When the home schooling journey ends
We’ve been home schooling our eldest since he was three years old. It was a tad too early to do so, but I was an eager mom who knew nothing much about the movement back then, so I thought the earlier we start teaching him the ABC’s and the 123’s, the better.
Of course, throughout the years, my mindset has changed, after expanding my homeschooling circle, reading several books and blogs about it, and the experience itself has taught me to appreciate and enjoy each of our children for both their strengths and their weaknesses, their impressive qualities and their individual quirks.
Character as priority
But above all, building their character has become our top most priority.
At one point, we withdrew them all from accreditation because we wanted to focus on teaching them how to apply God’s Word in their young lives.
We needed to address some attitude problems head on that time and with our jobs taking up time, too, we knew we couldn’t keep up with the academic side of things and would just feel pressured to try to do so just to be able to submit requirements at the end of the school year.
And yes, financially, it was difficult, too. We don’t earn much and at that time, we decided to use the money for accreditation to pay for the materials and experiences that will grow and educate our children better. Something that I wish the Department of Education (DepEd) will comprehend.
Not everyone is meant to home school forever
But of course, Jay and I are aware that not all children are meant to home school forever. If it were only up to me, we’d home school all of our children all the way, but as the Bible says, “many are plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21.
We’ve always known we’ll eventually send Pablo to a regular school even before DepEd announced K-12 that also mandates that we can only home school until the 9th grade.
First of all, he’s an extrovert. He thrives in an environment where he can collaborate with other people. His energy and his interests peak when he’s working with a group of people. We have to take that into consideration.
More importantly, we know that it’s something that our son looks forward to. He’s been wanting to attend a regular school for some time now, mostly because he wants to be with “friends” more.
He does have a College Educational Plan with incentives for honor students. So going to a regular high school would give him a shot at the incentive. Obviously we don’t give these types of awards as home schoolers, and even if we do, I don’t think the insurance company will acknowledge it.
So yeah, eventually enrolling him in a good school was something we’ve been praying for, too. We just didn’t think it would happen earlier than planned.
Scholarship opportunity
Last week, a door opened for him to attend a school that provides individualized instruction and an excellent Bible-based character program to their students. He’ll be going as a full scholar next school year.
They say he has potential when he took on one of the lead roles in their theater production last year, and have observed that he is quite teachable during the Music, Arts, PE, Computer and Health classes that Pablo attends with them every Tuesday.
They’re aware of our son’s academic standing and he would probably be asked to go through reassessment before the beginning of the school year to help him better.
He’s turning 12 this year as we currently work on his 4th and 5th grade materials.
In DepEd records, he’s only in the 3rd grade. We pulled him out of our home school provider when he was in the 2nd grade and only re-enrolled for accreditation this school year, resuming the next grade level he last enrolled in. He still needs to take PEPT (Philippine Educational Placement Test) to put him back in his grade level in their records.
While we are not concerned with his English and Math-based subjects, we’ve not been doing so well with his Filipino and Sibika (Civics) ones. Something we will now get help with.
It takes a village…
I cried at first, but I knew in my heart that it was God moving in this.
I already miss my son so much, we’re constantly together since the day he was born. But more than that, I’ve been asking myself if I had done enough to build my son’s foundation on the Word of God.
“…but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season. And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers” Psalm 1:2-3.
But then again, I may only be over-dramatic, haha! The guarantee for his full scholarship is only for one year, after all. We will have to take it a year at a time. Something that Pablo is very much aware of.
As of now, we are just happy for him and grateful for the opportunity he has been presented. We’ve yet to see how he will fare.
So far, he has exhibited great promise in everything he has participated in. He is confident, bold, secure and he knows to make the most out of every opportunity he is given.
Academics don’t really matter much to us. We’ve already seen what he can and cannot do, and we’re confident that if we continue to hone his character and to teach him to live a life of integrity, along with the help of his teachers and his current Bible Study leader, Benj, he will do well in the vocation he chooses.
At this point, we know we already need to trust other people to help us raise our son into that man we pray he will become. On our part, we will continue to love him, guide him, support his dreams, fan his interests, and stand by him as his parents.
We do have our two younger boys to home school. This is an opportunity for me to focus more on building their foundations while their older brother is at school.
I told Pablo he still needs to do devotions with the family. We’ll still read books together. He’ll still do his animation programming with his dad and take music lessons with him. He needs to do his share of chores, learn to cook with us and do fun stuff, too.
So yeah, in a way, home schooling will not really end. It’s just looking a lot more like parenting now, than anything.
I remember one of our pastors who also home schools his kids pointing out that it takes a village to raise a child. I guess this is God’s way of saying it’s time for us to tap that village to help our son soar in the horizons God has intended for him.
Update: Right before school year, we received offers for Pablo to join a couple of theater productions which led us to decide to continue homeschooling him instead. Our two younger children are still attending MAPEH classes at Christian Legacy.
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5.
31 Comments
Jerzee Benavente
This is so great! 100% scholarship is so awesome! Pablo for sure will keep up with reg school. Yeah, you’re overly dramatic. Hahaha! Congratulations guys!
Michi
Oh, separation anxiety attacks. I have the same feeling when my son started school and when he entered grade one, because it means less time at home. Yes, homeschooling will not end because kids always need us.
Macy Santos
Learning could come from both within the secured boundaries inside the home and from the outside world where social governance is observed. I believe that we owe our children the opportunity to explore the world outside the family circle. I agree with your pastor ‘it will take a village (or rather the universe-lol) to raise a child. I am sure you’ll son will grow up to be a fine young man with you around.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oh he has a lot of social governance even as a homeschooler. 🙂 But yes, learning could happen in both environment.
Juvy Ann
I was also full of apprehensions my eldest moved to big school. I am sure your son will do good.
EINz
Congratulations for this new opportunity! This new chapter will open more doors and will strengthen their character as they experience and learn more outside of their comfort zone.
So, focusing more on its benefits will somehow lessen your heavy feeling.
Michelle
Congrats to Pablo and to you, Mommy May! You and your husband played a big role in making him achieve a full scholarship in a regular school. 😀 I’ve always wondered if I can homeschool my son as well but it was my husband who’s against the idea of it. But I do enjoy reading blogs about homeschooling just like this blog of yours! 🙂
Gracie
Wow! Congrats to the scholarship!
He is an artist like you sis 🙂
I got teary-eyed on the last part.. “time to tap the village..” awww!..
But, I am sure, he will learn a lot in school. Congratulations to your homeschooling journey with Pablo 🙂
Que Gavan
Good luck Kuya Pablo! Continue to grow in favor of God and share your talents!
Janice
Congrats to Pablo! 🙂 I know you and Jay are very proud of him. I can so relate to the separation anxiety. But as I’ve learned these past few years, parenting is really about learning to let go. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. 🙂 Hugs!
Meg Mortega
Congrats on Pablo’s scholarship. I admire homeschool families especially mommies because it’s not easy. It requires a lot of patience, creativity and research. I agree that character is most important and if given a chance, I would love to try homeschooling when I become a full-time housewife/ wahm.
Abby Borja
Congratulations to the proud parents! You have such an inspiring story. I’ve been meaning to homeschool my two year old until I find the need to bring her to big school. We’ll see how it goes!
Alaine
Congratulations, Pablo (same name with my stepson)! You are so right not to let this opportunity to pass by. What you said is true – homeschooling is not for everyone.
Gilian
Congrats. This is a very inspiring story. I want to homeschool my child but we live in a closed environment and I feel thatschool is his only outlet for socialization. 🙂 I admire your dedication to homeschool your children.
Ayi
Full scholarship is a great opportunity. Congratulations to your big boy 🙂 For sure, he’ll learn a lot and enjoy school 🙂
Maine @ MomsterTeacher
God is good, all the time!
I’m sure that it’s all for the best. It will be fascinating for him. Kudos to you for homeschooling your son for years! For now, let his school teachers teach him those mind boggling physics, chemistry, geometry, etc. lessons. You can focus on continuing teaching him about Jesus and other practical stuff. 🙂
Nini Perez
What a wonderful story! I’m looking forward to homeschooling my son in a few years, and well, I might get emotional too when we need to let him go to the big school. I’d like to think, though not formally, that we’ve already started with learning since he started showing interest. Trust that this is God’s better plan, or better yet, His best for your family. 🙂
Jhanis
I know that Pablo will do well in school, not just in academics but as a whole. He is such a confident young kid! And with you and Jay as his parents, he is bound for greatness. May he continue to use his skills and intelligence in spreading God’s love wherever he goes! <3
Rowena Wendy Lei
Personally I don’t think I have it in me to homeschool, so kudos for being able to do it for years na!
lariza garcia
homeschooling was not for me, iba na kasi ang generation ngayon, i may not be equip enough to teach them
kahit sobrang busi sila sa extra curricular nila, i want them to balance both
so traditional school pa din kami
Mommy Queenelizabeth
Wow that was great! Congratulations on the full scholarship, its a great blessing. I just have to agree that it takes a village to raise a child. Our pastor in church during the parenting summit mentioned this and i will never forget..
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen
Congratulations to Pablo for his 100% scholarship!It really takes a village to raise a child and now you’ll get some help in teaching him.He will be learning more academics and you can now focus on teaching him and molding him to be the best person he can be.
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy
Wow, congrats to Pablo for the full scholarship! 🙂 I’m sure it’s perfectly normal mommy instict to feel sepanx about the whole thing. Don’t worry, he’s still your big boy, just off to more adventures. 🙂
Emiliana sison
I’m sure that your child will be able to adjust in the traditional school in no time. You molded him well so fear not. His upbringing will be something that will last him a lifetime.
mhaan a
Congrats Pablo for getting the scholarship. For sure he will do his best in school. Congrats din sa inyo mommy!
jem alvarado
Good luck to your son’s regular school. Wow! a scholar! Congrats!
Maria Teresa Figuerres
Good luck to Pablo on this new journey! I’m sure he’ll do well, knowing that he has supportive parents like you and your husband who only want what’s best for him.
Teresa Dumadag
I understand the mixed emotions. But I’m confident that God is with you and your family in this new adventure. What is most important is that we obey God’s will at each new stage of our life. 🙂
Cris Evert Lato-Ruffolo
May, I have twins and they are three years old. We sent them to a regular day care while I also homeschooling them. I really took time to work on a graduate degree on language and literacy education. Kinarir ko talaga! I love making lesson plans. Like you, I also know that my children will have to join a regular school in the future. Thank you for this sharing. Can I email you sometime for questions?
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Hi Cris! Sure. Email me [email protected]. 😉
Mommy Anna
Congrats for the scholarship 🙂 how I wish I can also do the home schooling but I need to work but we have a worksheet every summer and weekend for our continuous learning. I really salute mom who do home schooling