May 21, 2025 – Remembering Why on the Tough Days

Heather Vogler

Rekindling the Flame

Seven months to plan a wedding felt short—especially since a majority of it was via dial-up in third-world living conditions on the other side of the world. My soon—but not soon enough—husband-to-be was eagerly awaiting my return. When the plane finally landed, and he swept me off my feet, loose ends on the wedding plans were tied up, and the rest is history. 

We all remember the excitement, the butterflies, the dreams, the long conversations, and the hopes that precede our “I do’s,” but marriage is not based on emotions or feelings—neither is homeschooling. 

Premarital counseling prepares you for the bumps that will happen during those first few years of marriage, but many couples are convinced that it will not apply to them. I’ll admit I was in denial about my homeschooling, too. Homeschooling was my calling. My destiny. My purpose. Certainly it would be filled with laughter, joy, and deep, heartfelt conversations—every single day. I am not sure why I was convinced that even if challenges hit, I would be able to bounce back in half a minute, and everything could go back to normal. The kids and I would bounce back full of smiles. I must have ignored the mom who told me that days—or weeks—would come when it would be better for everyone to just skip the books. I probably judged her or thought she was not spiritual enough. 

Yet here we are. Well aware of the challenges and difficulties that can overwhelm us or cause us to want to consider other options. This is not the moment to give up! You were once excited about homeschooling. You were in the honeymoon stage, excited about what was ahead. Go back to that place! Remember why you started. Write it down. Talk about it with your spouse. Take an evening, a day, or a weekend to rehearse why you chose to homeschool and rekindle that flame!

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About the author

Heather Vogler, her husband, and five children call the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia home where they homeschool and homestead. Heather has homeschooled her children from the beginning and enjoys an eclectic style of teaching. As a freelance writer she has been published in Focus on the Family Magazine, War Cry Magazine, and Brio Magazine. Heather holds a BA in Christian Ministries and currently writes at ThriftSchooling.com.  

Your kids don’t have to hang on to every scary, anxious, or mean thought that enters their heads.
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Stephen LaSpina

Homeschool Parents: You Are Engaged in Important, Eternal Work

Life is full of discouragements and disappointments. We often feel keenly how far we fall short in our own best efforts, right inside our very own homes. In these moments, we must remember the big picture.

As Christians, we are involved in spiritual warfare. One of our prime objectives in that warfare is raising godly children. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

But we must remember that those same children are also one of the Enemy’s prime objectives. His evil work will be far easier if he captures hearts and minds in the rising generations (hence his focus on destroying the Biblical family unit and infiltrating education systems).

It is easy to forget this backdrop of spiritual warfare in the throes of everyday life. You know the times: when the dishes are piled high, toys are strewn across the floor, and exhaustion creeps in as the sun is setting.

In these moments, we must remind ourselves what is truly important. The eternal souls of our children are in our charge. We won’t be judged on the cleanliness of the living room floor or a having a spotless kitchen each evening. While not bad goals to have, these are not first things. First things have eternal significance.

Christians who homeschool have embarked on a great mission. We are not merely feeding our children facts to remember for a test. We are molding and training their hearts and minds to embrace and believe a Biblical worldview. In Deuteronomy 6, we are charged to teach the Word of God in this way: “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” In all of life, at all times and in all places, we strive to teach godly precepts to our offspring, whether by example or tutelage.

Parents, be encouraged. Each day with your children matters. They are listening to you, watching you, and learning from you as you walk with God, even in the messy moments of life. Your actions and words have eternal significance, and you have a tremendous opportunity to influence your children for Christ. May you truly know and experience the words of Psalm 127:3-5: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”

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About the author

Stephen LaSpina is the Communications Director for CHAP (Christian Homeschooling Association of Pennsylvania). He resides with his family in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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Christine Hage

Expand Your Focus

The sink is full of dishes, the laundry piled to the ceiling, the baby is cranky, and my fifth grader is learning fractions today. How in the world did I imagine I could handle housekeeping, babysitting, and homeschooling at the same time? I must have been crazy! While it is true homeschool moms wear numerous hats and face enormous hurdles every day, it’s also true that we have amazing determination—determination that no matter what the sacrifice, no matter what the challenge, we will give our children a quality, Christ-centered education in a safe, loving environment. 

When the day seems to be going nowhere and is full of chaos, don’t let it stop you. Maybe it’s a good day to let the students focus on studies they can complete independently while you get a breather and regroup, or better yet, have a house cleaning party while listening to a historical audio book. The beauty of homeschooling is that you, mom, have the ability to pivot and adjust as needed. The small picture is that we need to teach fractions today, the broader picture is that we need to teach our children how to handle stressful days and be an example of someone who is casting her cares on the Lord. 

Obviously, as home educators we need to make sure our students master their fractions and every other skill they need before graduation, but we also need to make sure they are competent in their daily life skills, especially how to handle life when it doesn’t go like we want it to. The life lessons learned on those tough days are often never forgotten because it’s usually those tough days that help us focus on the broader picture of why we are doing what we do. 

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About the author

Christine Hage has been homeschooling in West Virginia for over a decade. She strives to live a simple, eternity-minded life as she raises her family and serves in the ministry with her husband. She and her husband lead a local homeschool support group offering encouragement and fellowship to other families. They also offer homeschool support and a free Homeschool Resource Guide at www.teachingnaturally.net

Stacy Farrell

HomeschoolAdventure.com

There Will Be Hard Days . . .

On those days when it’s hard to get out of bed and you find yourself wondering—“Can I really do this?”—please know that you are not the first successful homeschooler to ask that question.

Bumps Along the Road

Every homeschooling journey has its share of challenges—twists and turns and bumps along the way. 

Some days can feel overwhelming. 

You may be burdened by:

• a reluctant learner
• a packed schedule
• or simply the weight of self-doubt.

At such times, it’s easy to question your commitment. But the destination you are traveling toward is well worth your effort.

Celebrate Successes

Embrace these moments, knowing they’re an opportunity for growth—for your children and you. 

Model resilience and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. Each obstacle can be a lesson in problem solving that will prepare your children to face future challenges with confidence. 

Celebrate the victories along the way—whether it’s a breakthrough in understanding or a major achievement that reflects hard work and dedication. Celebrating together creates memories that strengthen relationships and instills a shared sense of accomplishment, making the homeschooling journey more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Blink, and You’re There!

As distant as it may seem, your homeschool students will soon embark on their own solo journey. Time will fly by, and graduation day will fast approach.

As you guide your children through this journey, you are equipping them to navigate life with wisdom, faith, and discernment. Ultimately, the satisfaction you’ll feel as a homeschool parent comes from knowing you fulfilled your responsibility to “raise up a child in the way he should go.” 

So, embrace the twists and turns of your homeschooling adventure. The destination—a confident, critical thinker with a heart aligned to Biblical values—is worth every step of the way.

His love,

Stacy 

Feeling overwhelmed with “to do’s”? Don’t Eat That Frog—A Liberating Look at Time Management Strategies gives you a plan to win the battle.

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About the author

Surprised by Jesus, Stacy went from an unmarried, childless, thirty-something career woman to a Christ-following wife of more than thirty years with two sons she homeschooled K-12.

Author of more than twenty books—including the award-winning Philosophy Adventure and Food Prep Guide: A Plan for Money-Saving, Self-Sustaining Abundance in Hard Times—she loves to equip and encourage homeschool families. Visit her at HomeschoolAdventure.com and at FoodPrepGuide.com.

On those tough days, take a break from the routine of those core subjects and try your hand at art. With Elementary Art on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, students can explore twelve engaging art projects that will teach them about some of history’s greatest artists along the way! Fun and education—a win-win situation!