Is It Enough?
I recently received an email with the subject line, “Is it really this simple?”
The real question, though, is probably one you’ve asked yourself. I know I have. It’s this one. Am I doing enough?
What does that question mean? Do you know what you are asking? Enough for what? To appease your doubtful parents? To keep up with the Joneses? For your child to get a job? Or to get into college on a full scholarship?
What is your goal in educating your children? What are your goals for your family? Do you want children who love God and family and serve others? Is following the public school format of school all day and then more work in the evening really conducive to meeting that goal?
My husband and I want our children to be educated. We give them a core body of knowledge to remove their ignorance. The curriculum I’ve designed for my own family is one that I believe covers all of the basics and provides an excellent foundation in reading and writing, which I believe are indispensible for any future learning or career. We don’t know what the future will hold for our children, so we want them to be prepared for anything. The Easy Peasy curriculum will be designed to help them get college credit while still in high school. We want our children to be able to get into the college of their choice, if they make that choice. We certainly would love for them to get full scholarships, but we’re not going to put that pressure on them or ourselves and make that THE goal.
I know I am doing enough. For our family, doing enough is covering the bases thoroughly and giving our children free time to devote to their passions. My children are already pursuing their future work. Because I keep their “school” day short and don’t have them in outside activities, they have hours of free time every day to do what they love. My oldest child is already getting paid to do what she loves, which is art. My next oldest is building an online following for his computer work. These things, their passions, are what will be important in their lives, more important than their ability to place chemicals on a periodic table or to list the presidents.
There tend to be two groups of parents who ask this “enough” question the most. Those with kindergarteners, who wonder why I don’t do addition and subtraction and history and science with the five-year olds, and those with high schoolers, who are wondering if what they are doing “counts.”
To the moms of kindergarteners I say, your children will be able to complete calculus in high school even if they wait until they are in first grade to begin “real” math. Enjoy this time with your kids. Read books together. Google the answers to their questions. Watch videos. Try to relax.
To the moms of high schoolers I say, in some states your child could play video games for four years and you could call him a high school graduate. My state, Pennsylvania, is not one such state. Here are their guidelines for what “counts.” To count as a completed high school course a student can do ANY of the following: complete two-thirds of a textbook, have 120 daily logged entries, have 120 hours of logged study, complete a 10 page research paper, complete a college course, or pass an AP exam. If you follow Easy Peasy, you’ll have 180 “daily logged entries.” You’ll be way ahead of the game.
I wrote the assignments on Easy Peasy for my children. It’s “enough” for our family, but your children are yours, not mine. If this curriculum will help you meet your family’s goals, then use it and be happy with your decision.
There will always, always be someone else doing something different, something more. There have been times in the past when I’ve read on blogs about what other people were doing for school and their kids’ amazing accomplishments and certainly felt lacking. Well, guess what? My kids are turning out pretty amazing themselves. I bet your kids are pretty amazing too.
I’m someone who believes that everyone has genius in them. Everyone has something special to offer the world. I love giving my kids not only a great education, but the time to discover and develop their genius, and I’m teaching them that their gift is something to use to bless others.
So, I leave the question to you now. Is what you are doing enough? What are you really asking? Think it over. Pray it over. And I pray you come out on the other side joyful and at peace.
What an excellent reply to that question that we all may ask at some time or another. Thank you for your hard work.
Kpowley
February 5, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Well said. I definitely find myself battling that question, but I always hear the answer from Him, “He gave me what I need to teach the children He gave me.” and then I am once again at peace.
Misha Greenwood
February 5, 2013 at 5:54 pm
What a wonderful reply to all of insecure mothers who never planned to home school like myself.
Donna
February 6, 2013 at 4:20 am
Me too! Homeschooling was something i laughed at one year ago…now due to my 5 year old daughter being fondled by another student (aggressive little boy) and the administration saying there was no evidence, blah blah, etc…here we are. Scary! THIS is amazing, unbelievable, and I just canceled an expensive subscription to another online curriculum! YAY! Praise God! W0000000t!
Laura B
May 29, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Very well said , thank you . We have homeschooled for 30 yrs. and that question comes to mind a lot but if you are following what God has told you to do He’s teaching them anyway . We are just the vessel he is using to teach His children! Pray and stay in His Word He will not fail you!!! Please don’t let others get you off tract.
Debbie Crosby West
February 6, 2013 at 12:45 pm
I just have to say (with tears in my eyes) that I really needed to hear this. This is my first year homeschooling my 1st grader and I have all these expectations of what I think “school” should be. We’ve been struggling for months now. I myself wasn’t homeschooled and I constantly say “Am I doing enough?” So, thanks for the reality check!
Candice
February 11, 2013 at 11:07 pm
I’m new here to your little piece of Homeschool Bliss!! I have been teaching my kiddos for 6 years now, it goes so fast.
Each kid is different and I have enjoyed the journey with all three of them. Two or tree times a year I will have a minor freak out worried if we are doing enough. And then I remember what’s important and then I can breathe better. 
Can’t wait to take a look at all you have to share. 
Manic Mom
February 13, 2013 at 1:19 am
Thanks for this post. I have to refocus myself often on this questions when I’m feeling the weight of comparison. Since we chose to home educate, why do we feel the pressure for our children to compare to those who are not? I’m so looking forward to exploring your curriculum choices. Thank you for putting it out there for us:).
Stacie
February 13, 2013 at 5:28 pm
This reply touched my soul and answered my questions, even the ones I was afraid to ask myself. THANK you!
Tonya
February 23, 2013 at 5:07 pm
In the midst of the joys and struggles of life, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to the Lord for faithfully meeting my needs. Thank you for being obedient to what He laid on your heart to share. It was a word that I needed to hear.
Kara Davis Haakenson
February 27, 2013 at 8:23 pm
I can’t thank you enough for what you are doing! I have debated so many times sending my boys back to public school, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. All because I would get nervous that I wasn’t doing enough for them. You have taken that feeling away for me. This is amazing!!! My kids enjoy this curriculum even though we are just starting
AND the bible part is truly the best part of this curriculum!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Cindy Janose
March 14, 2013 at 1:41 am
WOW!! I love this and will be sharing this with many people. Thank you!
Melissa
March 20, 2013 at 4:26 pm
I will be using easy peasy homeschool starting in June. I’m from NY. So I’m your northern neighbor. Thanks for answering the question I didn’t have the proper words to ask.
Tonia Spencer
March 24, 2013 at 8:43 am
I just wanted to thank you for this, especially this very question. I have asked this many times in the last few months and have not had an answer until now. I am sharing this site with several others who have questions about homeschooling and not sure whether they are capable of doing it. I will begin using Easy Peasy this summer with my 5 and 12 year old. Again, thank you and God Bless!!
Jennifer Johnson
May 6, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Life is way to short to be trying to keep up with anyone. Pray about it make a decision and stand firm on that. God gave these children to me for me to raise. Not anyone else.
Tracy
May 14, 2013 at 4:57 am
EXACTLY! What’s ok for me and my kids might be awful for you and yours–and vice versa. My kids DO NOT NEED what public schools here are offering right now. End of story. I know I’m doing the right thing! Woohoo!
Laura B
May 29, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Thanks so much Lee for this reply! I totally agree. Our children are all different! We are all different, with different goals.
My main goal is to raise up children in Christ! If that’s all I do, then I’ve accomplished my goal. God will supply the rest! I use to beat myself up thinking that I wasn’t good enough to educate my children. I use to listen to people saying, that they should be in school. I really felt inadequate! But then I realized all God wants me to do, is guide my children along in Him and He would provide what they need and what I need.
My 15yr old son has been working since he was 12. He loves farming and wood working. He’s been mowing lawns, gardening, raising hens, selling eggs, etc. Now he is working under a master carpenter, doing and learning what he loves. He also just started working with a farmer who sells produce to stores and markets. This is another passion of his. And I must add that he got these jobs on his own. He knows what he wants! I have 3 others that are following their passions as well. God is good!!
I just want to thank you for all you do! And the time and effort and commitment to putting Easy Peasy together for US! God bless you Lee!
Deanne
May 14, 2013 at 11:48 am
I truly believe it’s these passions that will be what’s most valuable in their lives. I believe in giving them a solid foundation, but it’s those things that will really matter.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
May 14, 2013 at 11:57 am
Deanne – I love this and I want my home/school/family to look more like this – we are way too busy and stressed – kids an me but my heart is to have things more this way for my kids
Liberty
May 15, 2013 at 7:57 am
“I know I am doing enough. For our family, doing enough is covering the bases thoroughly and giving our children free time to devote to their passions. My children are already pursuing their future work. Because I keep their “school” day short and don’t have them in outside activities, they have hours of free time every day to do what they love. My oldest child is already getting paid to do what she loves, which is art. My next oldest is building an online following for his computer work. These things, their passions, are what will be important in their lives, more important than their ability to place chemicals on a periodic table or to list the presidents”. — Ok, I so love this and this is my heart philosophy – could you speak directly to how you nurture this in your children to start discovering and doing what they love to the point of it even becoming income producing now?
Liberty
May 15, 2013 at 7:55 am
All I have to do is keep my hands off. When I try to direct and suggest directions, they end up going the wrong way. I have to remind myself that they know best. For example, my 8 year old loves music, instrumental music. Listens to it for hours. I want him to take piano lessons. He doesn’t want to. I could make and try to convince that he’ll thank me for it later, but I know if it doesn’t come from him, he won’t be devoted to it. I don’t completely turn my kids loose to do whatever they want. I think they need the right environment. My kids don’t have access to video games or tv which can be addicting and which would distract from more worthwhile things.
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
May 15, 2013 at 9:34 am
Thank you so much! I just had to respond because your attitude is so refreshing and positive. It’s truly a blessing to hear your ideas. You have rescued me. I am eternally grateful for your work I am so impressed by your generosity too. May you be blessed in all you need.
Gail
June 2, 2013 at 7:54 am