I have been accused of isolating my children by homeschooling them. But I feel that people who view homeschooling in this light are naive to the facts. I don’t isolate my children.
My children are sheltered from the world’s view of marriage (or lack thereof) and instead allowed to learn the Biblical roles of a man and wife striving to follow their God-ordained roles in the home.
My children are not isolated from others but I shelter them from bad influences by being VERY selective of what company they are allowed to keep.
My children might not know the latest slang terms for many things but the are learning scripture and how to speak English. This is not isolation just sheltering.
My children have faced birth and death, both of people and animals. They are not sheltered from the facts of life.
My children don’t know what a cuss word is, and that sheltering is fine with me.
My children have play dates and go to the park and play at McDonald’s with other kids. They are in classes at the library and at church. This is not isolation.
I shelter my children from other’s lifestyle choices and blatant disregard for God’s principles. And I am fine with that.
Isolation is being completely cut off from something. My children are in no way isolated. They are socially developing and able to function in a group or classroom. They may not know about as many things as some other children. But they are learning to function in a family. My oldest changes diapers, helps wash dishes and fold laundry. Even my two year old helps pick up toys and wash windows. These are tools and knowledge that they need to function when they become adults. They do not need to learn about evolution, or gay rights, or drugs when they are 6. But they will know how to take responsibility for their actions and how to carry out an assignment when given one.
So, to anyone that would say my children are isolated, I ask you to think again about your choice of words and look at my children. They are not isolated, they are just innocent children growing up in the way of the Lord. And childhood innocence is something that nowadays is more often than not lost at a VERY early age.
Good way to put it. You are doing a great job with your children. People often assume that when your children are with Aunt Meagan and I that they are ours. A mistake we correct, but not because of embarrassment. I would be very proud to claim each of them as my own. They are well behaved and smart. Unfortunatley they will be educated about all that other stuff in time. Their childhood world doesn’t need to be interupted with it now. Thank you for raising your children in a way that they will become the adults this country needs to survive. You are doing a marvelous job.
I too am accused of isolating my children as if keeping them from all the evils of the world is a bad thing. my oldest isn’t even 4 yet but many people still find it disturbing that my children don’t know cuss words, that they are easily taken off guard by violence on tv or scary halloween costumes. I get strange looks and rude comments when I gaurd my children from certain television programs and movies, yes even some Disney movies. I do not believe that my 1, 2, or even 3 year old need to be subject to everything that am adult is subject to in these early and impressionable years. I firmly believe that it is my husband and mines duty to teach our children the rules and commandments of the bible and the picture of the family the way that God intended so that when they are intoduced to the evils and perversions of the world that they will know the difference and have a clear understanding of what is God plan and what is not. Their little minds are soaking up so much and so much they cannot even fully comprehend. I don’t see the need in exposing them to everything as soon as possible when they do not know how to process it yet. Also they are little mimickers, children at this age learn thier behaviors and what is exceptable by what they see others being allowed to get away with. Our family goes out in public and people marvel at how our children are so good, they act as if its a coincidence or something. I assure you that I have fabulous children but that without all the love and equal amounts of discipline that they recieve in our home they would not know how to behave themselves in public. The are taught to love and obey. Love each other and love thier neighbors and obey God by being obedient to thier parents. Even my one year old is learning the difference between right and wrong and what is acceptable and what is not. I think that sometimes parents sell their kids short believing that they are not able to learn such things so early. Children function so much better with firm boundries. When they know what is expected of them and what is not ok they can play with confidence. Thanks for your insightful blog Miss Amanda.