Lessons Learned from My Homeschool Dad

Lessons Learned from My Homeschool Dad"The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him" (Proverbs 23:24).

Homeschool dads, as well as moms, have the double responsibility of not only being a parent but also being a teacher. My dad had to learn how to share with my mother the daily tasks of teaching, maintaining a home, and balancing finances. As a child, I didn't understand or appreciate the responsibilities he faced, but as an adult, it's easier to see how important my father was in my upbringing and how he impacted my life.

No matter what stage of homeschooling you're in, you're probably wondering if you're making a positive difference in your children's lives. From a former homeschooled child, I am here to say homeschooling is worth it. In honor of Father's Day, here's wisdom my dad taught me that you can also apply.

Always Explore - My dad was a natural at discovering new things and figuring out how they worked, why God created them, and sometimes even how to improve them. His love of exploring taught me not to be afraid to learn or approach new things, people, or situations.

Believe in Yourself - As a child, it's easy to doubt yourself. My dad nurtured my confidence by building my knowledge base and having patience in explaining details either multiple times or in various ways until I truly understood.

Be Unique - My dad was never one to go with the crowd. He was unique, fun, and genuine. He didn't care what others thought of him, and he taught me the freedom of being myself and having my own interests that made me who I am.

Mistakes Are Alright - My dad never judged me when I made a mistake or didn't get mad when I didn't get the best grade on a test. He was more concerned about me and how I was learning.

Work Hard - My dad worked selflessly for our family for years, while my mom stayed at home and taught us. He came home at night and helped with homework and chores, even when he was exhausted. This taught me the beauty of sacrifice.

Read Everything - Newspapers, magazines, and books were always in our house. My dad taught me the love of reading and how being a well-read person can help someone better understand the world.

Slow Down - The world is always in a rush, but my dad taught me to slow down and take my time, even with learning. He helped me enjoy the little things in life like flowers, cloud shapes, and evening walks.

Pursue Your Dreams - My dad always empowered me to chase my goals and dreams. Because he gave up his dreams for my siblings and me, he encouraged me to follow whatever career path I wanted. He made me feel like I could achieve anything.

You likely have your own bits of wisdom your father gave you. As each generation grows into the next, share with your children the values your father taught you. Then, write down the values you want to teach your children. Keep this list in a place where you can see it every day and be conscious of whether or not your daily actions are modeling what you want to see in your children. Your actions today reflect what your children will be tomorrow.

What's the best piece of advice your father gave you? Please use the comment field below to share his teachings with other homeschool parents.

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Comments(1 comment)

ANGELA M 06/06/2011 01:24:14

My dad taught me never to use a credit card as supplemental funds. Even more importantly, he modeled cleanliness, honesty, and a solid work ethic.


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