by Rebecca Kocsis

How well I remember those days of caring for small children and homeschooling, too. I remember collapsing on the sofa after we put the kids to bed and not being able to move. I didn’t even want to walk to my own bed. I remember being so mentally exhausted that it hurt to look at the TV, let alone trying to read a book or tackle a project. I remember having to teach my children to share, but secretly wishing I didn’t have to. Who wants to share a drink with a sticky toddler? For one day, couldn’t I have my own drink—one without suspicious looking particles floating around in it.

Time Alone in Bathroom?
I remember needing a little time to myself to refocus my mind on the Lord and to pray for more patience. Silly me, thinking maybe I could have that in
the bathroom. But at my house it was not uncommon for someone to slip a note under the bathroom door that read something like, “Mommy, I need help with science, and I can’t find my spelling book, so can I go outside and play?” Or, “Do I have to do math today? Yes? Or no? Circle one and put it back under the door.” Of course, the misspelled words would be embellished with hearts and flowers, and signed with X’s and O’s.  As I look back, oh, how I wish I had saved every one of those notes.

Some days I felt like a slave, and I had nothing of my own. As a homeschool mama, one’s life is definitely not one’s own. If you are pregnant or nursing, even your body is not your own. What you do when your time is dictated by the physical, spiritual, and educational needs of the little people who are depending on you. Then dear hubby gets home and would like a little attention—and some dinner.

Good Company
It may seem like all we are doing is slaving away—day in and day out.  Reading the New Testament, though, we see we are in good company. Paul called himself a slave. So did John. So did Peter. So did James. So did Jude . . . Of course, they gave themselves as slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn’t that what we are, too? Don’t we lay down our wills, our privacy, our lives to serve our families, because we first and foremost gave ourselves to Him? Haven’t we committed ourselves to serving our families because we first committed our lives to Christ? (We could do worse. Remember the old life; being a slave to sin?)

It may seem like you are slaving away, but you are really taking advantage of the golden opportunities that are only available while your children are young. Seize those teachable moments while you have them. In the blink of an eye, your little girl will be a young woman. You’ll watch your husband walk her down the aisle and give her away to another man in marriage. In no time at all, your son will ask you what you think of some lovely, young lady because he believes she may be “the one.” And you will know in your heart that she truly is “the one.” Your baby boy’s heart will belong to another.

You won’t be sorry that you homeschooled your children. You won’t regret the lack of privacy.  You’ll get plenty of that later. You’re not slaving away. You’re investing in God’s kingdom, but you and your family will reap eternal rewards as a result.

Rebecca Kocsis and her beloved, Ed, homeschooled all five of their children, graduating their youngest in 2006. They are now the proud grandparents of a small tribe of energetic boys and girls who are their great delight. Rebecca served for 15 years as a PSP administrator and for several years on CHEA’s Regional Advisory Board. In addition to serving on CHEA’s board of directors, she also serves as Support Network Director. She is the author of the devotional booklet Let Not Your Feathers Be Ruffled.