WHO'S IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT?

"Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9


To be a homeschooler takes a certain amount of courage. It can be hard to swim against the tide. Even to CONSIDER swimming against the tide can be paramount to any other decision you may have ever made.

I think many of us who considered schooling our kids at home asked several of the same questions...

WHO am I to teach my kids when people go to school for years to teach kids?

WHAT is my family going to say?

WHEN am I going to fit ALL that teaching into my day?

WHERE is my head?!

WHY not send them off to school?

HOW am I going to do this??!!

But, the Lord is faithful to provide answers, and more importantly, peace, if He has called you to teaching your children at home. I know that is how it was with us.

I found that when I stepped out in courage, God gifted me with faith to trust in this calling. I learned that teaching my kids at home was AWESOME! Such a gift!! God was good to constantly encourage me on the path and give me creativity to keep things fun and interesting. He even began to open new opportunities. I led support groups, organized co-ops, held workshops and hosted all kinds of functions. It is true, the Lord has richly blessed me on our homeschool walk and equipped me for everything.....

Except ONE thing.

Driver's Ed.  There is NO amount of bravery that can prepare me to get into a car with my daughter.

Yes, it is true. I need my 17 year old to get moving on getting her permit so that she can get her license! I am way too busy to be in 5 places at once. I need her to drive! As soon as possible.

It is also true that Driver's Education is the easy part. She is 17, so she only needs to study the Drivers Ed manual and pass the test. It is the Driver's Training that I don't think I will ever be able to handle! Sitting in a moving car, while my kid drives sends shivers down my spine and makes me break out in a cold sweat. I know tons of kids do it all the time. Actually do it well. But, I have just a little bit (okay a LOT) of nervousness in training my kid to drive. She is super smart, but lately, she has said a few things that make me wonder if I will ever get in a car with her!

Things like (and as Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up!):

"Okay, but Mom, what do I REALLY have to study in the book?" (uh...ALL of it!)

"Seriously? I mean, I don't want to waste my time...I just want to learn what is going to be on the test." (WHAT? NEVER in my life have I schooled my children to think this way!)

"My strong point is not common sense." (!!!!!)

"I think it is stupid that pedestrians always have the right of way." (to which my husband wisely advised me not to go running when she is driving!)

"Whoever wrote the driver's manual wasn't very educated.  It is FULL of grammatical errors!"  (yes, but did you pay attention what it SAYS anyway?????)

I am sure you can see why I am dreading the day that she gets her permit.  But....I will say that I have bode my time wisely.  I have taught every class, every workshop, every event that I never wanted to.  I took on every responsibility, willingly, in our homeschool that my husband wanted no part of .  I have been storing up for years for this grand moment.  The moment when I could turn to my husband and say,

"Your turn."