homeschooling – ancore!

Tired but trying

Our son learned to read before he was three years old. He joined an online playgroup for a year while I used a reading program that emphasized phonetics/phonemes.

Though we don’t religiously memorize Bible verses, our reading practice is more on Bible stories and children’s books that promote good values.

I play Bible songs and Bible stories on Spotify almost everyday.

As I write this, (I’m not proud of this) I have a pending, long overdue report for the last quarter of his assessment. After a milestone presentation around the 20th week of our curriculum, our academic learning times went downhill due to successive sicknesses.

Mentally, something in me sort of broke and I got at a crossroads (still on one) considering whether it’s really worth it to continue on the path we have chosen.

If I may share, here are some of the topics our little one has learned in about 24+ weeks of Kindergarten (on top of Bible stories and principles):

Timeline Age of Ancient Empires to Modern Times
Skip counting 2s til 15s
Associative Law of Addition
Associative Law of Multiplication
Geometry, Fractions
Geography (we’re ‘behind’ with maps)
English Prepositions
Latin Declensions
Elements of shape, abstract art, Renaissance artists
Mozart, Handel, Bach, the Orchestra
Classification of living things
Science experiments

This is not a complete, exhaustive list but I.am.exhausted trying to go through them in my mind.

I couldn’t bring myself to the required mental and emotional state I used to have to consistently prepare for ‘school’.

Discipline isn’t pleasant, it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable.

I am reminded: a good education matters when Christ is at the center. Unless we discipline ourselves and pursue excellence for the goal of glorifying God, all hardwork is only vanity. Or maybe I’m lazy.

I’m still in the process of finding the intersection of discipline and love for learning. I have to find that rhythm where learning remains to be fun, not a chore. I like long-distance runs over sprints, personal bests over trophies, chill over hustle.

As I write this, our little learner is currently on medication for what the doc suspects is either mpox or hand, foot and mouth disease.

We’re taking it easy.

Homeschooling isn’t only school at home.

What’s in a name?

Yesterday, my son spotted an elderly photographer in the park and asked for a photo. We’ll call him Lolo.

Lolo wore a warm smile, black-rimmed eyeglasses, a denim vest, a fisherman’s hat, and two digital SLR cameras around his neck. Lolo charged 50 pesos—less than a dollar—per photo. After we paid, he asked us to wait in the park while he printed our pictures.

My husband hesitated, skeptical if Lolo would return. But I said, “Batangas ‘to,” reassuring myself of the trust we’ve found in Batangas City, our home for over five years now. It’s not blind trust, but a belief in the good woven into the community, rooted in God’s guidance. I wanted to support Lolo’s work—he wasn’t begging; he was offering a service.

While waiting, my son raced around the park, turned a concrete slope into a slide and played with other kids. I met three moms, exchanged short stories of family and faith—connections I’d have missed if we’d rushed home after our hospital visit.

The sun dipped low, and the church bells of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception rang for the Angelus (6:00 PM). Doubt crept in. Was my husband right? I prayed silently, trusting God, that Lolo would return.

One mom reassured me that Lolo’s a local; he also took their pictures a while back. My son, sweaty and thirsty, sat beside me. My husband nodded toward the car. I repeated, “Batangas ‘to,” holding onto faith.

After a few more minutes, Lolo returned, handing us our photos in brown envelopes. My son blurted, “Where were you, Mr. Photographer?” Lolo chuckled. I saw how he took pride in his work and asked his name—Emil, he said, hesitantly. “Thank you, Sir Emil,” I said, texting him gratitude. His face lit up. Using his name made him feel seen, just as God sees us.

Batangas may not be perfect, but it’s relatively safe*, with trust running deep like roots in good soil. We can talk to strangers in the park—not fearfully, but wisely, with God’s discernment.

As we train our kids, let’s take notice of people’s kindness, honor the elderly, and see the good in people. Let’s also remind our kids to always check with us before conversing with strangers. Using someone’s name—like Lolo Emil’s—builds bridges. It shows they matter. Try it: say a cashier’s or server’s name, share a smile, and trust our Heavenly Father’s care.

Batangas ‘to—or as the locals would say, “Batangas a-reh!”

*Looking for stats and facts? For the latest data or report on crime rates in the Philippines, you may check here or here.

Preparing the Child for the Path: Practical Steps

Homeschooling has transformed significantly over the years, shifting from a rare choice in the 1980s—when only about 10,000 to 20,000 families participated*—into a mainstream educational option today, with over 3.7 million students homeschooled in the U.S. as of 2021. The pandemic accelerated this trend, prompting many parents to take education into their own hands and embrace the flexibility and personalized learning that homeschooling offers. If you’re considering this shift for your family, know you’re not alone—more and more parents are discovering that homeschooling can be a meaningful path for their children’s education and future.

As a homeschooling mom, I often think about my role in preparing my child for life. It’s not about making his path easier but equipping him to walk it confidently and with faith.

When we attended the Counterflow Family Conference last September, this nugget of practical wisdom stuck with me: “Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.” In a Biblical sense, that’s Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

I don’t have everything figured out, but I’m learning that less is more. To keep things simple, I’ll use the acronym PATH. It serves as a quick reminder of pursuing what really matters each day. I thought I’d share it with you.

P – Pray and Practice

Prayer has been such a grounding part of my homeschool routine. I’m learning that starting the day with prayer, asking for God’s guidance in our learning, makes a big difference in how the day unfolds. I usually pray in the quietness of my heart but also pray out loud. I encourage my son to tell God everything and to listen to Him thru reading the Bible.

And when it comes to practice, I’ve realized that my child watches how I handle things more than he listens to what I say. It’s a humbling thought, but when I try to show patience or kindness—even when I’m frustrated—I notice it slowly shaping his responses. I don’t always get it right, but I’ve learned that practicing the virtues we want to teach speaks volumes.

A – Allow Growth

One of the hardest things for me is stepping back and letting my son figure things out on his own sometimes. My instinct is to fix problems or make things easier, but I’ve learned that allowing him to face challenges is so important. It’s not about throwing him into the deep end, but rather letting him struggle with something long enough to build resilience.

Whether it’s a difficult drawing or an emotional challenge, I’m trying to remind myself that each struggle is an opportunity for growth. By letting him face these little obstacles now, I’m hoping he’ll be better prepared for the bigger ones down the road.

T – Teach with Purpose

This has been a big one for me lately—especially as we’re working through our homeschool curriculum. I’m realizing that it’s not just about teaching facts or checking boxes. I want my son to understand why what he’s learning matters, to learn how to learn and to think about what he thinks. I’ve been trying to connect lessons to real life, whether that’s talking about how numbers apply to everyday decisions or how history shows us God’s faithfulness through time.

In our Classical Conversations work, I’m finding opportunities to link our memory work to conversations about our faith and values. It helps remind me (and him) that everything we’re learning fits into God’s bigger picture.

H – Hold to Values

Homeschooling has given me a unique opportunity to weave our family’s values into our daily life. I’m trying to make space for conversations about honesty, kindness, and responsibility, not just when there’s an issue, but in everyday situations. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking how Jesus might respond in a particular scenario or how he can show kindness to a friend.

This grounding in values will serve as the compass he needs when he faces difficult choices in life. It’s more than an academic education—it’s preparation for the road of life, with all its moral and ethical challenges.

Final Thoughts

As we homeschool, let’s remember that we are not just teaching our children to excel in their studies—we are equipping them to navigate life with the tools, values, and faith they need to succeed. The PATH—Pray and Practice, Allow Growth, Teach with Purpose, and Hold to Values—reminds us that it’s so much more than academics. It’s about preparing them to walk confidently in the path that God has set before them.

Trust in the Lord’s guidance as you walk alongside your child, and remember: while the journey may not always be easy, it’s one filled with opportunities for growth, both for them and for you.

Happy learning!

*For more homeschooling data, here are three reputable websites:

1. National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI):

A leading organization dedicated to researching and promoting homeschooling, providing comprehensive studies and data.

2. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):

The primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing educational data in the U.S., known for its reliable statistics and rigorous research methodology.

3. Pew Research Center:

A nonpartisan organization that conducts in-depth social research, providing valuable insights into trends, including the impact of the pandemic on homeschooling.

In the Philippines, the following sources can help you find relevant data, guidelines, and community support:

1. Department of Education (DepEd):

The official government body overseeing education in the Philippines, DepEd provides guidelines, policies, and statistics on alternative learning systems, including homeschooling. Their website offers resources for parents interested in homeschooling.

2. Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI):

HAPI is a nonprofit organization that supports homeschooling families in the Philippines. They provide resources, training, and a community for homeschooling parents, as well as information on the legal framework and best practices in homeschooling.

3. Philippine Homeschoolers Association (PHA):

PHA is a community-driven organization that offers support and resources for homeschooling families. They provide information on homeschooling laws, networking opportunities, and educational materials to help parents navigate the homeschooling journey.