Blog

I know, not too many homeschool dads read this blog. Most readership is homeschool moms; so moms, you’ll just have to share. Since today is Father’s Day, at least in the United States, I thought it would be nice to write something for fathers.

For most of my school years, I attended a small private school, where the teacher chose my curriculum and pretty much oversaw my education. However, as I have reviewed my education, I have realized that one of the most important things I ever learned was taught me by my dad. My dad taught me how to work—to work efficiently and to work thoroughly. I can remember times when I fumed to my brother that Dad was sure a slavedriver, but today I have blessed him many times for the valuable lesson of hard work that he gave me. My dad taught me that no job was above or below me. I had to do it, no matter how grossed out I got. I had to do it, no matter if I thought it was far too difficult, I was expected to figure it out. There weren’t boys’ jobs or girls’ jobs in our home; my brother and I both mowed the lawn and did the dishes. My dad taught me what the verse, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) both by insistence and by example. My dad could work as hard as anybody I ever met in my life and my dad was my hero. Now I know how to work.

Today, I would like to encourage all homeschool fathers to take up the task of teaching their children how to work—to really work. “The father, as the head of his own household, should understand how to train his children for usefulness and duty. This is his special work, above every other.” (Adventist Home, p. 221) Mothers also teach children to work, but due the fact that fathers tend to be a bit sterner in their nature, they make the best teachers for this important life lesson.

Fathers, if you train your children to be good workers, you will receive reward for your efforts many times over in the years to come. Your children will bless you for it.