ABC's of Homeschooling: D is for Dedication

03 May 2011
ABCs of Homeschooling



D is for Dedication

DEDICATION, n.

1. The act of consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as the dedication of Solomons temple.

2. The act of devoting or giving to.

3. An address to a patron, prefixed to a book, testifying respect and recommending the work to his protection and favor.


In the public school setting we have all remembered or even participated in the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) as a volunteer. When we first started homeschooling, yes, there was a moment of feeling out of the loop so to speak (public school), but now I realize that I am the ultimate PTA member. LOL!! I read this on another homeschool mom's blog. I just had to laugh!!

We volunteer our entire time to our children's education. No PTA member here. Look, I am not trying to start a debate, because homeschooling is not for everyone--I know. But I wanted to highlight that there is a difference.

It takes DEDICATION to do this (homeschooling). I found out quickly and I have seen both sides of the education spectrum. Now that we do homeschool, I see the differences in our lives and in their education as a whole and I know my husband and I made the right decision for our children.

Dedication. I like the 2nd definition above: The act of devoting or giving to. --It completely sums up a homeschool family. We devote our time, energy, loyalty to the family and ultimately to God. We give to our children because that's what the Bible says a family should look like. We give that obedience to God and not looking at the present day, but the future of our children's body, mind, and souls.

It takes dedication everyday to have a successful homeschool. I believe that with all my heart. Yes, somedays are really bad, but most are extremely successful. We completely enjoy it. It's not easy-pesy, but life in general isn't either, right?

This poem is hanging on my wall...

A Teacher's Meditation

Does school consist of pen and books;
Of paper, ink, and row of hooks?
Or is it walls with posters bright
And windows tall to let in light?

Could rows of desks with chairs to match,
Some gloves and bats with balls to catch,
A teacher's desk of wood or steel
Be called a school, complete and real?

Oh, no! A school must have a heart;
Some students with a course to chart;
Young minds to learn the way of truth;
Young lives to mold in their youth.

A school must have a teacher too,
To love and guide in pathways true;
To teach his charges of God's way,
WIth math and English every day.

Lord, grant me then Your wisdom fair.
Do keep me in Your love and care.
Lord, as You taught while here on earth,
So let me teach true love and worth.

John David Martin



It takes dedication to do that successfully.

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11 comments:

kewkew said...

Hi, I saw your blog over at the Circle of Moms Top 25 list and saw that you were Charlotte Mason newbies so I wanted to come over and check out your blog. I am looking into the possibility of Charlotte Mason and am looking for all the advice I can find. I really enjoyed this post. Also glad to find another Christian homeschooling family and someone participating in the 31 Days to Clean.
Blessings.

Dawn said...

It most certainly does! I think dedication is something homeschooling families who stick it out have in abundance. Without dedication to our kids AND to homeschooling, we give in and give up too easily. LOVE the poem!

Don't forget to link your post up! Thanks for joining in!
~Dawn @5Kidsandadog.com

Eileen Marie Miller said...

So glad that you've switched from PS to homeschool. You don't have to go to PTA meetings anymore because you're the boss. What you say - goes! It is so good to hear someone who has made the switch and is grateful for it!

Unknown said...

Kew Kew, thank you!! Loving Charlotte Mason...if you ever need information let me know...I also have several blog posts about it...so look around! :) Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate it.

Unknown said...

Thank you Dawn!! I totally agree with you...even though we are newbies...loving it!! Yes, I did get to link up! ;)

Unknown said...

OrdainedPraise!! Yes, I agree!! Thank you so much for your encouragement. --It means alot!!

Naomi said...

You've got it! If you don't have dedication for anything (homeschooling, too), it is hard to stick with it. I love not having to "dress just right" for meetings. I love not having to wait in the car lane (or out into the street and about a mile down) to pick up kids. It is wonderful to utilize dedication to make the best of our time together for learning!

Unknown said...

@Becky: LOL!! Yes, I love not having to get up at ol' dark-thirty in the AM to get them out of the house for the bus. Worrying about uniforms, their safety, what they are learning at school, HOMEWORK, and their schedule (school). We do acquire more hours in the day by homeschooling! Love it! ;) Thanks for stopping by.

Joelle said...

Oh yes we need dedication, it fuel our motivation. Devotion to God and to our kids is definitely a necessity in this homeschooling journey. Great word!

Unknown said...

Thank you Joelle for stopping by!! Definitely need motivation too!! ;)

Chris said...

Dedication and hard work go a long way!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! Come back soon! Sincerely, Jessica

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