Today, we have Lindsey from Notes from the Parsonage sharing her experience coming to homeschooling as a teenager. If you are considering homeschooling a teen who has been in a traditional school setting, feel free to leave your questions for Lindsey!
Name & Age:
Lindsey Jane Godbold, 33 years old
How many years were you homeschooled?:
I went to public school in a small town from Kindergarten to 10th grade. I was homeschooled for 11th and 12th grade (did both of those in 7 months).
Favorite Homeschool Memory:
I loved the independence of it. Not having to do any more busy work.
Favorite Curriculum:
I loved my English Grammar workbooks. I think the most useful has been Consumer Math, where I learned about filing my own taxes, compounding interest, etc.
Worst Homeschooling Memory:
My brothers were much younger and they homeschooled longer than I did. But my mom always took us to these homeschool events, like Homeschool Skate Day or Homeschool Field Trip Day or Homeschool Day at Six Flags. While we were Christian and did attend church, we weren’t the denim jumper wearing homeschoolers that were predominately in our area. My brothers found it easy to fit in at these events. I found it impossible.
What did you choose to do after graduation?:
I went to college and became the youngest person to graduate from my nursing program (and graduated with a 3.97 GPA). After college, I became an operating room nurse.
Why did you choose to do that?:
Honestly, I just needed to do something. I figured I could work as a nurse while I decided what I was going to do with my life. I was really good at science and math, so it seemed like a good fit for me at the time.
Will you homeschool your own children?:
Yes. And I do. I have seven kids, and have been homeschooling them for 7 years now. I didn’t really plan to, it just came about naturally.
Why or why not?:
It ended up being a good fit for our family. It lets the kids work at their own pace and to their own strengths. It is an extremely custom education for them.
Any regrets related to being homeschooled?:
I wish I had done it sooner. My mom let me choose, and I think I chose poorly for the last several years I stayed in public school. I don’t think I was really equipped to make the best decision at that age.
Anything you wish you had been taught?:
My homeschool education was extremely great.
How did homeschooling prepare you for what you are doing now (college or work)?:
I learned very good work ethic. I learned how to schedule and organize my time to get things done. I was extremely efficient at studying alone when I got to college, and didn’t struggle with the heavy work load like many of my peers. I learned how to find answers on my own without someone basically giving me the answer they wanted me to find. I also developed an appreciation for learning something just for the sake of curiosity and not to fulfill some sort of requirement.
What is the worst misnomer about homeschoolers?:
That we are not properly socialized. I feel like homeschoolers are the ones who are socialized in the way a society actually works. We learn to interact with all ages, not just our peer group. As someone who came out of the very dysfunctional social setting of a public school, I found so much peace and freedom in leaving that world behind and actually getting into the “real world” as a homeschooler.
Lindsey Godbold is a homeschooling stay-at-home-mom of 7 and pastor’s wife. You can find her blogging at Notes from the Parsonage.
Diana says
Lovely interview! Thank you for sharing!!