12 / 32
12
HOMESCHOOLIOWA.ORGLIES
HOMESCHOOLING
MOMS TELL
By Todd Wilson
I
don’t know about you, but I’m loving summer. Not only does
it feel nice and warm, but there’s also nothing like the feeling
of pure freedom from homeschool “school” for a whole three
months. My wife does 99.9% of the homeschooling, but I still rel-
ish the break and love the freedom she has during the summer.
That said, why don’t the “lies homeschooling moms believe”
follow suit and take a little break as well? Like demon legions,
“the homeschooling lies” continue to whisper in your head as
you sit by the pool or visit the park. “You’re doing a lousy job…
look at all those other school children and how smart they
seem…look at that three-year-old, I bet he’s reading already…
and that mom probably has an organic garden, raises chickens,
is teaching her children a foreign language over the summer,
and weighs less than she did in high school!!”
Oh, yes, those lies homeschooling moms believe are tena-
cious little critters, always looking for an opportunity to cause
doubts, feelings of failure, and regrets.
Honestly, I feel like a broken record on the “lies homeschool-
ing moms believe” mantra. I’ve written a book about it, dozens
and dozens of articles, and ‘preached it’ all over the country.
Sometimes I think I can’t talk about it anymore. I’ve said every-
thing there is to be said about it. I keep saying it, moms nod their
heads in agreement and then they keep right on believing them.
And then it dawned on me; I’m not just speaking the truth
in an ocean of silence. There is an enemy who continues
to loudly spew out lies and untruths. It’s a battle for the souls
of homeschooling moms of Middle Earth proportions.
And the enemy is…
…YOU.
You thought I was going to say Satan, didn’t you? But it’s not
him (although he’s behind the whole lie thing…he is the father
of lies after all.) But the real enemy is homeschooling moms be-
cause it’s not just about believing lies, it’s also about TELLING
LIES. And homeschool moms spend much of their time telling
lies to one another.
Spend a few minutes on Facebook and feelings of failure be-
gin to sweep over you as mom after mom talks about the great
food they make, field trips they take, children they have, projects
they tackle, husbands they adore, and LIVES they live.
Lies…lies! I just got an email from a momwho sounds like the
Apostle Paul on Facebook. She quotes long passages of Scripture
and each post gives the impression of total dependence on Jesus
and shekinah glory living. You can imagine my shock when she
wrotemea fewweeksagotosharehowhard lifeandmarriagehad
been for her and her family. My shock wasn’t about what she was
experiencing. I know it’s hard, and we all feel like giving up
sometimes. But I thought to myself as I read through her email,
“Liar, Liar, pants on fire.” She posted one thing but felt another.
I’m just betting that you fall into ‘telling’ those lies as well.
In fact, here’s a little list of some of the Lies Homeschooling
Moms TELL:
•
The kids are doing great.
•
School is fine.
•
I just love being home with the kids.
•
We’re right where God wants us.
•
I love my man.
•
We have so much fun in the kitchen creating nutritious
meals.
•
I love listening to the kids play worship songs.
“BUTTHE REAL ENEMY IS
HOMESCHOOLING MOMS
BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST
ABOUT
BELIEVING LIES
,
IT’S ALSO ABOUT
TELLING LIES
.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15