Hmm, Children are Thriving Being Home With Their Mothers
The government has mandated God’s will for women and children. Mothers are home full time with their children and many mothers are now homeschooling their children. No one could have predicted something like this happening. All I know is that God’s ways are best. It’s best for mothers and children to be home with each other. God has ordained mothers to raise their own children.
There’s an article in the New York Post called “Coronavirus is providing the course correction kids desperately need.” Here are a few excerpts from this article.
“Before the virus changed everything, childhood anxiety was one of the worst things facing today’s kids. Over the past several decades, the rates were spiking to the point where today, according to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one in three adolescents has an anxiety disorder. Thrown from the soccer-Kumon continuum, kids are starting to do all the things they didn’t have time to do or weren’t trusted to do before. We’re already hearing about marathon Lego sessions, cookie baking, sibling-sitting and the videos kids are making in their unleashed time.
“We’ve watched kids blossom like crazy once they were nudged into simply making pancakes, or riding their bikes. One middle-schooler told his teacher that thanks to doing a bunch of new things on his own, he was no longer taking his anxiety meds. Amazing. Now, with a whole country’s worth of kids at home and school only taking up a fraction of the long, long day, it’s a whole new (indoor, trophy-free, child-organized) ballgame.
“As for parents worried that all this non-academic time is dooming their kids’ futures, research at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that the kids who have more free time to create and structure their own activities develop stronger executive functioning skills — that is, better planning, problem-solving and follow-through — than kids whose lives are more continuously structured by adults.
“Executive functioning skills are exactly what kids need to succeed at school and in real life (that thing we used to partake in, before Zoom). When disruption occurs, learning is inevitable.”
Before this quarantine, most children around this nation were away from home the majority of their childhood. They are in school for eight hours a day or more. Then they have after school activities, dinner, and homework. They have little interaction with their own parents. Now, life is completely different for them. They have time to be creative, to play outside, to ride bikes, to splash in the puddles, take walks with their parents, learn to cook something new, work in the yard, plant a garden, and on and on the list goes. Their lives are completely different and they are better because God’s ways are always perfect. I believe many children who are in healthy homes will look back at this time at home with their mothers, and many with their fathers, with fondness.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
30 thoughts on “Hmm, Children are Thriving Being Home With Their Mothers”
Fantastic!!!
I am surprised there are so many people homeschooling. I am a teacher and we planned an entire curriculum for the students to use at home. I am actually working more hours than a regular school day to meet and teach remotely. My younger siblings also are still being taught by their teachers, just remotely.
Most of my social circle as well as myself do live and teach in very “good” school districts, so maybe that is why I haven’t heard about this.
In other areas of the country perhaps the schools just closed down or they do not have the technology to do remote learning, and that is why parents are homeschooling.
I do agree even those doing online learning with their regular teachers are spending more time with family. Even though I support sending your children to schools, I always felt parents should be more involved in helping their child with homework, contacting the teacher, doing family activities together instead of daycare after school, etc.
I am so excited for the parents and children. So often I’ve heard, “I don’t know how you can homeschool” or “I could never homeschool”. I tell everyone it is a lot easier than it appears. If the schools would just finally get out of the way everyone can experience it. It is so much better now but the schools aren’t giving up their grip easily. So many are still requiring work be done for them or Zoom meetings. Some teachers are apparently calling the kids homes or driving by the kids houses and honking and waving as if the kids can’t live without them. (Parents would be escorted away if they tried those tactics when their kids went to school).
Nevertheless, it is SO much better and I’m so pleased!
On a final note, kids thrive being homeschooled, but so do parents. I know it is popular for some to complain or feel like they want to pull their hair out but
God blessed us parents too through this process. We gain patience. We gain knowledge. We gain new skills. And we gain wisdom. The blessing is for everyone.
Yep. Homeschooling’s the natural order. Really its training your kids on their real IQ level instead of their dumbed down state from being in school
“Very ‘good’ school districts” will never take the place of mothers raising their own children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord, especially being sent to government run schools where the Lord and His ways are forbidden from being taught but teaching them that boys can be girls is okay. This is not okay.
I have a fifteen year old and a ten year old and I have homeschooled them from the beginning. They have never even been inside a public school. I am so grateful for the freedom to homeschool. This pandemic has not impacted our schooling in the least.
I know both public and private schools in my county are doing online instruction for those that have online access. Those who do not have internet access are receiving at home instruction through packets that parents pick up at local school. These students are just doing at home instruction which is not the same thing as homeschool. Homeschool is where parent is totally in charge of choosing curriculum. Home instruction is where public and private school teachers are in control and parent just teaches what the teacher tells them to. I guess home instruction is better than being away from mom all day though.
I went to a private Christian school, so homosexuality, premarital sex, abortion, and transgenderism were taught as mortal sin. They still are, according to my cousins who attend the same school and are in middle school. Teaching of the Church have not changed despite the worldly culture.
I had excellent teachers during the day and actually enjoyed school. Most were male or single, unmarried women. I was then was picked up by my mom (never rode a school bus!) who always had a healthy snack ready and who took the time to pray and ask about my day prior to starting my homework. Dinner was homemade, hot, and ready on the table when my dad came home from work. We all ate together at the table as a family every night.
My brother was incredibly intelligent and in high school took advanced physics and calculus classes. My mother helped him the best she could, but wasn’t prepared to assist him with homework in these subjects. Have you or any other readers navigated this with older children or high schoolers? I’m thinking of my future as a homeschooling mother, and feel so unprepared especially if we have a son whose interests include advanced science and math classes. Is Christian tutoring an option?
I love this post. I’ve been homeschooling now for 4 years and absolutely love it. Love this time with my children, love the peacefulness and meaningfulness of being home teaching and caring for my children and teaching them the ways of the Lord. I once thought I gave up my life but I quickly realized in “giving up my life” I found it! Unfortunately, I’ve been feeling like this quarantine schooling is giving homeschooling a bad rep since most people’s biggest objection to homeschooling is socialization. Their kids are not able to visit friends/family (over here in Michigan), go to church or youth groups, go to zoos, museums, or aquariums etc, participate in any lessons or extra curricular activities, go grocery shopping with Mama or play at the park… and they’re equating this “quarantine” schooling to homeschooling. It’s definitely different. This isn’t normal homeschooling for us. And while I enjoy all of the downtime for sure, I’m using to being home a lot with my children… lots of families are not used to the isolation and are thinking this is what it’s like to “homeschool”. They’re also being forced to use public school curriculum which I would think would be difficult. I love being able to pick out my own curriculum with what works for my child and my family… take it slow in areas they need more time in, challenge them in areas of giftedness, explore their interests and encourage their passions, we love books and sought a literature rich living books curriculum which also encourages a lot of outdoor time, nature activities, and family baking. On top of that when you are using a Christian curriculum it’s going to be filled with so much more light than a secular public school curriculum. Public school Mamas now finding themselves quarantine schooling are not being given these options. I wish there was a way to convince some of these families now nay-saying homeschool that this isn’t the whole picture of what homeschooling is! They’re missing out on the fullness, and richness of it due to this quarantine situation. So thankful that Lori posted this article! Wonderful to hear all the families who are appreciating this time with their families! It’s a breath of fresh air!
The children are still at home with their mothers all day long which is wonderful!
There is almost everything you need online. All of the high schools and universities in this country are doing it all online! Hopefully, many will stop going to the universities and take their classes online instead. They would save a ton of money.
There are so many options today to learn advanced subjects from home. There are online programs, there are tutoring options, there are free options like Kahn academy, there are live online classes. Also, don’t underestimate good old fashioned textbooks. A library would even have a collection of math or science books and your child could use those to research any questions they were unsure of. In fact a highly successful education philosophy has a child learning all their math on their own using Saxon textbooks.
There are also places like https://getunbound.com/ where you can accumulate college credit in high school (or even before if given special permission). Many students graduate college at the same time they graduate homeschool “high school” and go onto grad school at 18 instead of undergrad. The sky is really the limit.
I didn’t realize going to university is cheaper online, I assumed tuition cost was the same (not including room and board, meal plans, etc). We also have a wonderful community college that is less than $5,000 total tuition for many 2 year degrees.
I’m loving it! And the kids are doing well too 🙂
Here in New Zealand we have just started lessons on TV and all the schools are also doing online learning. So it’s not homeschooling as such, it’s still public school, but we parents have to be engaged in the learning, much more so than when the children are learning at school.
At this stage, some schools will be starting again at the end of the month but I’m secretly hoping they will be closed for a bit longer because this is very good for our family (broken finances aside).
There’s so much time to get my girls involved in baking and gardening and we even fold the laundry together. If we had an income, I could live like this forever.
Unfortunately, the whole “good schools” statement doesn’t mean anything to lots of parents these days. I was caught up in that belief once upon a time. The increasing concerns that Lori has often pointed out time and time again will hopefully cause even more parents to wake up. “Good schools” don’t turn away from God and His ways. These schools are only “good” from a worldly perspective. I’m just thankful I woke up before it was too late and brought our son home to teach all the way through his high school graduation.
My four children are now home with me, and are completing online instruction lessons daily. They participate in zoom lessons in addition to assigned work independently. I wouldn’t call myself a homeschooling mom for the very reason you mentioned. I’m overseeing online lessons, but I didn’t put the time into defining the curriculum objectives and preparing the activities, I’m only helping to facilitate the learning. I want to give credit to my children’s teachers for their efforts.
I am enjoying this time with them at home, but I’m concerned about the long-term economic effects of the economic shutdown. I agree with Lori regarding the benefits of home instruction, and many will have decisions to make next fall.
Heather, you said exactly what I was thinking. I couldn’t have said it better!
Casey, remember that as you homeschool from the beginning, you learn with your child. If you’ve forgotten geometry, or didn’t do well in some subject growing up, don’t worry…if you are expecting your child to learn it, you can learn it at the same time. There is so much incredible curriculum out there.
Our son, 14, long ago learned everything my husband could teach him about computers, and now my husband asks his advice before he buys anything because he knows our son has already done the research. They go to microcenter together just for fun and to see what’s new.
As our son met kids online playing games, several friendships have stuck for years now, across the US and in Europe. When they would know something about coding, etc, he didn’t know, he’d ask how he could learn, too. Then he’d do it on his own because he wanted to learn and homeschooling gave him the TIME to learn! Don’t worry about not knowing enough…the answers will easily be found when you need them. Just pray for guidance!
To Casey
I am homeschooling a high school student. It is possible and actually quite easy to teach them even the advanced subjests. Don’t underestimate yourself as a mom teaching her child. No one is more qualified and able to teach he or she than you. Homeschool curriculum, even the advanced subjects curriculum is easy to follow and breaks things down very well in the teacher edition books. Also if you use an umbrella school they can tell you where to get tutoring if need be.You are more prepared than you think. Don’t sweat it.
When a few of my children attended the local community college for a few years, it was only $400 per semester!
Tamara,
Thank you for the information and support! I feel because I personally didn’t take advanced calculus and physics in school that I wouldn’t possibly understand and thus be in no position to teach it.
I have no doubt that mothers staying at home with the children is better for the children. However I am wary of this Coronavirus is the will of God thing that is going around. If it is God’s will than why are men more affected by the virus than women?. If men are getting sick or dying at greater rates than women than who is going to look after the stay at home wives and mothers married to them?. Wouldn’t that just push them back out to work?.
We don’t know if this virus is the will of God but we do know that He is allowing it as He allows the free will of men and many men do many evil things that cause much harm to many. We do know, however, that ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His promises. God is good and His plan for those who believe is good.
To high school students/their parents who want to take advanced science or math courses while being homeschooled:
Check out the courses that your local public school district offers online. Most districts have the same classes taught in a physical classroom all online, including advanced advanced STEM, for free.
While the humanities classes are polluted with leftist ideology in this case, the math and physical sciences are fine. All that they involve is numbers, formulas, and scientific or mathematical concepts. Biology can also be fine, but watch out for certain topics for obvious reasons. All of these classes have notes that I have to take, and a project and test for each unit.
I personally am in grade 12 right now and I am in public school as my father is widowed. However, I take a reduced course load in the physical classroom while taking more classes online. I have finished chemistry, physics, and calculus already, each within two to three months this school year at the grade 12 level. I am currently taking biology online (before anyone gives me any flack, this is a physiology and anatomy class. Not a class on evolution or similar, thankfully). These online classes have prepared me well. At the high school closest to where I live, I took the same teacher supervised exam students in normal school take for all of these classes except for biology so far, and I got 90%+in all of the classes as my final grade. In fact, I scored the highest final grade in both my chemistry and calculus courses, and one of the top in physics. Only my online teacher occasionally emailed me, usually to clarify about a project. So homeschooling /online school works, even for advanced classes!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-boys-better-than-girls-at-math/&ved=2ahUKEwjY-oOehuvoAhVfFjQIHcUuApUQFjACegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3ALbnJ3FmYm4U6jmluHzRH
By the way, here’s proof that males are better at math and science. Parents and male students: if your son/you takes an interest in advanced STEM, he/you will definitely succeed in that area. I won’t go into detail, but it is literally scientifically proven that males are naturally smarter naturally than females, especially in advanced STEM. So this is related to my earlier comment on this article about homeschooling / online schooling advanced math and science: I took such courses online, and I did alright. I have no doubt that any male will do better!
By the way, mothers who homeschool: if your son takes an interest in advanced STEM, you do not have to be involved at all in the online classes I mentioned. All of the videos and text needed to supplement the lesson are there. There is no need for you to struggle through the STEM courses.
Not surprising at all. God’s ways are always best and He is once again turning something difficult into a blessing.
Am I the only one who missed the spectacularly hilarious typo in the title graphic?
I guess so since you’re the first one who mentioned it. I fixed it. Thank you!
I think its wonderful in a way. My children are always home because we homeschool, but even they had many activities that are canceled, and now we are home all the time. Even my husband is home, which has been lovely because he is getting much done around the house, and we have been eating almost all meals together. but he is unable to work due to our state’s shutdown, as his business is “non essential” . I am hoping and praying that our state allows him to go back soon.
Thank you!
I don’t usually correct grammar. But you have to admit, that one was “hella funny”
Keep doing what you are doing. It is literally “God’s Work”
Hypatia–Of course mothers would want to be involved! That’s why they are homeschooling–so they can be involved with their child’s education.
Patsy,
Sorry, I realize that my comment is quite unclear l. I meant mothers don’t have to necessarily directly to teach their children with online classes, especially if they are older teenagers and taking advanced STEM classes. However, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be involved – of course they can review the material their children are learning and ask them about it, even if the children are older!
For example, I teach myself most of the concepts from text and videos in online classes. I occasionally email my online teacher for clarification, and I always show my father what I am learning! He sometimes helps me with math, but some of it is beyond him as he obviously doesn’t use it on a regular basis. My father often looks over what I’m doing in online classes just to ensure that the material is wholesome.
Technically, my family situation is complicated right now. My father was widowed, then remarried. My step mother is a great person and mother, but she only lives with the rest of my family 3 days a week, though we want her to move in full time, obviously.
Thus, my dad can’t homeschool my younger sister and I full time. We have to learn independently. Before the pandemic, we both went to a public school part time and did online classes part time. Now, all of our classes are online, like those of many other students.
However, my point is that not all families are able to homeschool due to a living situation outside of their control, or a lack of knowledge. My father is an essential worker and a man, so of course he still has to provide for the family. And my step mother is living with us during the school week, when we have classes. I also doubt that the average homemaker is up to teaching differential equations or Le Chatlier’s principle. Currently, I’m taking calculus and I’ve forgotten some of the concepts taught at the start of my course! And I’ve recently helped my tenth grade sister with trigonometry, but I had to review the concept beforehand. It’s been two years or so since I’ve done trigonometry. My point is, a homemaker, or even working father, that has been out of school for years probably remembers even less than I do (I’m a twelfth grader currently).
Now, are there exceptions? Sure. Of course some fathers are engineers, and there may be the odd homemaker that is an expert at advanced math. This is generally not the case, however.
Of course mothers are capable of homeschooling at a basic level. Plenty of homemakers are quite intelligent. Definitely elementary school and middle school students. Even early high school. But the vast majority would not be able to teach calculus, chemistry, physics, etc at a high level. These are sometimes even taken (at the same level I’m doing now) as first or second year university classes!
I’m a bit of an exception as I have autism, which makes me better at advanced math and physical sciences. Despite the fact that feminists love to deny it, the average female is worse at math than the average male. Certain factors like an inherited high IQ or a certain disorder can make a female better at math than the average male, but this is not true for many. Even a male that isn’t an engineer or a math related profession would struggle to teach math at the late high school /early university level!
While this is not so important for daughterd, sons who want to pursue careers like engineering or medicine need to have a strong education, especially in advanced subjects. They need someone with a strong STEM background to teach them, not the average father, let alone a homemaker! If sons want to dedicate their lives to serving God and providing for their families in a highly academic career, they deserve to be prepared sufficiently to do so.