By Shari McMinn

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 26–31 ESV)

We live in a post-Christian age when authorities, influencers, and trained professionals supposedly know more than parents regarding the upbringing of their children. Perhaps they have some advice we might consider, but we need to look to the Lord God Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth and each of us for true wisdom. The above Scripture — written to New Testament Christians in the similar anti-God culture of Corinth — also applies to us, with the reminder that though we might not be wise by worldly standards, we can boast in the Lord.

As a homeschool parent, how many times a day do you doubt yourself with questions such as:

• Do I like my child enough to be with him or her all day?
• Do I know enough to educate my unique child?
• How will I ever survive today, let alone the next year or more of homeschooling?
• Would he or she be better off in a ‘real’ school? 
• Why do I have to suffer so much while raising this challenging child?

These are the questions that plague you and me as we struggle to counteract the constant barrage of the outside world’s messages, which tell us we can not and should not do this thing called homeschooling. Our evil adversary, Satan, wants us to give up and often robs us of the confidence we can have through our joy and victory that is in Christ Jesus. He seems to fight us at every turn, especially in our parent-child relationships while home-educating. Sometimes our life seems to be crumbling around us; it is exhausting and even scary at times! In a recent Generations.org podcast, Kevin Swanson interviewed Alex Newman regarding the government’s war on our families through indoctrination of our children. The discussion focused on God’s jurisdiction of the family, not the government, for the education of our children. When times seem hard, please remember — that by God’s design — your child will do better at home, under your tutelage, than he or she would do in an institutional setting, especially in a tax-payer funded (government) school program.

We need to trust Christ for our confidence to homeschool our unique learner student(s). Christ first loved us unconditionally, so that we could love Him and then be able to love our children. Duty is often the greater part of unconditional love, and some days our parental duty is very difficult. Even when we doubt that we are able to teach the 3 R’s and everything else required to ‘educate’ our kids, our Christian discipleship of them is even more important. You can do this sometimes ‘hard thing’ called homeschooling, if your trust is in Christ for everything you are facing. Philippians 4:13 always encouraged me on the days I doubted myself the most, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Let this be your battle cry, your ‘go to’ memorized verse when you doubt yourself as the going is rough and getting rougher. 

The following are links from the SPEDHomeschool.com website for specific issues you may be facing with your uniquely-created student. I hope you will take the time to click on one or more of them to gain practical tips for continuing your home-based education journey:

• Autism  
• Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia 
• Sensory processing dysfunction   
• Twice exceptional = highly gifted + learning delayed  

For a fun-filled, family vacation this June, be sure to register for the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference, so you can attend the Unique Learners Seminar on BONUS DAY Wednesday, June 12th, and/or the Unique Learners track workshops Thursday–Saturday, June 13–15, 2024. There are lots of supervised kids activities to occupy your children while you attend workshops, but they sell out fast so register NOW!

Looking for fellowship with other Unique Learner parents? Join me and CHEC Outreach Director, Kashia Davis, as she facilitates a “meet-up” for families just like yours and mine at the RMHC Unique Learner Community Resources and Support, 4-5pm on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 to make like-minded connections. NOTE: the date/time has changed for this since the April Unique Learners blog was posted.

My next Unique Learner blog, “Summer School: Continue Your Own Education” will be posted on June 26th (the 4th Wednesday).

Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend 

P.S. I was recently interviewed on the HSLDA podcast regarding my experience raising unique learners. If you’d like to listen to it, check it out here!

About the Author: Shari McMinn

Shari Howard McMinn has graduated from homeschool teaching and is a professional editor, public speaker, and writer. After living in Colorado for 45 years, she continues to work remotely for Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) from her new home in the Fort Myers, Florida area. Shari is the author of four books, which are detailed on her website, ShariMcMinn.com. She is an advocate for adoption, homeschooling, safe and stable families, and unique learners. A few years ago, she entered a very fun new season of life: grandparenting! She is available to answer your questions via email, Shari@CHEC.org.