One Mind to Another: Husbands

Posted by Karen | 0 comments

What role does your husband play in your family’s homeschool? How do you manage keeping your marriage a priority when you have so many responsibilities pulling you in so many directions?

As a homeschooling mommy, it is all too easy to take on all of the responsibility of the schooling by yourself. It is also all too easy to neglect our husband’s needs because we are already pouring so much energy into our children and in school.

Just recently my husband and I went on out to dinner ALONE for the first time in about 2 years. I had a baby 18 months ago, and leaving him with someone always seemed too hard…then we had made plans, but one of the kids got sick the day we were supposed to go out. When we finally went out, we realized how much we needed that time! It is so important not to forget that, buried under all the little ones running around, the schoolbooks, the messes, etc…there is a marriage there. And it was there first…long before the homeschooling.

Having your husband help out in homeschooling is not only great for the kids, it is great for you to not feel the sole responsibility. Fathers should be involved in training our kids spiritually, but also there are many areas they can teach as well. For instance, when my 7 year old was interested in computer art, my husband (a graphic designer) taught him some “lessons.” Fathers can use any area of specialty they have to teach. This not only helps the homeschool, it helps the family as a unit. Learning from each other and building relationships are key. And in the long run, a husband’s participation can ease the load off of mom, enabling her to meet her husband’s needs as well.

So how do you manage a marriage and a homeschool? Does your husband play a big role in your homeschool? Does he do any of the teaching? How do you manage your homeschool together? How do you keep your marriage a priority?

Karen is married to the love of her life, Steve, and a homeschooling mom of 4 children ages 9,7,5, and 1. She was called to homeschool when her oldest was kindergarten age after thinking, “I could never do THAT!” Now she is passionate about encouraging others on their homeschool journey, as well as learning all she can along the way. She sees her kids as her mission field and loves the verse in Romans 10:15 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the good news.” Follow her blog at Beautiful Feet Bring Good News.