A Gift for Our Whole Family

We began homeschooling in 2020. This was not because of the pandemic, but because our oldest son was starting college. At the time, our other three children were attending our local Catholic schools.

We were very happy there, but we were already at the maximum we could afford for tuition. Once we added our son’s college tuition to the mix, we knew we needed to look at other options that would still preserve the values and academic integrity that were important to us while easing the financial strain.

After researching many options, Seton seemed promising. It was affordable and accredited, both of which mattered to us. Another priority was finding a program firmly rooted in the Catholic faith. We wanted our children’s education to reinforce the values we taught at home.

One thing that impressed us about Seton was how naturally the Catholic faith was woven into every subject area. That confirmed for us that Seton could be a good fit. Since that school year already looked different in many ways, we felt like we had little to lose by trying it.

Not What You Expect

Our family might not match the picture many people have in mind when they think about homeschooling. Both my husband and I work outside the home in our local school systems, and at first, we honestly weren’t sure how homeschooling would be possible for us. Over time, though, we realized it doesn’t have to look just one way. With flexibility, creativity, and the help of others, it can come together in ways you might not expect.

One thing that has helped tremendously is the flexibility of Seton’s curriculum. Each summer, we do a “jump start” before I return to work, which gives us a head start for the upcoming year. We’ve also been blessed with people willing to lend a hand.

An older family friend works with my son on his reading lessons each day through video calls, and an uncle who is a retired teacher helps my daughter with math. What once felt impossible slowly started to feel manageable, and we truly believe God helped us find a way to make it work.

Quick Studies

Our children took to Seton surprisingly quickly. Because they had experienced traditional school, they noticed the differences right away. I remember my son joking that, in the time his teacher would still be reminding the class to put their names on their papers, he had already finished his entire Seton spelling quiz with me. They were motivated to finish their work and move on with their day rather than waiting for the clock to signal the end of school.

At first, they weren’t quite sure what to do with the extra time. They were used to being in school for seven hours, then coming home to dinner, showers, and bed, with little time left over. It took some adjusting, but before long, they began filling that time with things that were far more enriching.

New Considerations

They explored activities we likely never would have considered if they had been in school all day. My daughter joined a jump rope team, my son discovered he loved art, and they both joined a homeschool swim team.

We also appreciated the flexibility homeschooling gave our family. We could visit our son at college and plan things around my husband’s schedule, something that had always been difficult when everyone was tied to different calendars.

We began taking advantage of Homeschool Days at places we wanted to visit, such as Williamsburg, the Biltmore House, Old Salem, Chimney Rock State Park, Mount Vernon, and many others. Those trips became some of our favorite family memories.

Along the way, we also visited places that helped our children learn more about the Catholic faith. We toured our local cathedral and visited the Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Experiences like these brought what they were learning to life and made our homeschooling journey even more meaningful.

The Unexpected Benefit

One unexpected benefit of using Seton was how much we learned alongside our children. As we worked through the lessons together, we found ourselves growing in our understanding of the Catholic faith, too. Things we may have heard before took on new depth and understanding. It became a gift for our whole family, not just for our children’s education.

What began as a financial decision has turned into one of the greatest blessings for our family. Homeschooling has given our children opportunities to grow academically, spiritually, and personally. It has also given us more quality time together as a family than we ever expected.