One of the most beautiful aspects of homeschool parents (which includes the hybrid homeschooler!) is their willingness to learn alongside their children. Any type of schooling can be done poorly. When homeschooling is at its best, the whole family is engaged in pursuing the truth—like St. Albert the Great says, “in the company of friends.”
Stories of the saints, knights, talking beavers, pioneers, orphan girls, runaway slaves, monster slayers, toads that drive fast cars, all work together for the greater glory of God—chiefly by showing that the truth is more than what meets the eye.
High School students Sarah Lanicek and Tim Haunsperger wrote this reflection after meeting with Alan Graham, founder of Community First! Village and Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The interview was part of the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience from The Catholic University of America, a program that helps students apply principled entrepreneurship to their callings in the Image of God.
We made the significant, life-giving choice to have a child with Down syndrome. Each day there is a choice to make that can lead him and us to affirm that life…”now what do I do to guide this unique child to continue to be confident yet make good choices and handle academics without behavioral melt-downs? How can we help him reach his potential? How do we keep him safe?” We cannot do this alone. Being a part of a community has been crucial.
Our weekly schedule is a finely tuned and intricate machine that hums along beautifully, like a gorgeous circus trapeze act, as long as absolutely nothing unexpected happens. Let’s just say that for the last few weeks that has… not been the case. (Instead, I have spent most of February hanging onto the trapeze by my fingernails.)
