Friday, April 9, 2010

Help for Homeschooling High Schoolers!



In a few short months I will be the proud mother of a high school student! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? Have we really been homeschooling for over 8 years now?! Before I know it my babies will be gone.

I've never been the mother of a high schooler before, let alone be the primary educator of one and I have to be honest. The thought of only having four more years to prepare my daughter for what lies beyond her high school years is a bit daunting. I have so many questions, yet no one I know personally that I can turn to! Most of the homeschool families I know have enrolled their students into public school when they reach high school age, so where do I turn?

The timing couldn't have been more perfect when I was asked to review The Old Schoolhouse's ebook, Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!

The very first thing that affirmed to me that this was a quality writing was that the forward was written by Amanda Bennett. I have used several of Mrs. Bennett's products over the years and I highly respect anything she has to say.

As I began reading the stories of family after family who have successfully homeschooled their children through their high school years I realized that everything I have ever thought, feared, questioned, and believed about educating my children through their teen years has all been very normal and that I'm most definitely not alone as I begin this new journey of our lives. There are many families out there who had the same questions, the same fears, the same self-doubts as I now face. But also, on the flip side of that, I discovered that the same excitements and opportunities I believe are waiting for our children as they continue their education at home as they become high-schoolers have been realized by many of the families who have shared their stories in this e-book by The Old Schoolhouse!

What a joy and a relief it was for me to read that these families faced hard times as well as joys with their high schoolers but in the end the Lord always made a way to fulfill His plans for each of their children. Reading these stories has given me the confidence to move forward and know that, if I'll continue to put my trust in Him, that He will continue to lead and guide us in the direction He wants each of our children to go.

Worried about what they *don't* know? It's in there.

Worried about if you can really prepare them for college? It's in there.

Worried you won't be able to teach them chemistry and calculus? It's in there.

Worried about if you're going to scar them for the rest of their lives by keeping them home for high school? It's in there.

Worried whether they'll get into college or be able to get a good job? It's in there.

One child, many children, children with learning struggles, family members with health issues, financial strains, house fire, other major life hurdles, socialization concerns, curriculum... it's ALL in there!

No matter what fears or concerns you may have about keeping your children home throughout their high school years you will find a story that addresses each of those fears and reassures you that it really will be ok! But along with that you will also find stories that confirm to you that all those reasons you want to homeschool your high schooler really are great reasons to keep them home! Strong family relationships, opportunity to study those areas most interesting to them, having the time to pursue their passions, training their hearts towards the things of the Lord, apprentice and entreprenuer opportunities... you'll find examples of all of these in Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler! There's even 5 pages of helpful resources (books, curriculum, websites, and more) to help you even more!

For a mere $12.45 you get the opportunity to sit down with over a dozen homeschool families and hear their stories and be encouraged that you really CAN homeschool your high schooler! What an invaluable investment!