I think this is an extremely honest objection to the idea of Christian home education. After all, little children are HARD WORK. I do pretty much everything with my children around. Whilst I am busy cleaning one room, seven pairs of hands are busy turning another room into disarray. I cook and resolve arguments simultaneously. I plan lessons with one eye on the garden in case somebody takes a tumble and I teach whilst managing two inquisitive four-year-olds.
We moved into our home six years ago with five children under six. My second set of twins were born about two years later and I can only remember being alone in the house on one occasion. It was for about an hour, and I sat down and had a nice cup of tea!!
What then is the answer to this genuine concern that life with children 24/7 will drive us round the bend? Perhaps ten top tips? I would like to suggest that we are beginning in the wrong place. If we cannot see the wood for the trees, then perhaps we have lost sight of the creator of the woods.
A Calling
Contentment with our lot is rooted in a strong sense of calling and conviction that we are walking in obedience. The devil has succeeded in convincing most of the world and its women that motherhood is dull, unimportant, worthless and best embodied by the state. Education is for professionals and unbelievers in government who do not know my children have a better idea of what they should be learning and which values they should be imbibing than I do.
What then does Scripture say? Firstly, any mother who primarily stays home and cares for her children and husband can be confident that she is walking in the will of God. Titus writes that young women are to ‘love their husbands and children…working at home’ (Titus 2:4-5). Staying at home to look after our little ones means we will spend time mopping up spillages and tears, arbitrating quarrels, cooking, cleaning and shopping. We can be confident that the accomplishment of these forgettable tasks is absolutely within the will of God. Who else can minister to our children’s needs as effectively as the mother?
Secondly, scripture is clear that Christians need to be raising their children in the Lord and that parents are to take responsibility for their children’s education. Moses did not command the Israelites to hand their children over to the Canaanites but instructed parents to teach their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). This does not mean that we may not delegate some of their learning to others, but we are responsible for what they learn. Practically, this means that many of us take the decision to educate them at home.
An Ever-Present Help
If God has called us to stay at home and take responsibility for the education of our children, then we can be confident that he will equip us. ‘And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19). This does not mean that he promises to remove all tiredness, but it does mean that we can call on him to help us not to snap when we do feel tired. This does not mean that our children will never quarrel, but it does mean that we can ask the source of all wisdom for wisdom for ourselves as we deal with squabbles. An ever-present help might be manifest in the surprising offers of help from friends and family. It might look like financial support or a host of resources from a home educating family who have run the course. It might manifest itself in a good friend or supportive husband. We can be confident that the Giver of all help knows what help we actually need (as opposed to that which we may desire) and will be faithful to supply it all.
A Growth in Sanctification.
The Puritan William Gurnall writes, ‘The end of all God’s working is to perfect His saints in their virtues and comforts.’ In 1 Thessalonians 4:3 the apostle Paul says ‘this is the will of God – your sanctification’. The mother who is at the beginning of her home educating journey is aware of her own weaknesses and short fuse. Perhaps we need to be reminded that God is working all things together for our good and that if we are faithful to seek him over the years, he will be faithful to change us. In fact, the constant presence of our children may well be the means by which he will accomplish sanctification.
Conclusion
As a testimony, I can see how the Lord has worked in my own life. I have grown in patience and grace towards my children. (I still have a long way to go). Eleven years ago, there is no way I would have been able to home educate seven young children. Eleven years ago, I only needed the ability to care for one new-born.
I often look around my kitchen and reflect how many hours I spend between these four walls. I remember one mother telling me that if she had my life then she would be depressed! I can laugh at these comments because I am able to say in absolute honesty with the Psalmist that ‘The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;’ (Psalm 16:6). I covet no other life than the one I have. Indeed, I have discovered that by God’s grace I can handle having my little ones around me all the time.
