Sound odd?

For some of you, maybe- for others- it’s a dream come true. Or just the everyday reality in the years to come!

For many years, there has been a bit of a stigma associated with being educated at home. People tend to think of shy, reticent children who are afraid to speak or afraid of other people, but is that the kind of adult that homeschooling actually yields?

I am happy to say, no, it is not! While there may be some individuals who choose to educate their child at home out of fear or to keep them in a bubble, that is certainly NOT the majority!

The majority of parents who choose to teach their children at home see the wealth of benefits. Being able to actually spend time with your children, being able to KNOW what they are exposed to, how they are feeling, and what they are going through, and then being the ones to teach them, train them, and help them to understand what happens in the world and why- without leaving that up to a stranger that you may not know.

Is this saying that public schools and the teachers that teach there are not worthy, somehow sub-par? Absolutely not! The public school system and the teachers who put their heart and their soul into helping the children in their care are not only to be commended, they need to be thanked and appreciated on a regular basis.

But at the same time, the parents who decide to take this on for themselves and take responsibility for their own child’s education and how they turn out deserve absolutely no less than that same commendation and appreciation.

This is true CeCe Reid, and her family out of Poplar, Montana. Many who know the Reid family know their reliable work ethic, their heartwarming manners, and genuine human kindness to others.  We have known the Reid family for a while now, and at any branding or community event, we are always happy to see any of them, and are happy to greet them (pre-2020) with a warm hug and happiness at seeing their faces!

We were just at a branding earlier this year with CeCe and her family, and not only did they work HARD all day, but were also still a joy to visit with and eat with at the end of the day (if you’ve ever been to a branding, you know that is not always the case!) In a time where communication with young ones can be touch and go, CeCe is the epitome of politeness, naturalness and conversational quality- able to speak with anyone about anything. At present she is the Secretary and Vice President of her local 4-H club, she runs barrels at rodeo and shows pigs and steers at exhibition. Her plans in the near future are to pursue a nursing degree, and given her sweet disposition, we know she will excel at that. Talk about a well rounded young lady!

We were so honored to be able to take her senior pictures this year, and to get to spend a beautiful evening with her! She is such a sweet soul, with an easy laugh and ready smile- she is seriously going to have more pictures than she knows what to do with due to her contagious smile and happy laugh! We couldn’t stop the session as long as there was light!

CeCe’s parents may have been on the frontier of homeschooling when they chose to begin that program with their children, but now, here in 2020, they have a head start on the way of life that many are choosing to embrace- keeping their child at home and educating them on their own, or with the help of virtual learning. In speaking with her mother, I was able to ask what some tips are that she would share with others who are now making this choice, and what could help them to succeed the way that she and her family have, here is what she had to say.

#1. “Encourage (If not enforce) reading!” Indeed, 2020 may be the year of video, but how far can we really get without and interest and passion for reading? Even the videos on Facebook have captions on them. Reading, and reading well, is not just a necessity, it is a skill that can be developed and honed, and it is certainly not something that can or should be optional.

#2. “Don’t micromanage them… let them try to figure things out first.” This may be a hard one, especially for parents who are just getting used to having their child at home, but I thought this one was especially important- as adults, who of us like to have our thoughts and actions policed at all times… give them a chance and it could well reward and surprise you both!

#3. “Set high expectations, and then let them own their successes!” How beautiful.

#4. “Cherish the time you GET to spend with your kids.” Whether they are moving out after high school or moving on in some other way, at some point, everything with your child will be your last. Your last breakfast with them, the last time you kiss them goodnight before they move out, the last time you pray with them as a family. Enjoy the moments you get BEFORE they are the lasts.

I hope this proves some help and inspiration to you if you are taking this step this year! As for the pictures, well, they are a beautiful symbol of a great start in life- and hopefully provide the goal that you get to look forward to soon!