You are here: Home / family / Back to School

Back to School

August 18, 2011 By 8 Comments

I realize that I am probably going to seem like I am contradicting myself due to the fact that on Tuesday I posted about attachment parenting and today I am writing about the first day of school.

However, my oldest three children began another year of public school on Monday.

Due to the fact that many of the blogs I read are written by homechooling mamas, I feel like I am in the minority as a mom blogger because I don’t homeschool. Therefore, I don’t usually write about school related topics.

Last year I wrote a post about sending my children to school that still holds true today.

It can be hard to be a Christian parent trying to teach Christian values to my children while they are gone from me at school. However, I am here to say that they are learning so much about how to put what we have taught them into practice…

These four lives that God has entrusted my husband and I with are an awesome responsibility that we don’t take lightly. Just because they go to public school doesn’t mean that our job is over. In fact, our job is even harder because we aren’t in control of every aspect of their daily lives.

We have to rely on God to not only protect our children while they are at school, but to give us the wisdom to help them know God and follow His path for them every day.

This year I am still relying on God to protect my children while they are at school. Due to the fact that Julia is now in jr. high, I am praying even harder.

These three children are daily being given opportunities to put into practice all that we have been teaching them throughout their lives.

Just because they go to public school doesn’t mean that they are allowed to act just like “everyone else”. I imagine I am probably more protective of my children than other public school parents, but that is alright. Guiding and protecting them is my job.

While these two are still attending “Mommy school”, I am praying for them daily and know that the time I have with them now is so important.

Are you a Christian parent whose children attend public school? I would love to hear from you. Those of you who are homeschooling parents are welcome to chime in as well.

Filed Under: family
  • Sheila

    My kids are in public school now. For the last four years they were in a private Christian school, but we moved to a new town and there isn’t a private option here. My husband is not at all on board with the idea of homeschooling. I’m having a lot of angst over it, to say the least. I think partly we haven’t lived here long enough to know if what I can expect out of the public school in terms of what things will be taught that we aren’t in agreement with. My kids are 14 and 11, and I do feel that they have a good foundation, but I hate the feeling of knowing so little about what they are being exposed to.

    • http://blessingsoverflowing.blogspot.com/ Jackie

      Sheila, thank you so much for sharing. I understand about husbands not being on board with homeschooling. Mine is a public school teacher (and so was I). I think that the best thing you can do to make your self feel more knowledgeable about what is going on at school is to actually get nosey and find out. Not only do my children share about their day with me, but I will periodically talk to the teachers in person and/or through email to know more about what is going on. You can always volunteer at the school. It also helps to get to know the main office staff. I have the advantage that ours is a small school system. Plus, my mom was the school nurse at each of the schools (she just retired) and my brother teaches at the jr. high/high school. I guess what I am saying is to just be informed as much as you can. I hope that helps.

      • Sheila

        I actually came back to comment because I regretted being so negative. I’m struggling to have a decent attitude about our new location, not just the school piece. Private Christian school was far from perfect, and homeschooling would not be perfect either. I just hate not having choices. Volunteering is difficult, as I work. I telecommute part-time, and try to get all my work hours in while the kids are at school, so I can be with them when they are home. I do have Friday’s off, so I’ll probably try to do something on Friday’s sometimes. I’m struggling mostly with the middle school, as the teachers and staff there are very ‘professional’, but not personal at all. The high school is a charter expeditionary school, and she’s only been there a week so far, but I am liking it quite a bit.

        On a lighter note, I love the lunch box you made today and just printed the tutorial off. I have some fabric pieces from making the girls sleep shorts that happened to be coordinated (funny, because they chose the fabrics indivudually and they are quite colorful) and I hopefully have enough to make one. I don’t know what bamboo batting is, but I have some insulbrite. I love having a weekend sewing project! If you ever need strap material, I have found that I can sometimes buy belts at Dollar Tree and use them for strap material. It’s much less expensive than buying the webbing at the fabric store.

        • http://blessingsoverflowing.blogspot.com/ Jackie

          I didn’t take what you were saying as negative. You just seemed like a concerned mom who wants what is best for her children. I will pray that you will be able to work things out so that you are more comfortable with the schooling situation and with your new location in general.

          With regards to the tutorial, I guess I should have stated that I just used regular batting. Insulbrite would be perfect. Thanks for the idea about using cheap belts for straps. Great idea! Take care.

  • Rachel Espino

    I homeschool and my oldest is in public school. We do the best we can with the permission of our Heavenly Father. All this time I thought you were a homeschool mom. Shows what I know. I like your blog because you are doing your best to raise your little ones in the Word.

    • http://blessingsoverflowing.blogspot.com/ Jackie

      Rachel, I think you are so right about doing the best we can with God’s help. What age level did you send your oldest to public school? I usually don’t talk about school because I do sometimes feel guilty. However, my kids do enjoy school. James was excited about his cowboy day today. I took him into school and got to see the kids in their cowboy hats and other gear. Cute!

  • Bonnie Singleton

    You have a beautiful family…such a grand blessing:)

    • http://blessingsoverflowing.blogspot.com/ Jackie

      Thank you so much, Bonnie! I think they are a blessing. Take care.