Episode 25: Have You Listened to the Lies?
By: Jamie Gaddy and Homeschool.com
Episode Info
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Have you listened to the lies? Homeschooling lies that is! Today we’re talking about how easy it is to let our own minds and thoughts accuse us – and how we can stop the cycle! Join us!
We all do it – we listen to the lies and accusations that our mind throws before us. But we don’t have to live there. We don’t have to listen!
My daughters and I were sitting at the table this morning working through today’s lesson from the Bible study “Lies Younge Women Believe,” I thought about how this really correlates to homeschooling as well. How often do we as mamas listen to the lies about our ability to homeschool? How often do we let them break us? Wear us down?
As I was thinking about the lies or accusations that I’ve battled with over the years that I’ve homeschooled, I wondered if my close homeschool friends did too. I took a second and shot out a text to my “squad” (as my daughters would call it) and asked them!
Guess what? Everyone had a grocery list response for me of homeschool related lies that they’ve battled over the years.
Wonder which was the most common lie homeschool moms battle? Think about it see if you can guess – stay tuned to the end of the podcast and we’ll see if you guessed correctly!
There were many accusations that my homeschooling friends had in common – and sadly each one had many that they shared that they say they battle frequently.
Does this sound familiar? Maybe you’re struggling with one or two or many of these lies right now. It isn’t easy to discern the lies from what you think maybe the truth. But the bottom line, there is truth and it will set you free. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but so often we are our own worst enemy. We set ourselves up with unrealistic expectations and then believe the accusations as truth when we don’t feel that we’ve lived up to those crazy guidelines.
A lie can only trip us up if we believe it, right? And, only if we get our eyes off the truth. I like to think of this homeschool journey as just that, a walk of life in a special direction. But, when we walk or even run, we keep our eyes ahead. We keep our eyes on the goal, and if we look behind us or somewhere off, we trip up. Remember dear friend, just as a runner must focus his glance- keep your eyes on the truth and the lies won’t trip you up.
If you’re in this place, take a minute and read through some of the most common lies that we face as homeschool mamas.
The LIE
- I’m not __________ enough. Fill in the blank there. My friends and I struggled with everything from being smart, organized, to being educated enough.
The Truth
- Sometimes this lie stems from a deep-rooted emotional hurt Sometimes it’s something we’ve believed since childhood. Sometimes we have to go back to those hurts and see them for what they really were. Destroy the lie at the root – if you will. But take a long look at your life, haven’t you shown your smart enough? Haven’t you done amazing things? Even if it’s just being a good parent. You are enough. You are your child’s parent. You love that child more than anyone else on earth and as long as you are doing your best – you are enough. You don’t have to be THE smartest or the MOST educated as long as you find ways to help your child learn and achieve you are exactly what you need to be. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Exodus 3:11-12a But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you…”
The LIE
- Every other homeschool mom is doing better than I am and looking down on me.
The Truth
- As I realized when I asked my close homeschooling friends about their struggles today, most of them had some version of this lie on their list. We all battle the lie that others are so much better. Why do we worry about what others think? It’s a trap so many of us fall into. If we can embrace the truth – and let this lie go – trust me – it will be freeing. I struggle with this lie alot – after alot of soul searching and even a dear friend telling me I needed to stop worrying about what others thought – – I began to feel release and freedom.
- It’s such a trap to think others are looking down on you – When the truth is everyone is too busy worrying that they aren’t enough that they don’t have time to worry about what you are doing! And if they do have time to look down on you, then they aren’t doing everything they need to be doing in their own homeschool. The truth is that worrying about what others think will always bring us down. Proverbs 29:25 It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.
The LIE
- We don’t have much money to spend on homeschooling, I know our kids will miss out on something.
The Truth
- Homeschooling requires very little monetary investment to acquire an amazing education. Some of the most educated homeschoolers I’ve known spent little to nothing to homeschool their children. They used the library and other free opportunities to help them educate their children. Remember the truth that Joshua 1:9 shares, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The LIE
- I’m not preparing them well enough for adulthood.
The Truth
- No parent ever in the history of mankind has ever felt that they have fulled prepared their child for adulthood. No. ONE. So, dear friend, again you wake up each day and invest in those preciousgifts we’ve been given and each day you give them your best. And then, one day it’s time for them to leave. Yes, you’ll think you haven’t done enough and you need more time… but Wait. Watch. You’ll be amazed at the person they’ve become. And all of investments you’ve made over the years are evident. Rejoice in that… be thankful for them…Remember the truth that no matter how hard we try and think we need to “take care of things,” God has it under control. Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Luke 12:6,7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
The LIE
- I keep hearing that homeschoolers are weird and unsocialized, and I don’t want my kids to be weird.
The Truth
- I think the weird issue comes from isolated experience or someone’s opinion that others have just “picked up.” Often they think homeschoolers are weird because they are mature and well socialized. I know we can all stand and testify to the fact that socialization is a non-issue with homeschoolers. There is just so much scope for human interaction at so many diverse levels for the homeschool child. But at the end of the day, we can let this accusation come in the back door in other forms. We worry that they’ll function well in the future and not be too “abnormal” to get a job, meet a spouse, raise a family. But what is at the root of our worry? Matthew 6:33,34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
I remember a funny story, my brother in law once told me that he always thought homeschoolers ended up weird. Harsh. That is until he got to know our children. Then he said, “Wow, they’re pretty cool kids.” (Like he was so surprised!) For the first time, he began considering homeschooling as a viable means of educating. And, the rest of the story…Guess what? Yep – my brother in law and little sister are now homeschooling their four children!
Yes, there are people out there that are weird. There are homeschoolers that are weird and public schoolers that are weird. But, the bottom line is that you are raising these kids with your heart – your preferences – your convictions – and your guidelines and that is GOOD and RIGHT because God has given you those kids.
Our children are our mission – our clearly appointed task in this life. They need us to think healthy and right. So, our job is to focus on the truth and keep our eyes on it as we journey this walk of life! Dear friend, don’t let the accusations and lies distract you from the truth right before you!
About the Series
Where'd my instruction manual go??? I know we've all wondered that about parenting and homeschooling! Join us as we chat about the big stuff and everything in-between! Helping homeschoolers with practical teaching tips to find all they need to Homeschool and Love it!!
