June 18, 2025 – Honoring Homeschooling Fathers

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

Honor and a Batch of Cookies

It is such a joy to watch fathers interact with their children. Whether it is bug collecting, water balloon fights, working on errands, tickling babies’ tummies, or teaching math and science concepts—I love to watch it happen. Fathers have an influence with the kids that we moms don’t have.

Instead of wishing dads would be more active in homeschooling, consider that they provide the way to do so, and that is enough. Fathers have tasks of provision and protection. It’s a hard calling, and we need to remember to honor them, especially in front of the children. 

Fathers lead the way in discipline and character development. They have an objective view and have wisdom from God to rule their homes. They are stress relievers and providers of not only food on the table, but of transparent reality checks for moms who are overwhelmed. 

My children are watching a man who loves His God fervently. If they can take that with them, they have gained the world.

~Deborah

Here is a note from the man himself:

I wish there was a silver bullet for fathers to use that would encourage their wives, but there’s not. Nope, there’s not just one silver bullet, there are several.

Bullet one: If the father of the family is not supportive of homeschooling, how can a wife be encouraged? Support your wife. The decision to homeschool needs to be a joint one and God blesses doing what’s right!

Bullet two: Help your wife prioritize what she does. That means you need to communicate. Sometimes, doing things that are important take precedence over things that are good. Involving children in ministry one day may mean that it’s okay to skip math.  

Bullet three: Encourage your wife that this is a journey through the garden, not a trek up the corporate ladder. Enjoy homeschooling and the freedom as well as the challenges it brings. Time is hurrying by.

Make it your aim to please God and you will be shooting in the right direction every time.

~Richard

P.S. If your wife asks you to write something, do it. It will encourage her, and might even be worth a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. 

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Todd Wilson

The Best Father’s Day Ever

This is the topic I’ve been waiting for. In fact, I almost feel like Joseph—that God sent me here for such a time as this. It’s been my dream to make Father’s Day the second most celebrated holiday of the year. I envision the Father’s Day tree, fathering carols, and maybe even the twelve days of Father’s Day. That’s what I dream about happening. More likely, I’ll get a few cards that were handmade two minutes before they’re handed to me. And maybe we’ll go out to McDonald’s, and I’ll get a Big Mac.

But let me give you a heads up about the perfect Father’s Day gift for your husband. One that, if applied all year long, will make him a better father, husband, and spiritual leader . . . and it’s not a tie.

All you have to do is . . . hang on his arm and tell him his muscles are big. That’s it. I guarantee that it will pump him up and get you the man of your dreams.

Practically, it looks like this:

1) Husband helps get the kids dressed for church—you resist the urge to redress them and instead say, “Thanks for getting the kids ready. I sure do appreciate your help.”

2) During church, reach over and squeeze his arm and whisper, “You are so strong.”

3) After he’s had his undisturbed nap, sit on the edge of the couch and say, “Thanks for working so hard to take care of us.”

4) And of course, after the kids are in bed . . . show him how glad you are that he’s your man. 

Do that often, and not only will you give your husband the best Father’s Day of his life, but he will also become more involved in your life, family life, and homeschooling. Guaranteed.

Be real,

Todd

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About the author

Todd Wilson is a dad, granddad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country. As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, still homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated with four married) in northern Indiana. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Hal and Melanie Young

Honoring Homeschool Fathers

Homeschool dads may be doing all the homeschooling, may be encouraging and supporting homeschooling without doing any teaching, or anything in between! Whatever works for your family is the best, but being on the same page eases the burden for everyone!

Being a homeschool dad who teaches can be a bit lonely since most homeschool groups are primarily moms. In fact, some groups don’t even allow dads to stay! We’ve really got to stop that—there are many reasons why a dad needs to bring the kids (Hal often did when Melanie was struggling with chronic illness, one of our friends was a single dad who homeschooled his kids, etc.)—and we need to encourage and support that. Hats off to dads who are doing what is best for their kids and teaching them!

Sometimes moms and dads share the teaching. We’re seeing that more as remote work becomes more common. Work‑from‑home couples may divide up the homeschooling based on availability (maybe Mom has morning meetings, but Dad’s are in the afternoon) or based on interest (perhaps one is into STEM topics while another is into literature, for example). Hats off to dads who are doing what’s best for their kids and balancing work and schoolwork!

In other families, the father may not have the time or inclination to teach, but he wholeheartedly supports homeschooling and makes that clear to his wife, his kids, and the extended family. We’ve known a lot of dads like that in homeschool leadership. They’re supporting their family’s homeschool life in a different way. Hats off to dads who are doing what’s best for their kids by supporting homeschooling!

One of the huge benefits of homeschooling is that your school doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. You have the freedom to manage the education of your children however works for all of you—and you can change it up when you need to. 

Happy Father’s Day to homeschool dads everywhere!

Hal & Melanie

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About the author

Hal and Melanie Young have been homeschooling almost as long as they’ve been married, and they’re still happy with both decisions! They wrote My Beloved and My Friend: How to Be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses to encourage their young adults – find out more at raisingrealmen.com.

Brandi Wade

Dad, We Need You!

In society, there is a perceived model for the homeschool family. Mom is home with the kids and does the bulk of the teaching. Dad goes to work all day—and many are led to believe that Dad has no clue what the kids are learning, studying, or involved in throughout the day. In the homeschool circles I have been privileged to be a part of, this could not be further from reality. 

The role of the father in the home is one of leadership, guidance, provision, protection, and the primary shaper of values for the family. When a family decides to educate their children in the home, the role of the father is now amplified. God’s desired design for the family is on display. The Abundant Life website states, “A father’s role is to teach his family the truth and lead them in making decisions that honor God.” 

The role of fathers cannot be replaced. To make it a little more personal, let’s take a glimpse at the life of my family and the importance of my husband’s role. There are things that my husband has helped with that I just could not figure out. When we first started homeschooling, it was during a time when we were all—I mean everyone—at home. My husband got to be a great asset to our school. When I was teaching our preschooler to count, he would get mixed up once he started getting into the teen numbers. I felt like I had tried everything—counting with him, songs, flash cards. You name it, I tried it! My husband came in one day and just began to play with our son. During this time, the little one was into Hot Wheels and monster trucks. My husband, seemingly without much thought, lined up the cars for our son to count. He came up with this elaborate and exciting challenge for the monster truck to jump over the line of cars. “If the truck doesn’t jump over exactly twenty cars, he’s going to crash!” Knowing the fate of his favorite monster truck was in his hands was the motivation he needed to get his numbers in order. I was astonished! I believe dads think differently in some situations, and that thinking is extremely necessary. 

With that said, Dad, you have a place in the homeschool—and those shoes can’t be filled by anyone other than you! 

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About the author

A former public school teacher, Brandi has transitioned to freelance editing, writing, and graphic design work and is a content writer for Home Educators Association of Virginia. She is currently raising the next generation of Kingdom Warriors through homeschooling her three boys and serving alongside her husband, a pastor of families. Brandi loves to warm hearts through her devotionals, warm bellies through her cooking and baking, and warm bodies with her crochet and knit creations.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com knows that there are many homeschooling resources created for homeschooling moms, but moms aren’t the only ones in the trenches of homeschooling. Homeschool Dads: Leading the Charge includes encouraging articles for homeschool dads from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine to encourage dads on the homeschooling journey.

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