Back to Homeschool

Tree leaves turn from green to rust and gold, school buses reappear on the streets, students wear backpacks, and stores advertise deals on classroom supplies. Even though our family studies math and grammar around our kitchen table rather than in a formal classroom, we feel the shifting seasons and changing rhythms.

It’s back-to-school time. Or, in our case, it’s back-to-homeschool. While many educational options are available, like many ministry families, my husband and I have chosen to educate our children at home.

For homeschooling moms, the end of summer means it’s time to put away last year’s books and pull out the new curriculum. There are lesson plans to create and review, library orders to place, and family schedules and chore charts to update. Pastors’ wives who homeschool (including me) must also coordinate our schedules around the church calendar. We feel the hustle and bustle of it all. There’s much to do, and it’s good to remember why we do it all—for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

We teach our children and serve our churches, and we do both for Him. So we look to the Lord to lead us. He is our Good Shepherd, and as his sheep, we listen to his voice (John 10:27). As with all things, we depend on him to help us navigate the opportunities and challenges that a life of pastoral ministry plus home education offers.

The Opportunities

Along with new school supplies, much is new at church in September: new classes start, and there’s often a new sermon series. The new season also brings new opportunities to serve in various capacities. Given the many flexibilities of home education, a pastor’s wife and her children may even be asked to serve together. This can be a wonderful thing.

Personally, I love the way our family’s home life and church life often overlap. Occasionally, my husband works his schedule so he can supervise our older children at church while they work independently. On the flip side, they help him with all kinds of building projects and upkeep. Over the years, my children and I have served together in our church’s food ministry, and my children have helped with childcare during small group meetings and women’s ministry programs. This counts as community service for our home school, and my children learn valuable life skills. Most importantly, they experience the joy of serving the Lord and his people (Psalm 100:2).

As a pastor’s wife, though, it can be tricky to choose between the many different ministry opportunities. What do I say yes to, and how do I say no? Especially as our children have gotten older, if I want to homeschool effectively, it requires dedicated time. This leads to some challenges.

The Challenges

Both ministry life and homeschooling bring their own separate challenges. But put them together, and pastors’ wives who are also homeschool moms face some unique trials. We have to choose between ministry opportunities, and often, they’re all good things. Because we’ve accepted the role of educator, though, we have the responsibility to teach our children. This means we have to guard the family schedule and protect time set aside for lessons.

What about when a church member reaches out for help during designated school hours? Phone calls and texts can derail any mom teacher’s morning. However, when a church member’s number shows up on the phone, we must decide if it’s urgent—or can it wait? It takes discernment. (Sometimes, I respond right away, but most of the time, it can wait).

Another challenge we face is this: we can be even more prone to view our children’s behavior as a reflection of our training and investment. We’ve devoted our time, energy, and love to our families. If our kids falter and flop, we feel it keenly and might call ourselves failures. If they fly, we’re tempted to take credit. While we nurture our children and water seeds of faith, God is the one who works in their hearts to produce fruit (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). Ultimately, our children are responsible before the Lord for their actions (Ezekiel 18:20 and Jeremiah 31:30).

Questions to Consider

In each season of life, we do well to pray with Moses, “Teach us to number our days / that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). We want to make “the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16), dedicating ourselves to what will last and bear eternal fruit. When it comes to balancing homeschooling and ministry, here are some questions to consider:

• Why are you doing what you’re doing—as ministry wife and home educator? If your answer isn’t “for God’s glory,” what is it? How might your perspective need to shift?
• What are the best opportunities that your current season offers you and your family for ministry together? What are the best opportunities for your children to thrive as learners?
• Are you too busy? If so, have you added anything to your plate that doesn’t fit your priorities this season?
• More important than being a pastor’s wife, you’re a Christian; before you’re a homeschool mom, you’re a mom. Have these other roles overshadowed your relationships, and if so, what needs to change?

Ultimately, I’m so grateful for our family’s life together and the unique opportunities it offers to live and serve in community with our church family. Sisters, I hope you see that despite challenges, it’s a privilege and can be a joy to be a pastor’s wife who also teaches her children. God has purposes in all things, and as Paul writes, “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). “All things” includes your ministry and homeschooling, and what is the good that the Lord is working? He uses these things to sanctify you, to make you more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). May he be glorified as you go “back to homeschool.”

©2024 Katie Faris. Used with permission.