A First-Year Homeschooling Story
Posted in Homeschool View on Thursday, April 5, 2012
After winning the Daily Focus homeschool devotional book in the 2012 Ginormous Homeschool Giveaway, Amy Tyler of Woodstock, Georgia, shared her heartfelt story about her struggles during her first year of homeschooling and how the Daily Focus met her needs.
If you would have told me even one year ago today I would be homeschooling, I would have said you were crazy. I spent 27 years in the corporate world, the last 15 in executive management. I was used to delegating to over 100 people, having an administrative assistant and flying somewhere in the United States every week. My husband worked from home and did his best to raise our adopted-from-birth daughter, Jordyn, we were blessed with in our early forties. She was in the finest of Christian schools and seemed to be thriving...good grades, lots of friends, and special carpool times with her daddy.
On March 25, 2011, I received a phone call that my position had been downsized. What followed was a process of grief, disbelief, anger, rejection, hurt, and, finally, acceptance. I knew God was in this decision and I just needed to come to terms with the thought of not doing something I had done every day for so many years. My husband asked what I wanted to do, and I told him I wanted to retire. The stress of my job, as well as demanding travel schedule, had really taken its toll, and everyone could see it but me. My daughter was thrilled with the news. She wanted me to pick her up in carpool line and come to lunch every week. She wanted to "hang out" with me all the time.
One evening as we faced the hours of homework she brought home daily, she began talking to me about homeschooling. I looked at her with a puzzled expression and asked why in the world she would want to be homeschooled. She said, "Mom, I just get it better when you explain it to me." I later realized she was really saying, "Mom, I just want to be with you. You've been working my whole life, and I want to make up for lost time." My husband and I prayed about it, had long discussions, and decided it would be an incredible opportunity for her.
I can't say I was devoid of fear at the thought of homeschooling. In fact, the fear of the unknown was quite gripping at times. I had watched my two older sisters homeschool their children and thought it was great for them, but I was not sure it would be for me. I met another homeschool mom who took several hours to talk with me about curriculum, schedules, etc. She is the one who directed me to AOP. This is also where I discovered the Daily Focus, for which I signed up promptly. The messages were always timely, particularly during the first months when I had a few "meltdowns." You can imagine how excited I was to hear I had won a prize through the Ginormous Homeschool Giveaway, and it was a complete book of the Daily Focus! Now, I had this devotional at my fingertips at any time.
God has brought us so far this first year of homeschooling. We begin each day with Bible study and prayer, and Jordyn always thanks God that "my mom is home and we can spend this special time together." I have found a new calling and purpose for my life and thank God I have the privilege to teach my daughter. We are having so much fun! All things truly do work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
If you would have told me even one year ago today I would be homeschooling, I would have said you were crazy. I spent 27 years in the corporate world, the last 15 in executive management. I was used to delegating to over 100 people, having an administrative assistant and flying somewhere in the United States every week. My husband worked from home and did his best to raise our adopted-from-birth daughter, Jordyn, we were blessed with in our early forties. She was in the finest of Christian schools and seemed to be thriving...good grades, lots of friends, and special carpool times with her daddy.
On March 25, 2011, I received a phone call that my position had been downsized. What followed was a process of grief, disbelief, anger, rejection, hurt, and, finally, acceptance. I knew God was in this decision and I just needed to come to terms with the thought of not doing something I had done every day for so many years. My husband asked what I wanted to do, and I told him I wanted to retire. The stress of my job, as well as demanding travel schedule, had really taken its toll, and everyone could see it but me. My daughter was thrilled with the news. She wanted me to pick her up in carpool line and come to lunch every week. She wanted to "hang out" with me all the time.One evening as we faced the hours of homework she brought home daily, she began talking to me about homeschooling. I looked at her with a puzzled expression and asked why in the world she would want to be homeschooled. She said, "Mom, I just get it better when you explain it to me." I later realized she was really saying, "Mom, I just want to be with you. You've been working my whole life, and I want to make up for lost time." My husband and I prayed about it, had long discussions, and decided it would be an incredible opportunity for her.
I can't say I was devoid of fear at the thought of homeschooling. In fact, the fear of the unknown was quite gripping at times. I had watched my two older sisters homeschool their children and thought it was great for them, but I was not sure it would be for me. I met another homeschool mom who took several hours to talk with me about curriculum, schedules, etc. She is the one who directed me to AOP. This is also where I discovered the Daily Focus, for which I signed up promptly. The messages were always timely, particularly during the first months when I had a few "meltdowns." You can imagine how excited I was to hear I had won a prize through the Ginormous Homeschool Giveaway, and it was a complete book of the Daily Focus! Now, I had this devotional at my fingertips at any time.
God has brought us so far this first year of homeschooling. We begin each day with Bible study and prayer, and Jordyn always thanks God that "my mom is home and we can spend this special time together." I have found a new calling and purpose for my life and thank God I have the privilege to teach my daughter. We are having so much fun! All things truly do work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
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