Tell us a little bit about your family dynamics. Steve and I are married 25 years. Our oldest has moved out and is the Director of Programs at Woodcrest Retreat in Ephrata. The rest of the children are at home. They are at varying stages in their educational journeys. We prioritize mealtime and conversation. We try our hardest to protect mealtime even though there are seasons when it is really difficult. Being together over a meal is of huge importance to us. We’ve had many important discussions over the dinner table. Ginger is always busy with something, while Steve’s hard job is to anchor her and the children so that we are not over-committed and worn out. It’s a hard job! We love music and being active with others through service or relaxation times. We encourage each person to discover the gifts God has given them and to pursue activities that match those giftings.
How long have you been homeschooling? We are starting our 19th year.
What was one of the main reasons you chose to homeschool? We originally considered it because of our own social and academic experiences, but once we attended a CHAP convention, God grabbed our hearts and we realized our responsibility to our children to train them in all areas of their lives.
In what activities does your family participate? The most important ones are Family devotions, reading, and meal time . Additionally, we do CHAP volunteering, teach parenting and marriage classes at church, host informational homeschooling talks at church and in the community, and participate in our local homeschool co-op (where Ginger directs theater productions). The kids do community fastpitch softball (the girls play, Ginger has coached), flag football, ice skating, family gatherings, camp ministry, youth group worship leaders & worship leaders at church, and various other volunteer roles at church.
What have been your most helpful resources? CHAP, homeschooling community – those who have gone before me, and speakers on the homeschool circuit.
What educational philosophy/curriculum do you follow? Eclectic
What has been one of the highlights for you in homeschooling your children? Seeing them grow in their knowledge and relationship with Jesus and making their faith their own, living it out in their decisions. Also seeing the close bonds between the kids and how they love each other so.
What was your favorite field trip(s)? Jamestown, Erie Maritime Museum, and Gettysburg.
What was one of the funniest things to happen during a homeschool day? I was watching a long Math U See algebra lesson with my oldest child. Once it was over, I looked behind me, and my youngest had pulled all the books off the lower shelves into a pile and climbed on top, happy as a clown. I told Steve Demme the mess was his fault.
What have you found to be a challenge in homeschooling? The two toughest challenges for me thus far have been the child who wants to go to public school and the child who learns differently and whose gifts do not present as early or as obviously as the others.
Any tips in dealing with that challenge? Steve and I were firmly convicted by the Lord to home educate our children. We knew that the public school was not the place for them, even though educating them ourselves was not always easy. (The Lord does not call us to a life of ease, does He?) We had conversations with the child who wanted to go to school where we let them voice their desires, but then we shared what God had placed on our hearts. It was our responsibility to stand firm in what He called us to do, even if it was against what our child wanted. At the time, it was challenging in our relationship. But after a while, that child came back and thanked us for staying the course with homeschool. For the situation regarding a different learning style, I really just had to unlearn even more of the habits and assumptions that were ingrained in me through public school and university. I needed to diverge from the plan, modify curriculum, expectations, and ease up for the sake of the child. That was really hard for this list checker! I also had to look for specific things to compliment and praise to bring a sense of value to this child’s life. Everyone has value – but society places value on the wrong things and it’s our responsibility to explain and relate the true value of our children to them so they understand their worth. In all of the challenges, God is stretching and changing me so that I reflect Christ more plainly and live as an example to my children.
What advice would you give to someone who has just begun homeschooling? Stay the course! Do not judge yourself based on what you learned about education in public school or university. Learning is not schooling. We need to be willing to work, suffer, and sacrifice in order to home educate our children. Is it hard? Absolutely. But the rewards are far greater than anything else you will put your hand and mind to (well, except your relationship with Christ and your spouse). Find a community that will support you through the hard spots. Build relationships – lots of them. This is the treasure in heaven that God is inviting you to build up. Bring Him glory by treasuring and training up the children He has blessed you with. There is no greater blessing.
