Introducing Jean,
A Homeschooling Mom
Is yours a typical homeschooling family? Of course not. What would a typical homeschooling family look like anyway? What would the mother do all day? What would the children be like? What would their house look like? How many children would they have?
One of the things I love about homeschool convention season is that I get to meet so many homeschooling mothers and learn a little about their lives. From time to time, I’d like to introduce you to some of them. All of these mothers are real, but I have protected their identity by making up names for them.
Visiting with a homeschooling mama in Cincinnati, April 2013
Jean is a Scottish citizen and an American citizen. Her children also have dual citizenship. Her American dad met her Scottish mom while he was stationed in Scotland. Jean grew up there, and then she too married an American soldier. Jean is a delightful woman, so fun to talk with! As Jean homeschools her children, she can share world history and world geography in a way that I never could. Her children are growing up with a Scottish grandmother who worked for two British prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher, who served from 1979 to 1990, and John Major, who served from 1990 to 1997.
As Jean talked about her concerns about her home country across the Atlantic, she could have almost have been talking about America. Jean was concerned about the growing number of people in Scotland who do not embrace Christianity, and she was concerned about how government programs support immoral lifestyles.
I picked the name Jean because it is a Scottish name. It means “God is gracious.” He is. As you look around you and wonder how you compare to other families and worry about your family not being typical, remember to be gracious to them and to your family, too.
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26, NASB