Dear Mom,

I think that your testing the waters of homeschooling through the summer is a lovely idea as long as you remember that many children are not as eager to do formal 'schooling' when they are busy with the very important work of play. I would recommend that you dedicate no more than an hour on your gentle introduction to the homeschooling lifestyle. However it is equally important to remember that many homeschooling families center their teaching around activities that do not take place at the desk. Field trips and the like are a very important means of teaching and therefore many families find that homeschooling becomes more of a lifestyle than merely a way to teach a child. I would suggest that you think of each day and of every activity as a way to 'teach'. For homeschooling families teaching becomes more like breathing through the day. For example, this morning I took my daughter with me to a Tai Chi class held at our church. We discussed the class and all aspects of the movements. It was interesting to her and she decided to come home and do some computer research on the topic.

Homeschooling is a lifestyle that flows with the rhythm of the family and in which the family dedicates their efforts to the glory of the Lord believing that through this lifestyle they are following the Lord's will for them.

My prayers are with your efforts. Let us offer our prayers on behalf of all those families that find they are in a state of transition and discernment.

Rita Munn