The Wisgarda Family’s Fabulous Adventure

We are a small, close-knit family traveling the journey of life together. Our Catholic faith is the foundation of our home, and we embrace a more traditional way of living. We believe in an “old-fashioned” home where the wife is a stay-at-home mother and teacher, and the father goes to work to provide. Our lifestyle allows us to grow together in faith and cherish the time we have as a family.

Melanie, a dedicated stay-at-home mother, keeps the household running and is the main teacher in our homeschool. Dad, Gary, serves as a sergeant in the county jail, and is our math teacher. Ella, is 7 years old and a rising third grader. We do everything together, from prayers to chores, and strive to keep Christ at the center of our daily lives.

Why We Chose Seton

One of the main reasons we chose homeschooling was to fully immerse our faith in our daughter’s education. Seton has allowed us to do that, integrating our Catholic values into her schooling to strengthen our unity in Christ.

The curriculum’s flexibility enables us to attend holy days of obligation and daily Mass when possible. It also helps us protect Ella from influences that do not align with our beliefs while reinforcing God’s presence in her education. Our time on this earth is short, and we treasure spending as much time together as possible.

Strongly Catholic

We specifically chose Seton because of its strong Catholic identity and academic excellence. Many of its students have excelled in their studies, and some have pursued religious vocations, including people we know personally.

Ella is interested in becoming a nun, inspired by her favorite saints, Saint Therese of Lisieux and Saint Faustina Kowalska. Shortly after making her First Communion, she became an altar server at just 6 years old and continues to grow in her faith.

Ella begins her day with her Morning Offerings and the Divine Praises. Before breakfast, she learns about the saint of the day, and then, depending on the schedule, Ella and Melanie focus on the day’s subjects.

Afterward, they break for lunch, followed by hymns and listening to Christine in Action. She especially loves listening to Fr. Chris Alar and his Explaining the Faith series.

When Gary gets home, it is time for math. After math, we spend time together as a family. Thursdays are particularly special, as we attend Adoration, Holy Hour, and Confession at Saint Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church.

Flexibility of Seton

By far, the greatest benefit of homeschooling has been the ability to be together as a family and share the love of God. We can also create a schedule that works best for us and includes field trips. The flexibility allows us to take advantage of days when Ella is highly motivated while providing the time needed to focus on more challenging subjects.

One of the most significant challenges in our homeschooling journey has been maintaining focus some days.

Keeping a 7-year-old engaged at home can be challenging, especially when tackling tougher lessons. At times, the home atmosphere can be distracting. When Gary was on the night shift, balancing his work schedule with teaching responsibilities was difficult. However, despite these challenges, homeschooling’s flexibility allowed us to adapt our schedule as needed, ensuring that learning remained a priority without sacrificing family time.

Strength in Prayer

DON’T GIVE UP! There will be difficult days when homeschooling feels like a heavy cross to bear. Your child will succeed, struggle, lose focus, and succeed again. In the moments of challenge, I find strength in a special prayer card with pictures of my grandparents. They were my greatest teachers in academics and faith. I remember their unwavering patience and dedication, and it reminds me to persevere. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.”

We are incredibly grateful for the Seton Home Study Program. The integration of faith throughout the curriculum is outstanding, and the program remains affordable for families. We look forward to continuing our journey with Seton, knowing it is helping us provide Ella with a strong foundation in both education and faith.