It is my passion to provide encouragement for the homeschooling mom, so the first podcast of every month this school year will be a Homeschool Mom Support Group! We’ll call it the RAP session (Raising Arrows Podcast – get it?!), and this is the very first one! Today’s podcast will be all about finding your focus and purpose this year as a homeschooling mother!
Find all of the Raising Arrows Podcast HERE!
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In this episode:
- How I started homeschooling.
- The ultimatum my husband gave me when we first started.
- The truth about loving your children.
- The #1 thing you should do this year!
Mentioned in this podcast:
–> Homeschooling with Purpose ebook – Get 10% off with coupon code: RAP10
–> FREE Cherish Your Children Checklist CLICK HERE!
–> Titus 2:4-5 – That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV)
–> Proverbs 1:8b-9 – and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (ESV)
jodie says
I’ve read Homeschooling with Purpose, but hearing the encouraging words in your own voice, and explained so beautifully was really nice. Thank you.
Amy says
Thanks, Jodie! 🙂
CHANTAL says
Thank you so much for this, Amy. Although I had this revelation of loving my children last school year (our 4th year of home schooling), it is always good to get reminded. For me where you talked about concentrating on “mothering” my children was definitely a bit of a newer perspective for me. I often struggle with trying to be my kid’s teacher, and forget to “mother” them, especially during “school” time. God has totally blessed you with wisdom and grace. And I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share with and encourage others. I am one of those people who doesn’t have a support group. So vlogs, pod casts, and blogs are my support right now. I will be tuning in to your podcasts from now on, and I’ve been watching your vlogs for several months now. May the Lord continue to bless you richly as you continue to obey Him.
Katie says
Amy, Thank you for your message today! God is so Good! Just what I needed to be reminded of. Titus 2:3-5 has been a huge encouragement in my walk with the Lord. God’s word is powerful! Keep sharing, we are listening. 🙂
Reggie says
Really, really loved your encouraging words! Especially regarding having a purpose/vision behind why you homeschool. While I have always homeschooled, it was not what I had envisioned doing prior to having children. It came about because AFTER we were married, my husband thinks to tell me that he wants our children to be homeschooled. I still remember exactly where I was standing when I had that particular panic attack.?Ultimately, it was God laying it on my heart that that was also His desire for our family that gave me the strength to undertake what I saw as a phenomenal responsibility. There are so many naysayers, so many opinions, and every time I felt myself wondering if there was any truth in what they said, I would remember that I wasn’t doing this to meet anyone else’s expectations, but because God Himself had asked me to. It is truly amazing what you can overcome and accomplish when you are completely confident of the Lord’s blessing on what you are doing.
Angela says
Reggie, this is kind of how it happened for me too! I had never heard of home schooling before (honestly!!). We had a less than 1 year old son, and another child on the way and my husband said that we need to home school. I had NO IDEA what he meant. I didn’t even think that you could legally keep your children home with you! I was definitely not against the idea, but I also didn’t think I was equipped to do it….23 years later, I am still not equipped to do it, ha! But by God’s grace, we have three graduated (one in college and two married and out of college) and three more “youngers” at home!
Amy says
What an awesome story, Angela!
Angela says
I just found your website for the first time today. I listened to your podcast about laundry and then this one about Homeschooling with Purpose. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! I have been homeschooling now for 23 years and it is so easy to get bogged down and off track and worn out!! This is a wonderful reminder to LOVE our kids first and foremost.
I also appreciated your perspectives on laundry! I personally have a large capacity front loading washer (we go through about 1 per year, or my husband fixes it multiple times until we finally give up). My goal is to do 4 loads of laundry per day and that BARELY keeps us afloat. Granted, our dryer is a smaller capacity, so this slows me down. Basically, I put a load in right after I get up and I remind myself or children to start a load all day long! We are not as good at putting the clean clothes away as we should be though! I like how you assigned a certain day of the week per child. I gave them each a clothes hamper for their bedrooms (girls are in one bedroom, boys in another). I basically said that when it is full but not stuffed or overflowing, you need to do a load of wash. This does not work because they will procrastinate till they have absolutely nothing to wear. My husband forbid them to have any laundry hampers upstairs for this reason and now, they just throw their clothes on the floor, ugg! Anyway, our routines are definitely always changing because we try one thing and find that it doesn’t work, so we try another and so on! I am going to try the smaller dishpan idea (is that the size you use for each child’s items?).
Anyway, I’m going to share your site with my friends…
Amy says
Hi Angela! Welcome! And yes, I use the 18 qt dishpan for my kids laundry. It’s easy for the little ones to carry, and I like how they stack neatly.
Sherry says
Wonderful podcast, Amy! I had to listen to it twice. I am that mom who has forgotten how to be mom to my kids. I hope you will offer some of the practical reminders of what mothering my children ought to look like! Thank you for spending your time to share what you have learned. I am encouraged by it!
Amy says
Absolutely, Sherry! I will definitely do that.
J.S Giles says
I am a first time home school mom and how I was lead to homeschooling was very similar to yours! God had us let our daughter go to
indergarten so we could see why He wanted us to home school our kids. Needless to say we had a really rough year with the teachers and school. They thought something was mentally wrong with her and tested her. We found out she is actually intelligent but over exhausted. We realized what was best for her was to home school her. Her character was in need of repair after going through a hard year. I had no idea how I was going to afford this but God has given me so much wisdom! I was so afraid I would fail my kids. But I have found so much help and resources. Vision is very important! Without it I wouldn’t have the courage to keep moving forward! I started planning and now I am in love with this! I’m so excited to teach my children. This was a blessing really! Thanks for your testimony 🙂
Amy says
What a wonderful testimony you have! Thank you so much for sharing!
Ada says
Oh Amy!! What a blessing!! Thank you so much for your gentle, yet bold truth!
Megan H says
The LORD keeps reminding me that my first job is to love my kids! Thank you for being the voice of the Holy Spirit in my ear, again, keeping my eyes on the true prize!
Brandi says
Wow, just started listening to you today and the first RAP really has me rethinking my why and how. Of course I LOVE my children, but through the rigors of daily school tasks, field trips, co-ops, and the obstinate 9yo, I know I don’t show my love as much as I stress the lessons. Crushing. But I’m so thankful for grace and the ability to learn and know to do better. I honestly feel renewed just from this one RAP and can’t wait to hear the others.