On Being a Mother of Adults
I’ve been on the other side of parenting and homeschooling for eight years now. Thus far, it’s a rewarding experience to sit back and marvel at who our children are as adults. Join me as I share a little about our four oldest, whom many of you have learned about throughout the years.
Tailoring Their Homeschool Experience
Firstly, I want you to be encouraged about home education—even if there are some things that don’t end up happening the way you hope. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to embrace teaching your children vs. falling for the “child-led” forms of education (e.g. “unschooling”, “free-ranging”, “delight-directed”, etc.). Children need absolute truth, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding poured into them because they aren’t born with any of that. None of us are. Thirdly, know that you can tailor your children’s education to their individuality and teach them.
Within the plans God has for our family, we’ve tailored our children’s homeschool experience to their individuality. True, some things didn’t go the way we imagined, dreamed, planned, or hoped for. Life is like that for most people anyhow! However, our Heavenly Father orchestrated many things for us through the ups and downs of life. As a family, we’ve learned to think providentially about even the down times—not just the more pleasant times. He knows how and what to provide for us in His timing. His purposes for each of our children can’t be thwarted. He knows the plans He has for them!
All that to say, looking back on things now we can see how God oversees, superintends, overrules, directs, and disposes in our lives. He truly is One God working.
What Our Graduates Do
So far we have four homeschool graduates. Our two oldest have chosen the college route. The next two have chosen alternate routes. But that’s not to say that either of them forever rule out college or a trade school. It is to say that none of them relied on public education. And they’re thriving in the fields which they’ve chosen!
More than any of that, it’s by God’s grace, our children are walking closely with the Lord. We’ve planted seeds, watered them, and prayed. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they’re drawn to God. Each of them have their response to give our Holy God. Third John 1:4 rings true for us—our hearts are full with gratitude to witness their responses to our Holy God.
Graduate One
Our oldest son married a lovely Christian lady. They both loved the Lord and walk closely with Him. He’s serving as a deacon, and they co-lead a single and young marrieds group. He provides for his family, employed as a lead product designer. It’s a joy to see him honor God with the projects he chooses. He truly has the biblical worldview that there isn’t a sacred-secular divide. Our daughter-in-law cares for pregnant mothers. They’re new parents themselves and are doing a wonderful job already. Of course, that makes my husband and I grandparents! This is a new role we’re stepping into—which I’ll share about from time-to-time.
Additionally, our son has an independent Christian film studio and a growing creative platform that is becoming quite popular.
To those asking if our son and his wife will give their children a Biblical Classical Education: That’s entirely up to them. We trust that they’ll seek God for how to raise their children. As grandparents, our role is to encourage, support, and pray for them. (This holds true for all of our children as they marry and have their families.)
Graduate Two
Our oldest daughter is advancing in her career—first as a teacher and now as the Early Learning Director of a Christian school. She’s faithful in what she does and she keeps receiving promotions. We look forward to seeing how God will continue to use her in this season of life. On the side, she creates and sells beautiful watercolor and acrylic paintings.
Graduate Three
Our second oldest daughter thought she might like to train horses for a living. After exploring that option for some time, she’s taking the route of writing and illustrating—two things she considered before spending time with horses. However, she’s also looking into voice acting. This is something she’d be amazing at as well!
She illustrated the book cover for my book Teaching From Truth: Renewing and Transforming with Biblical Classical Education. Christian artists are valuable and irreplaceable. God designed us in His image to create! As Christian artists, we respond to the Holy Spirit and contribute greatly to God’s Kingdom in an inspired way (AI can’t do any of that). Wait until you see the children’s books she’s writing and illustrating!
Graduate Four
Our second oldest son is a co-owner of an established and successful landscaping business. He has always loved the outdoors in a special way. During his interview with the landscape company as a youth, he expressed that this is the line of work he favors. It’s what he wants to do as a career. Therefore, the business owners took him under their wing and taught him the business side of things. He’s receiving mentoring in landscape architecture, independently studying for a Landscape Contractors License, and Landscape Architect License—among other licenses. He’s also learning the art of working with concrete and other hardscapes. It’s a joy to see how our son enjoys art and applies it creatively in the outdoors.
We combined his Senior thesis and portfolio project. Fittingly, his research was on the biblical worldview of business, landscape, and design—which entailed the history of concrete.
Graduate Five (Almost There)
She’s leaning toward the artistic pursuit of interior decorating. So, we’re tailoring her Senior high school year with an emphasis on learning about and applying interior decorating skills. She has a natural eye for it, and it’s a delight to have her use her talents around our home.
Her Senior thesis and special portfolio project consists of comparing and contrasting worldviews of design and decorating—both interior and exterior.
Strong Family Bonds
Throughout the years, having a home and family our children want to come home to has been a main goal. Naturally, we aren’t a “perfect” family. Whose is? Just the same, we’re a close family because Christ unites us and He taught us how to walk in humility with one another.
Reflections
I adore our children—from their pre-born state into their adulthood. God has blessed us with wonderful souls to raise. I’m enjoying this newish role and the relationships we have with them.
As I reflect on our homeschool experience with them, I continue to thank God for calling us on the path of Biblical Classical homeschooling. I know from experience how it renews and transforms because of God’s Word being at the center of it. Do I hope our children will teach theirs with it? Of course! But as stated earlier, what they and their spouses decide is up to them. I live satisfied knowing that I did my duty before God and my best for our children.
My ministry in Biblical Classical Education continues with our other children until they graduate. Also, it continues by sharing with parents who are hungry to learn how to teach their children with a biblical worldview and how to form convictions in life and learning. Currently, this happens via my online mentoring membership and community. However, there might be a day when I’m released from that portion of our ministry. If and when that should happen, I know I can live satisfied that God will use my books and other resources to continue to bless our family, my siblings in Christ, and my countrymen—for generations to come. Hallelujah!
Join The Biblical Classical Homeschool Experience™
My book Teaching From Truth: Renewing and Transforming with Biblical Classical Homeschooling is a great starting point for Christian homeschool parents to learn about this educational option for their homeschool. If you find that you want to go deeper with mentorship and a like-minded community of Christian homeschool parents, join The Biblical Classical Homeschool Experience™ membership. Generally, the membership doors open in late August of each year.
If that isn’t a fitting option for you in your current season of life then consider subscribing to The Biblical Classical Homeschool Circle™. It’s less time-intensive and you’ll receive monthly encouragement, delightful Biblical Classical goodies, & support for Christian homeschool moms. It’s another great source for like-minded Christian homeschool moms who want to grow on their Biblical Classical homeschool journey. A mother’s intellect and soul need nurturing, too.
