#94 - Overcoming Homeschooling Doubts this Christmas Season

This holiday season, are you ready to homeschool with confidence and trust in God’s love? In this episode of Homeschool Unlocked, Jesús and Monica dive into the powerful lessons from Ruth Chapter 4, showing how God’s faithfulness can guide you in homeschooling and life. With practical insights on handling family gatherings, doubts, and even challenging conversations about homeschooling, this episode offers encouragement for those considering or new to homeschooling. Learn how to embrace this season as an opportunity to build deeper bonds with your children and rely on God’s timing. Join us as we explore why homeschooling isn’t just school—it’s life.

Listen now and let God’s love guide your homeschool journey!

#homeschoolunlocked #faithandfamily #christmas #homeschoolmom #trustgod #ruth #homeschoolingjourney #faithoverfear

https://1lnk.page/MonicaAviles

Transcript

Welcome to the Homeschool Unlocked podcast, the show that helps parents see homeschooling as a unique opportunity. So forget fear. You can inspire.You can guide your child. Homeschool Unlocked. It's not school.It's life. Hello Homeschool Unlocked family. Good day.My name is Monica. And my name is Jesus. You have been barbecuing for a few hours.So I have. I have a little event where, you know, kind of just volunteer to barbecue for the event. And it was fun.Food always communicates care, interest. It's a form of hospitality. It's like a foundational need that you're meeting.Let's talk a little bit about barley, which we don't barbecue, but it is a food. Is it a food? Yeah, it's a food. Barley.What do you eat? What do you eat? It's a grain. Like an oatmeal? It's a grain. Yeah.What do you do with a grain? Like wheat, like barley bread. So barley. We've got to do a little more setting about barley, but we're going to talk about barley because we're going to continue talking about preparing for Christmas by boasting about God's love for you.Sweet. I like it. In the Book of Ruth, there is some talk about the barley harvest.Okay. All right. So I have four questions for you.Ready. True or false. After harvesting barley, it was commonly threshed and winnowed to separate the grain from the chaff.Great. Yes. True.Yep. That is absolutely true. The threshing removed the grains from the stalks and then the winnowing separated the grain from the chaff using wind.Number two, true or false. Barley was one of the first crops to ripen in the agricultural year, marking the beginning of the harvest season. False.No, it is true. It is true? Yeah. Because remember last week we talked about barley and the harvest being around your birthday.Oh, that's right. Yes. It actually ripened before other grains.So it was one of the first harvests in the year and during spring. Nice. Okay.All right. True or false. Barley stalks were used as fuel for fires after the grain was harvested.Repeat that again. That the barley stalks were used as fuel for fires. Yes.Yes, you are correct. That is true. After the grain was removed, the remaining stalks were often used for fuel or animal bedding, maximizing the crop's usefulness.Excellent. And number four. Number four.Barley fields in Moab were often irrigated by large canal systems. False. That is false.And we had a question related to this last week. Did we? Yes, we did. Moab relied more on seasonal rainfall than large irrigation systems.So barley was actually chosen because it could grow with minimal water, making it suitable for the dry climate. So Homeschool Unlocked, if you were counting, we had eight true false questions regarding barley in the past two weeks. If anybody in the Homeschool Unlocked community owns a barley farm, it seems as if me and Monica are ready to set aside podcasting and helping parents.And we want to just hit your barley field because we know at the very least eight facts about it. Here's the thing, though. Barley actually has gluten.So we couldn't. Facts. Number nine.Facts. Number nine. Yeah, we couldn't mess with it.We couldn't mess with it. But if they had millet. They had millet.Millet is a grain that I've actually seen. Homeschool Unlocked family, anybody own a millet farm? Anybody looking for employees for a millet farm? Birds like millet. Birds like millet.Yes. So we're joining you today. We have the honor of being parents to six wonderful children, four boys and two girls.And it's been a joy to learn and grow with them. And we are here to share the opportunity of homeschooling with you. This is something that you should consider if you have a baby or maybe you are not currently homeschooling.This is although the title of our podcast is Homeschool Unlocked. We want to talk to parents who have actually who are not homeschooled. That's right.We want to give you the keys to unlock. Whereas some are engaged, we want to further unlock. Right.And as we grow as a homeschooled unlock community, we look forward to maybe being joined by other parents that have homeschooled for an extended period of time and are well versed and well experienced in it. Why? Because we want to create communities and we want to create mentorship opportunities and we want to connect the curious with the experience so that everybody can be successful. Because, you know, I mean, it's not until you get behind this microphone and attempt to explain the fruits and benefits that you really understand the fruits and benefits.Right. That's the way it goes. Yeah.And in this story of Ruth, we actually see a young believer that is learning from an older season, mature believer. And so in the in the book of Ruth in chapter four, we see now Boaz is going to redeem Ruth and he actually marries her and she becomes part of the genealogy of David. And so right now we're entering this Christmas time and it's a wonderful time to look at the story and see how God provided for Ruth through Boaz, who noticed her and protected her.And last week I mentioned how verse 18 of chapter three says, this is Naomi speaking. Naomi replied, wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today. And so if homeschooling is something that is on your heart, remember that he is always at work that you can actually rest and let God go to work.And so during this Christmas time, during this holiday season, it's a wonderful time for you to patiently, but actively trust in the Lord. If you have, if you're thinking about homeschooling, but you're doubting if you're able to do it, and so you're going to keep on doing what you're currently doing, we want to use this time to encourage you to look beyond your doubts and actually consider homeschooling. So you may be thinking, well, you know, great.Now you're asking me to consider homeschooling. It's already stressful enough to go to these family dinners. We already have certain tensions and relationships that are strained.I would, me thinking about homeschooling, or me even sharing that possibility with my extended family, I would get all sorts of questions. I would face all sorts of, you know, like comments and criticisms. How do you think that we can encourage families to handle those situations? Well, I mean, like most things people don't understand, they fear, right? They have concerns about, right? So, I mean, if you're just able to speak about it with confidence, not necessarily that everything is going perfectly well, but if you come with a clear mindset of what your intention is related to homeschooling, right? So, I mean, there is a purpose to that decision, just articulating that purpose.I mean, what are people going to argue with that purpose about? Hey, I want to draw closer to my kid. Obviously, there are like 30,000 other ways you can do it and they may try to suggest those other ways. And, you know, I mean, a lot of them are speaking from a position of lack of experience and just what they've heard.Yeah. And at the same time, you know, you could clarify some of those things. You can ask them to join you.You'd be surprised, you know, my mom would have a particular concern, you know, about friendships and all that kind of stuff. And are they learning? Well, you know, mom, you speak Spanish very well. You know, how about you come over and you teach them Spanish? This is the thing that we're affording, not just our kids, but extended family.And if I remember correctly, I think Mila did an episode a long time ago about this same aspect in terms of concerns other people had toward her, like she had to explain, right, to other kids. She had to explain to other adults. But, you know, I mean, when you're raising, you know, articulate, smart, you know, engaged kids, right? I mean, all of a sudden then it becomes OK, you're not homeschoolers aren't awkward.But I need you to imagine this, right? I mean, I mean, what's the major criticism? Right. I go back to I mean, I think it was like 2001 or 2001 when I when I put together like my master's thesis, my directed research paper, and that was one of the main concerns they had then. This is 20 years ago.You're interested in that whole social piece of the equation. And the reality is, you know, you have kids that are going to be much more comfortable. Right.Our kids, homeschooled kids in general, are very comfortable talking to adults. Right. It's other kids because when you're speaking to other kids, you're speaking at a different speed, a different vocabulary level.And that regardless is going to generate, you know, just some just some some some work that needs to get done. But I mean, I mean, listen, invite people in, let them see, share that you had similar concerns, share them the beauty. If you go back to the function and you just kind of know what you want to do, hey, you want to be tighter, you want to do this, you want to do that.They, you know, just communicate that, ask them to come alongside you. These people that love you are the ones asking the questions usually, you know, just explain it to them. You shared an excellent point there about I just want to have time to grow with my kids, to love on them, to provide a safe and good environment where they can be curious, where we're not feeling rushed, all these other issues.When when the first concern really becomes about socialization and not even the academics, because most people know that the academics is something that even in the school system is not a priority. Well, socialization is really not difficult. You know, you have church groups, you have sports, you have all sorts of activities, but those those groups can't provide that different pace of life that focusing on being curious and learning together.Well, you had originally asked, you know, and I'm sorry I made it, you know, so social related, right? The conversation you had asked, you know, someone comes up to you and has questions or concerns about you homeschooling. How would you approach that? I think step number one, you should already have a clear understanding as to your why. Why do I want to homeschool right here at Homeschool Unlocked? We constantly say there is an experience to be had when you bring your child home for a season in this time, right? It's not like summer, right, where everybody has off.And so there's, you know, tons of things to do. You know what's great? Everybody doesn't have off. There's no one out there.You get a chance to kind of slow things down and and you just kind of just explain to folks, you know, your reasoning behind it. And then you could also share how you're not alone in it, how there is a massive community at this particular point. I think we had shared it a couple a couple episodes ago.I think we're at six, seven or eight percent of the country homeschools. We got multiple communities. And if you explain, hey, there are communities both for the kid and both for the parent.Right. There are co-ops. There are, you know, millions of people in the United States that do it.Yeah, there's online even community. So like even if you live remotely, I mean, there are during this Christmas time when we're talking about receiving the gift of Christ, he's the most he's the biggest gift. He's the most important gift.And he has given you these kids. He's given you your kids. It's a wonderful season.You're not going to have this season with them forever. Right. They grow up very fast.And even looking at this holiday time, you might only have like two weeks off. You're rushing to get everything done before Christmas. And then you only have a few.It feels like a few days off, actually, by the time you actually get everything ready for Christmas, enjoy Christmas, you know, clean up from Christmas, then it's New Year's. And then it's back to school. What about slowing down and really saying, hey, my kids are a gift.They're given to me. And I want to steward this time well. And that includes learning in a different way than the conventional school system allows.Yeah, I mean, you know, your kid. I mean, they're they I mean, if you if you picture the the traditional or the other school systems outside your home as expert instructors, but there really is no one else that's the expert of your kid. Right.And so, you know, I mean, you understand the fundamentals of delivering material. There are tons out there that can help you, you know, articulate whether regardless of the mode in which you teach, if it's heavy verbal, if it's heavy visual, if it's a lot of tactile involved in it, you can pick some of that. You can pick it according to your strengths.You can pick it according to your child's strengths. You you can do that. You know who your kid is.Unfortunately, your kid in a particular classroom, maybe one of 18, one of 21 of 25. And the teacher needs to do their best. And most, you know, pedagogical programs are teaching these teachers.You got to teach to the middle because the middle you're going to have most kids. What that means is you're going to lose people at the high end and at the low end, right? The low is going to be tons of remedial work. And maybe they need some supplemental something that we call multi-tier systems of support here in the state of Florida.Additional support on that. And other kids, you know, may need accelerated. So they're either going to have to slow down or you're going to have to find another class.So, I mean, your kid has a greater possibility of not being individually given attention. Whereas at home, you can. You can do that.And, you know, the material the teachers are delivering, you can have access to that same material, right? I mean, there are tons of ways to come across that. So you don't lack the material. What you lack is the confidence.We're here to tell you Homeschool Unlocked. We want to come next to you. We want to come and support you and care for you.Here's an interesting project. And I need you guys to note this. At some particular point, Homeschool Unlocked is going to be beginning to put coursework together that you would have access to either both attending with us live or digitally.So if you're thinking about homeschooling, if you're curious, right? Or if you're not curious, like, hey, listen, I'm going to do it tomorrow. Curious, like, I'm going to have a kid in a couple of years, and I would love to have this kind of like thought out as a legitimate option. Then, you know, you got to come alongside.You got to follow us. You know, sooner or later, we're going to make the bigger transition with merch. We can go out there.We can rep Homeschool Unlocked across the country. Can't wait to get my own hat. I'm ready.Well, and I do struggle with like follow us. I know that's a terminology that's used in this whole social media thing. We use that terminology because that's how you follow.You know, you follow me. But it's like we're here to help you set up your homeschool and unlock your homeschool. It's not like follow us so that you can be like us.It's if anything, it's like follow us because we want to help you create your thing. The Book of Ruth is a beautiful book because you have Naomi, who is wise. And yet you see her very, her very real struggle.She goes from being married to now being a widow with two daughter-in-laws who are widows. And yet you see her then change and get new energy and new insight. And she suggests Boaz as a possibility for Ruth.And all in all this story, we have Ruth and her childlike faith is so strong. And it's just this childlike looking to God and she relies on Naomi. So as you enter this holiday season, as you're entering Christmas time, you know, our encouragement to you would be to remind yourself that God is faithful.And that, you know, no matter the challenges that he is able to work through your difficulties and that you can have clarity and peace even during this Christmas time. And you can be excited about it because if you are homeschooling or if you're thinking about homeschooling, it's a way for you to really enjoy your family in a different way. It's a whole different opportunity.So be patiently but actively looking to God and allowing him to work in your situation. You know, his timing is perfect and he's always at work on your behalf. Like it says in chapter 3, verse 18, you know, he will not rest.So let this Christmas time be one where you have, you're showing trust and you're being patient. And your faith is being renewed just like Naomi's was. And you can sit there and, you know, just trust that God is at work.He's steadfast and he is steadfast in your homeschooling. And you can have confidence in him, not in your own self, but you can have confidence in his love for you. Let that be your boast this Christmas time as you enjoy the greatest gift.So Homeschool Unlocked, we love you guys. Follow us. I know we just finished talking about what that really means.Follow us. But also I would ask for you to send it to two people. Send it to two people that you think might consider homeschooling in the future.They may have kids. They may not have kids. They may have kids being super successful in the traditional system.They may not. They may have whatever they may have. You as a parent may just identify some folks that would benefit from just, you know, just a tweak into the relationship just a little bit.Send it to them. Send it to at least two. That can be a Christmas present.Send it to two. Promote the podcast so we can continue to send love out to the world. Bye.We love you guys. Thank you for spending time with us today. Check out our link below and subscribe to our podcast.We hope that we helped you by unlocking a new way of seeing homeschooling. Who else needs to hear this? Only you know. So take action and share it.Because remember, homeschool unlocked. It's not school. It's life.