As soon as a married couple blessed with a child, it is
natural that they started making plans. When the child is about to start
education it is obvious that we select the best Catholic school and make other
arrangements in education so that he/she could face the changing demands of the
future world. We were also the same. As a couple who received Christ’s love
through youth formation and being parts of the pre-teens ministry; God allowed
us to hear the unseen cry of the children. So when our kids started school, God
allowed us to see the peer pressures they undergo even at the age of 4 and the
various influences they were having from the school environment made us to
listen to what God want us to do. Like all who walk in the light of God hear
the voice ‘This is the way, keep to it’ whether you turn right or left (Isaiah
30/21), we reached a stage in relation to the education of our God given kids. Our
journey of home education commenced after a long time of discernment and
trusting in God. This journey was very similar to an ‘Exodus’.
The first point we discern was the definition of education.
The primary meaning of education as per dictionary is the act or process of
imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning
and judgment and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for
mature life. The secondary and tertiary meaning of education is connected with
schooling. When we look through the
Bible we could see Jesus, a 12 year old who was able to debate with scribes.
Also in Daniel 13,the young Daniel able to help Susanna out of wisdom
.Catechism of Catholic Church teaches in
2221 ‘the role of parents in education is of such importance that it is
impossible to provide an adequate substitute. The right and the duty of parents
to educate their children are primordial and inalienable. In article 2223 she
teaches as ‘Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their
children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home
where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity and disinterested service are
the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues, the home is the
natural environment for initiating a human being into solidarity and command
responsibilities (2224). While reflecting
these thoughts we could easily say that only through home education the above
virtues and formation of a child is possible.
The definition of education clearly shows academic learning
or schooling is only a small part of education. The family is the heart of
society. Majority of learning happens through various experiences one
undergoes. Through home education children is able to spend most of their time
with family and thus able to see the beauty of the family life. They are able
to witness how parents resolve conflicts and continue the beauty of the
marriage with Thy help. They also learn the trust in God’s providence as in
home educating families need to depend on single working parent where most
family survive with dual income. These learnings help them to face any adverse
difficulties in that life with trust in God. Children see new babies coming
into families and its joy and struggle, they see how sickness and financial
struggles been addressed with faith in God. All these learnings are beyond the
walls of a classroom. Love begins at home. In fact home schooling is the
continuous act of giving and sacrificing for the best people in the world – your
own children in reflecting the life of Christ.
There are many days when the day begin with the toddler
wants to fed her selves, pouring cereals and milk on flour, baby is crying ,
middle schooler who is not able to dress properly and clock ticking to start
the school. There my husband pop in on the way to do something realises my
struggle and step in calming the baby and feeding the child, making a cup of
tea for me and reassure things and to get on with the rhythm of the day. It is
important to be connected and united with the spouse to continue the roles of
God given responsibility as a home schooling parent. Every year we come back
and look at his insights, activities and work together as a family.
The key advantage in home education is on passing on the
faith. One of the great blessing in home schooling is living the sacramental
life in the family. As a family we have been able to attend daily H. Mass. One
of the main thing our family enjoyed being together is celebrating the annual
feasts and seasons of liturgical year at home which is the domestic church; it
brings a lot of happiness, life, joy and creativity to little children to
adults. It could be an art project, doing a craft, reading and following the
traditions, making a cuisine with children. Stories of the many saints are
incorporated into our daily routine and many insights drawn from their lives
has become a great source of encouragement in many of our struggles in the
daily lives. The best thing we found through home education is meeting up a
number of extra ordinary people. Prolife families both Christian and non
Christian who are very concerned about the society. All families are very
welcoming and share most of their resources with one another. One day we have
been talking to a Catholic family with 7 children and the mother was saying we
are in the process of making saints not scholars, so there is not much pressure
about the competitive world.
We consider this as our primary vocation. Our family gained
many blessings through home schooling, it has broadened my perspective about
education, my vocation as a mother, inspired me a lot and empowered me.
Moreover this has helped me to grow in faith and developed a deeper love
towards the Mother Church and a love towards my fellow beings around through my
thoughtfulness, time and understanding. Many times in doubts and in difficulties,
I look up to Mary our mother who experienced the highest peaks and lowest
depths of motherhood.' Let her name depart from your lips; never allow it to
leave your heart'.
I am reminded of these words of Theresa of Avila that He
leads me always:
Let
nothing disturb you. Let nothing
frighten you.
For all things pass save God, Who does not
change
Be patient and at the last, You
will find all fulfilment
Hold God and
nothing will fail you
For he
alone is all.
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