Hello Everyone! Welcome to The Christ Centered Homeschool PodcastThis is episode # 2 Why We Decided to HomeschoolAre You Interested in Homeschooling?Do you feel a pull towards homeschooling? Are you seriously considering this alternative? I did.When the idea was planted into my heart, I was resistant. There are many things I did not want to give up. And I certainly didn't want to add more to my plate.But I learned, that this adventure can be one of my greatest challenges and one of my greatest joys.I've been homeschooling since April 2019, and I can tell you that it is all worth it! All the struggle, all the frustration, all the fatigue... It is ALL worth it. It's a small price to pay for what you will receive as you invest in your children.It is my hope that when others see what I do and how I do it, that they will take that leap of faith forward and experience joy and success.I'd like to tell you about... Our Homeschooling Journey.I have been a homeschooling advocate for many years. Before I had children, I received a Master's in Education, and for my thesis I choose to write about homeschooling and socialization.When my son turned 5, I tried to homeschool but I was inconsistent. We had a newborn at that time and shortly after that we moved to another state. After our move, we felt inspired to enroll our son in a Christian private school nearby. I was hesitant, but as I prayed about it I had the thought that I needed to “let go” of my son and allow him this experience.As we researched this private school, we were very impressed. We felt that there was no better school we could ever send our child to. We were confident that we could trust the teachers and the faculty. This school offered our son so much more than we could offer at home.After submitting our application, we were interviewed and hoped that our son would get accepted. Against all odds, he was accepted and started kindergarten the following school year.We were delighted with his experience in Kindergarten. However 1st grade was completely different. It seemed as though our son was being held back and was not able to progress at his own level and pace. Homework turned into a chore and power struggle. The level of education he was receiving seemed to dramatically drop and we hoped things would improve the following year.After attending a parent conference night, my husband received the strong impression that the school board was making decisions that would take it in a direction we were NOT comfortable with.Having my son in school during the day lightened my load. I did not want to give that up. I also didn't know how I could teach a 2nd grader and a Kindergartener, while also caring for a toddler and a newborn. The task seemed overwhelming. I didn't feel ready to start homeschooling, but I couldn't deny the feeling that keeping my son in school would be a mistake.After a lot of prayer, in April 2019, my husband and I took our son out this private school and begin homeschooling. It was not easy, but proved to be was one of the greatest decisions we’ve made.10 Main Reasons Why We Homeschool1. ProtectionThis is a big one. We want our children to be taught light and truth. Mikael from The Monson Schoolhouse has a very informative video on this topic. Check out “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdcOVVGT1J8 (Draw Your Line in the Sand. Now).”2. InfluenceWe want to remain the primary influence in our children's lives.3. FreedomWe are free to choose the curriculum and style that fits the needs of our family.Our children can move through the material at their own pace. They are not stuck at a grade level all year. They also won’t be “left behind” or sitting in the classroom bored.4. Flexible ScheduleWe get to decide our daily routine and schedule for the year. We can take vacations when it's convenient.5. High Quality EducationMy children get one-on-one attention and tutoring. In addition, they get to learn high...