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Hello, I am alive, and I have an announcement!
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Hi SCM forum people! It’s been a reeeeeeealllllllly long time, hasn’t it? In fact, many of you on here are names I do not recognize, and I’m sure some old forum friends have moved on.
It is with mixed emotions that I am here to announce that our homeschooling journey is ending. I enrolled my kids (now 11 and 12-1/2) in public school today. This decision is one we’ve struggled to make for a year now. Many of our homeschooling friends have expressed shock. Many have expressed silence. What none know is that I am probably more shocked than they are and struggling with feelings of failure and guilt. When we began home education 7 years ago, I was in it for the long haul. I never imagined I’d be writing a post like this on here.
When I told our friends/family, I had some people express, “You were such a homeschooling advocate! You even got us to start homeschooling! What will we do without your help?!” That made me feel really guilty, like I had let them down.
But then another friend pointed out, “More than a homeschooling advocate, you’re a Ryan and Addie advocate. If changing your longterm plans is in your children’s best interest, then good for you for doing the brave, hard thing.”
So I guess I am doing the brave, hard thing. I am anxious and trembling, yet I have complete peace. That is the only way I know to describe it. This may be temporary. We may decide that we hate public school after a month or two. And if we do, I am so grateful that homeschooling again is always an option. I’ll never rule it out as long as I have school-aged children.
I am extremely indebted to many of you who’ve been here (in person and on the forum) since the beginning of our homeschooling journey. I had friends here when I didn’t know another living soul who knew who Charlotte Mason was and how her methods could so positively impact not only my children’s education, but our home in general. I stand confident that the children whom I enrolled in school today are strong, happy, confident lovers of learning and nature and books and, above all, people. I am confident that my children will be a delight to their teachers because of their eagerness to read and learn and explore. It is because of SCM and their amazing resources, and because of YOU, that I can say all of this.
So before I cry any more… I have loads and loads of books and curriculum and resources to do sell. Many things are unopened, most are very gently used, and the ones that are heavily used were well-loved.
What would be the best way to connect you with these resources? I don’t even have it all organized or priced, but I’ll be working on that in the next few weeks. I could post it all here (if that’s ok with all of you and SCM), or I could put up a link on my blog page and keep it updated as things sell. What would you all prefer?
Ok, now I have to go wipe my eyes and finish folding laundry. 🙂
I wish all of you the best in your journeys. Thank you for being part of mine.
Blessings,
Lindsey
Lindsey,
I haven’t seen your posts here, but my heart goes out to you. As I told someone close to me just last week, “Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, and it isn’t for every season.”
Let go of that guilt and rest in what the Lord has for you in this season. If it’s His will for your family, then there is going to be such good things coming from it.
Prayers for you and your family as you transition to public school.I’m disappointed to hear this. I hope the best for you! Schools are so bad right now and I hate to hear when people go from homeschooling to public school, since we have the freedom to teach our own children
Becca, I haven’t been on here in over a year. Life and moving and working from home were enough to handle. I just didn’t have time. Sorry our paths haven’t crossed until now! You’re in a rich group of women here!
Really, Kim? I pour my heart out and you scold me? I am thankful to have the freedom to teach my own children. I am also thankful to have the freedom to do what’s best for them.
I know it was a very hard decision and not one you took lightly and you are right that the homeschooling option is there if you need it. Who would know better than you what is best for your family right now. I wish you and yours all the best in this new adventure and hope it brings you as much joy as I know home schooling did for all those years. Your children have a solid family foundation in learning and that is better than most to send them out into the world with. I thoroughly enjoyed several of your posts and will miss your encouraging words. God Bless.
Post your stuff here in one long post (as Doug has requested in the past) if you want, although it might be easier to maintain it on your blog since there isn’t a PM system any more.
I’ve thought about you several times in the last little while and hoped that you were okay and happy, Lindsey. I am grateful for your knowledge and help that you have shared over the years. You were one of the main posters on the forum when I joined years ago and I learned much from you. God bless you all as you try on this new adventure!
Lindsey I will miss your post. I’m sure this was a very hard decision, but I’m also sure you prayed over it and are following His leading in your children’s lives.
Either way you go with a list here or on your blog works great for me. 🙂
Many blessings for your new stage of your children’s lives.
April
Thank you, cdm2kk, sheraz, and April! I appreciate the encouragement and support. This was a tough decision, but for now, we truly believe it’s the best decision. AND the kids are really excited for a new adventure! Seriously, they’re stoked!
I’ve missed being on here too, but when we moved to our homestead a little over a year ago and life got busy, something(s) had to give! One of the main reasons why I’ve been so discouraged with homeschooling for the past year isn’t because of curriculum or my kids… it’s because we moved to a place where there is no homeschooling support system. And it’s really difficult to feel like you’re part of something when no one around you shares that with you.
Hi Lindsey,
It is great to hear from you and the new path your family has chosen to take! I am one of those people who never, ever thought I’d be homeschooling (all the way to graduation for my oldest 🙂 and am in it for the long haul, I think. But, life (God) has a way of changing things up for His honor and His glory. And, He is ever looking for ways for His children to trust Him more and more each day. It takes trust to home school and public school our children. Either way, we are trusting, and that is pleasing to Him.
Now I said, “I think” earlier because you never know what may happen in the future to change our lives or our thinking. I fell ill quite a while back and it is only by God’s grace and continued leadership that we are still homeschooling. Because of my health, we definitely could’ve chosen otherwise. Now I know to never say never, especially about home schooling/public schooling. It’s not a mountain I’m willing to die on anymore when there are other things that must take center stage.
When we began homeschooling, God told me to trust Him and that we could always send them back to ps. If we had sent them back, I always knew we could bring them home again. It’s a comfort to know we still have options 🙂
God bless you and your children (I know it was hard to decide this and I know many who have only to bring them home and many who have enjoyed ps immensely).
I’d love to see what you have for sale! Whatever is easiest for you would be great 🙂 (Forgive all the typos and errors, I’m in a rush to get out of the house, but i just had to reply.)
Lindsey, I’ve missed seeing you here! Good for you to be open enough to make a change when your family needs it! It will be a whole new crazy adventure whether it is 1 month, 1 year, all the way through, or off and on. I always say do more of what works and less of what doesn’t for your own family.
The homestead sounds like an adventure and a half – and a lot of work. Remind me of your blog?
For selling things, either works to me, a single post here (but we would need your email as the PM system isn’t functional yet) or over on your blog. I’m interested to see what you have when you get around to it.
Don’t be a stranger, stop back in and visit here at SCM!
Hi Lindsey! I’ve been keeping up with you on gnowfglins and your blog. Love what you’re doing as I am doing it as well.
God knows what is best for us and our children and we must trust and walk in the path in which He leads us. Blessings in your journey
Lindsey, I’m so glad you let us know how you are. It’s not a little thing to be in step with the Holy Spirit. I’m sure it was both difficult and exhilarating -we just never know what each new day holds. One thing the Lord has done is continually surprise me with what He asks and doesn’t ask of us. I will always cheer you on in the path you are lead to travel.
Warmly,
Richele
Lindsey, I have never had a chance to chat with you since I have only recently joined the discussions here on SCM, but I have been reading the forum for a few years and I have appreciated hearing your wisdom and experience. May God continue to give peace and direction as your family moves along this new path.
My heart hurts for you, I’m sure this wasnt easy. Two friends of mine made the decision to put their sons back in school (still homeschooling the others), and it was the best move for them. We are so lucky that we have the freedom to choose how we educate our children. If it doesn’t work – then you can always bring them home again.
In the meantime, I would love to see what you have for sale! If it’s a rrally huge long list a blog post with the link shared here may be easiest.
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