As a former public school teacher (grades 3 and 5 in Texas) I always sensed that kids can go far beyond what public schools expect of them.
I swore to myself that if my kids ever have special needs, I would definitely homeschool them. Well, what are the odds of that?
Homeschool Thoughts
Then I had kids. My daughter had developmental delays while my son had medical concerns that kept us busy with doctors (but thankfully never became anything serious).
Daily I spent time on my knees in prayer for guidance…and I began considering homeschooling.
However no one I knew had confidence that was the best plan. They were never rude, but they were concerned.
Our Pediatrician Voices Confidence
One day we were at the base hospital for a checkup for my son. Dr. Habel had been helping my kids ever since I was pregnant with my son. He was the doctor who connected us to the amazing Mal Perry for occupational therapy which led to sensory integration therapy.
While examining my son he asked if I was going to homeschool my daughter, who had just turned 5. (Wait. What? It sounded like he phrased that question in the form of support.) Suddenly I knew the answer. Yes! Absolutely!
Thus, I went forth as only Dr. Habel having the confidence that homeschooling was a viable option. Forever he has been my hero.
Although it was great to get the intial boost from the pediatrician, I needed practical help from day to day.
My first stop was Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) whose motto is: making homeschooling possible.
For a reasonable monthly fee members receive free legal advice from HSLDA if problems arise.
HSLDA kept us abreast of how homeschooling was being defended around the nation, while continually growing their services to include helpful resources to families. They understand that one of the great benefits to homeschooling is the personal touch, which is evident in the resources they provide.
They are another one of my heroes whom I stuck with the entire homeschooling experience, K-12.
Our other homeschool hero was our occupational therapist. Although concerned that I was taking on homeschooling, she was more than happy to provide helpful occupational therapy tips which strengthened our homeschool journey.
Many thanks to our homeschool heroes!
-written in 2023 to update my blog journey
