Swimming Upstream

photo courtesy of ulc.org

That's me.  Swimming upstream.  Going against the flow.  Fighting my way through. Sometimes it gets really old…but I’ve been doing it pretty much my whole life.  I’ve never been one to just join the crowd or choose something just because it’s “popular.”  In fact, I may do the exact opposite; choose something because it’s NOT popular.  When I was younger anyway. (No strong will here!) Ha!

But there are times when going against the norm is just plain difficult. 

Homeschooling.  Sometimes I feel like I'm "this" close to sending Jacob to school, but I just CAN'T.  Not just because of the germs either. You see, having a chronic illness like Myasthenia Gravis means that I have to take medication to lower my immune system, which means I am immunosuppressed.  That means that I get sick more easily than the average person, and we all know how elementary school is basically a large petri dish.

People with MG don’t always die “just” from MG. But don’t you believe for one second that people don’t die from it…I can give you far too many names of those who have. However, sometimes, they die from complications caused by the disease. For example, I knew a young lady who went from aspirating her breakfast (breathing something into her lungs/airway) to the vent to cardiac arrest and death in 48 hours.  She had MG, but had been stable until that incident.  It can happen “that” fast.

It’s not JUST that.  There are so many things I just don’t need him to know that he would learn at public school.  And, (I’m not just saying this because I’m his Momma…I’m also a teacher by trade) Jacob is just so smart....he would be bored out of his mind in a “regular” classroom.   But it's just not healthy to be around your child 24/7/365. 

People give me grief about homeschooling.  “Why don’t you let him go to school?”  He IS going to school.

“Why are you afraid of public school?”  I’m not afraid, thank you very much.  I’m mostly annoyed with it because it teaches things I don’t believe in, and I don’t need my 10 year old son to even KNOW what marijuana is, or have to turn down a cigarette from a 12 year old.

However living where I live, (in God’s country, for sure)… there is a lot of isolation. 

Feeling alone emotionally. 

Physically, for sure.  Mentally.  Parenting.  Discipline. It's tough right now, let me tell ya.  It’s tough to homeschool if you’re 100% healthy.  Add chronic illness into the mix, and it’s really quite hard.

I know other people have it much worse.  MUCH worse.  There are a few people in some of my MG groups online who are MUCH sicker than I am, and have other horrifying personal things going on.  I know that I have to keep my chin up. 

Jesus told us that in this life we would have trouble. 

  

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

 But He also told us that He would never leave us or forsake us.

^8” The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

That’s one of my and Jacob’s memory verses.  See, we can DO that in homeschool.  My son knows the Word, and has since age 5.  He has dozens of Scriptures already memorized.  Yes, he learns a lot on Wednesday nights at AWANA. But he learns just as much at “school.” 

Jesus wasn’t much of one for “following the crowd.”  And I suppose if that was good for Him, it’s certainly good enough for me.