• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Nav Social Menu

Nicki Truesdell

Homeschooling and Christian Parenting

  • Homepage
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Homeschool 101
  • Anyone Can Homeschool by Nicki Truesdell
  • Mystery of History (How we use it)
  • Subscribe by Text or Email
  • Contact Nicki
  • Homeschooling in Texas
  • Events
  • Book Lists
Home | homeschool | high school | Back to Homeschool: High School and College Part 2

Back to Homeschool: High School and College Part 2

high school, homeschool

You can read Part 1 of this post here.

 So, if college is not in the picture, what does high school look like in our house?

Pretty much like homeschool has for 12 years. You see, the world’s standards for my children are not the same as mine. This is why a transcript is not important in our home. The “state” may require a set of credits, but what do those credits mean if college is not in their future? The SAT is not as important to me as knowing that my children are fully functioning adults.

In our home, we say that we are raising “people, not high-school graduates.” If I want my kids to grow up into functioning adults, I want them to be able have a healthy, God-honoring marriage, manage a home, and raise children, “walk in the truth,” and “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” The jobs or careers they have are secondary in importance to all of these.
 
No matter the path they choose, we believe that all of our children should have some basic abilities:
  • reading fluently for enjoyment and education (to avoid “boredom” and to further their education throughout their lives, learn new skills, and to teach their own children)
  • language arts mastery (superior grammar, spelling, and writing skills allow for convincing communication, no matter what lifestyle they choose)
  • math for real life (giving them the ability to be creative or productive through handicrafts, and also the ability to manage finances wisely)
  • good work ethic (allowing them to do any work that is necessary with a good attitude)
Obviously, this is not all, but it certainly includes a more detailed list under each category.

In my daughter’s case, specifically, we know that she plans to pursue one of her hobbies as a means of income. Her hobbies are many and useful, and she already enjoys a small business sewing for friends. She also recently signed up with Origami Owl to become a consultant (Designer), since they accept girls under 18. She is already extremely capable as a homemaker. She is well read and can carry on intelligent conversation. I am not bragging; I’m stating her qualifications as a near-adult.

So her high school path is preparing her for her specific future. Academics have taken a backseat to “real life” studies. Her schedule currently looks like this:

  • Bible
  • Reading (some for Sonlight history and some picked by me)
  • Math (Algebra and “personal finances” – she recently opened a checking account)
  • IEW (writing based on history, current events, or any topic we discuss)
  • Biology (Biology 101 series)
  • Constitution (Hillsdale College online course)
  • Driver’s Ed
  • Character Improvement (Polished Cornerstones)

In her free time, she reads even more, listens to audiobooks, makes quilts, cooks from scratch, decorates her room, dallies in gardening, plays Minecraft, and helps to care for her 4 younger siblings.

Our desire is to train daughters who are homemakers, and sons who can provide for their families (so their wives can be homemakers). We have always encouraged our children (both boys and girls) to consider living at home until marriage. There are several reasons for this:

  • accountability: even young adults benefit from wise counsel, parental authority, and someone to answer to. In the security of home, they can explore their independence while seeking support from those that love them most and know them best. If there is a courting or dating relationship, this is especially helpful.
  • economy: living at home is just cheaper, hands down. If a young man or woman plans to have a home and family, they are wise to save money until marriage and prepare for that family, rather than spending their meager income on rent and utilities just to “be out on their own.”
  • relationship: the relationship between a young adult and their parents is new and different compared to that of a teenager and their parents. A new friendship and respect develops in both directions, creating a special bond that will benefit the young adult when they do finally move on.

 The younger kids in our house say they “will always live with Mom and Dad.” We know that will change as they grow, but we never say “you have to move out when you graduate!” or anything of the kind. We look forward to these new, young adult relationships.

Before my daughter arrived at her decision not to attend college, she considered several possibilities: cosmetology, interior design, and cake decorating. But after further research into each specific field, she was able to narrow her choices based on the type of schooling required, the type of work or hours required, the stress of the job, and how it would affect her future in being a homemaker. Her goal is to learn to do something that will allow her to work from home (if a job is necessary to support herself or supplement her husband’s income). None of the above choices seemed appealing after deeper thought. This process took about 2 years; it did not happen overnight.

So as her senior year begins, we will enjoy the transition from child to adult, and spend each day talking, learning, discussing, and planning for whatever future God has for her. It’s actually a very refreshing and exciting time!

So, what if one of my kids wants to be a doctor? What if my daughter finds herself a single mom at some point? What will she fall back on?

I will answer some common questions in Part 3.

Photobucket SharePhotobucket

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Related

August 1, 2013 · 1 Comment

Get my book!

Anyone Can Homeschool by Nicki Truesdell

Shop my history series

Knowledge Keepers Bookstore
Previous Post: « Back to Homeschool: Highschool and College Part 1
Next Post: Back to Homeschool: High School and College Part 3 »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Bambi says

    August 5, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    Love 🙂

    Reply

Footer

Nicki on Instagram

I have two very different sons. One has been an extrovert since he could talk. The other has been an introvert for just as long. The thing about home education is that it doesn’t have to happen at home. What it really means is “not public school.” Not stuck in a classroom all day. Not confined to a government calendar. Not a slave to the system. 23 years ago I helped my aunt Kari start a homeschool co-op. At that time, I had one child and she was three years old. If you have a child that struggles to read, read to them. Read aloud every day. That’s the best advice I can give. New year. New house. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: How do I homeschool with babies and toddlers in the mix?? Don’t let people tell you that “you can’t shelter your children.” Yes, you can. And you absolutely should. Mothers have a crucial role to play in society, although their job doesn’t always feel very “crucial.” Wiping baby faces, repeating instructions, settling squabbles, and making food is repetitive and doesn’t always seem important. For 2023, I’ll be preaching the same ol’ message that I can’t stop saying: “education is discipleship,” and “you can do it” homeschooling encouragement. Not gonna make the message easier to swallow when the world is attacking children on a grander scale every day. I’m also not going to tell you that homeschooling is a breeze, but I will keep saying that it’s worth every minute.

Nicki on Pinterest

Nicki on Facebook

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright 2009-2021 Nicki Truesdell