by Shari McMinn
Looking back on my life now that all my homeschooled children have graduated and left home to pursue their adulthood, I am reminded of God’s goodness to me, my late husband, and our kids because we chose to homeschool.
When we began homeschooling in the early 1990s, there were few homeschooling resources available or any parents I knew of who were home educating their kids. Of all the people in my life that God could use to point us to this new educational alternative, the public school principal (who was living in a lesbian relationship) of our local elementary school actually suggested we homeschool my struggling second grader! We agreed to try it for a year and never looked back. Eventually, we homeschooled nine of our 11 children for 28 years (the oldest was not homeschooled, and one died in infancy).
Recently, I listened to a Generations broadcast with Kevin Swanson that discussed the war between good and evil being waged on the family, especially in Colorado. Towards the end, co-host Bill Jack of Worldview Academy/Crux shared something to the effect that either we sacrifice our lives for our kids and homeschool them, or we sacrifice the lives of our kids. Wow! Those are some really tough words to hear. But, I firmly believe it is true!
Choose a Lifestyle of Sacrifice
My late husband, Cary, and I chose to sacrifice an affluent middle-class, two-income lifestyle to homeschool as a way to give our kids the best education and upbringing we thought possible. In the end, our concerted efforts built a family legacy of faith and hope in Christ that I pray will continue with my grandchildren and their future families. I sacrificed much in my life to homeschool my children, and I can now attest to the fact that it was all worth those often hard choices I — along with my husband — had to make day after day, year after year.
I gave up my peaking professional career to stay home to homeschool. My husband agreed to be the sole provider, and we lived so frugally, it sometimes hurt our stomachs when payday had not yet come and it was meal time. When he was laid off from work, he started a consulting business, and I helped him with it.
I sacrificed time with friends to manage a home that filled up with an increasing number of children through birth and adoption. I sacrificed date nights with my beloved because we couldn’t afford to pay a babysitter for a much-needed night out. I sacrificed my previously treasured monthly hair and nail salon appointments and learned to cut my family’s hair to save money for school supplies. I sacrificed the convenience of leaving home every day for what I wanted to do because we could only afford to own and insure one vehicle that my husband needed for his work, so I was obligated to stay in our 900-square-foot home with six kids.
I sacrificed recognition as an influencer because I simply didn’t have the time (or wardrobe) to attend events where I could network and receive accolades for professional work or community service. I sacrificed my “me time” when I could have been drawing, painting, or writing to craft hands-on art, history, and science projects with my kids. Thank goodness blogging and social media didn’t exist back then to tempt me to make TikTok videos!
Receive a Bountiful Return
Yet for every sacrifice I made, the Lord returned the investment in my children back into my own life in a mighty way. He gave me joy as I read to them. He gave me peace while I helped train and discipline them. He gave me close relationships because of our time spent together. He gave me a lifelong blessing with our quiver full of children. He met every one of our financial needs, even if it was in the 11th hour and 59th minute before bills were due.
He gave me a song in my heart as I “walked along the way” with my children in tow. He gave me fun when I played sports with my kids after lunch, as we laughed so hard we couldn’t stop! He gave me a covenant marriage with the man of my dreams. He gave me my salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone and filled me with His Holy Spirit.
The Impact of a Sacrificial Father
My husband died of a massive heart attack in his sleep when our youngest child was 8 years old, leaving me with five children to continue homeschooling through high school as a single parent. He figuratively sacrificed his life for us as he worked hard to not only pay the bills, but to ensure every child of ours had his loving attention when he wasn’t working. My kids were blessed by his career sacrifice of giving up becoming the world’s greatest architect so he could be the world’s best homeschool dad.
Now my children are successful adults, doing amazing things that he helped them envision during their homeschooled childhoods. Though they greatly miss his presence, their memories of a loving and involved godly father are enough to carry them through their lifetimes. I hope he can witness from Heaven’s balcony their unfolding life stories and adventures that continue without him.
Trust God for Eternal Rewards
If you think that homeschooling costs you a lot of time and money … well, it does. But it is not too much to bear. Somehow, God will make a way as you honor His call to prioritize your life for your kids. Please, for the sake of your children, figure out a way to make homeschooling work for your family! Cut back on your work and “me time” leisure hours; eliminate non-essential expenses to live frugally; buy used curriculum and homeschool simply; enjoy being outdoors; cook and clean together. In doing that, your life will be so blessed that in 10, 20, or 30+ years, you won’t even believe how good and faithful God was and is!
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
I know the culture in which we live says, “marriage is pointless … children are a burden … send your kids to public or private school so you can drop them off to meet a friend for lunch … work full time to afford a nanny.” But I humbly say, “Sacrifice yourself for the sake of your kids!”
Just as Christ sacrificed Himself for us, there is a heavy cost to pay for doing the right thing for your family, to lay down your life to shepherd them. Remember that childhood is just a passing season of your life, and your kids will quickly grow into adulthood. Enjoy them now through a homeschooling, family-discipleship lifestyle — and Lord willing — the outcome will result in your future best friends. It is worth the sacrifice now to enjoy relationships with them in your old age and have them spend eternity with you as Christ followers.
Want additional encouragement on this topic? I suggest you register for FREE to attend the upcoming Homeschooling the Heart Online Summit on October 20-24, 2025. It is hosted by CHEC and Generations, with world-class Christian speakers and nationally recognized homeschool influencers.
Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend
What sacrifices have you chosen to make in order to homeschool? How is the Lord providing for your family during this sacrificial season? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Thank you so much for sharing, Shari! My husband and I can say amen and testify to the same love and provision of our great God through our 30 years of home educating eight children! It is absolutely worth every sacrifice and since our children still love to be with us, there is no such thing as putting up your feet and retiring, which is a huge blessing!