to develop in me a love for God and how to live our that love in real life!
I am sure this made your mama cry. I would … if one of my kids had written this. 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
B,
You are exceptional! And your Mom did a wonderful job of schooling you. As we say in the homeschooling circuit,.”its a calling”, and it certainly is not for everyone. But I am blessed like many who have had the privilage to homeschool my 2 youngest children. It was an experience I will treasure forever, and wouldnt change it for the world. I have one at your alma mater, one in middle school 7th grade and considering bringing her home for high school. I was in tears reading this, as Im sure your Mom was also. One day I hope to hear these words from my children, but if not, I know I was obedient to what the Lord asked me to do and untimately, that is good enough! Gods Blessings!
Dear Bianca,
My word! This is such a heart-warming love letter of gratitude to your mom. My heart pitter patters! Everything you said is exactly why I have chosen to homeschool my youngest daughter since she was 5th grade, though I pray daily for supernatural patience. She is now 9th grade and I still homeschool her. God is faithful! Your mom indeed was only doing what the Lord commanded her to do, “Train up a child in the way he should go…” {{STANDING OVATION}} to Mrs. Juarez!!! Thank you, Bianca, for sharing this. You continue to inspire me.
thank you so much for sharing this! I am the mother of 3 beautiful daughters. we homeschooled the two oldest from the ages of 2nd and 4th grade through high school. our youngest has always been homeschooled. they are incredible women of God and like you are pretty normal and can converse intelligently making full eye contact!
Praise God and thanks again.
wonderful to have a daughter like you bianca glory to GOD for your parents it reflects GOD’s work in your lives,blessings for the entire falimy
Thank you for sharing. My girls posted this on my facebook. As a homeschool veteran of 5, all sucessful in ‘the real world’, and they all have Jesus, I know it was worth every minute of the taunting, questioning, and sacrificing of homeschooling. Now I work in a Christian School, I love my job, but I really loved my first class of 5 around my family table.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this. Very inspiring!
Hello Bianca, This letter couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. I am married and planning to have children in a year or so. My husband brought up the fact that he would like our children to be home school. He is finishing his credentials and has seen what our education system is all about and knows that we could do more at home. Even though we are both educated…and college graduates it scares me! its a huge responsibility…. maybe because of the stereotype people have given to those children who are home schooled. After reading your letter it has giving me a different perspective. Thank you for always sharing your thoughts.
Of course! It’s my pleasure. The cost {and reward) of homeschooling is high, but I also know it’s not for everyone. The best thing my mother did was reassess every year instead of committing to a life of home education. Take baby steps. Speaking of baby, congrats (in advance) and a new bundle in your life!
What a beautiful post! I am 16 years old and have been homeschooled my whole life. I LOVE it! I am planning to homeschool my kids and I think that homeschooling is a wonderful gift to give to your kids! I actually found my way over to your blog because I read Jasmine’s blog (I love photography) and I saw that you commented, which led me here and to this post! Thanks for the beautiful work that you are doing! Keep shining your light to the world:)