What a headline. Can it be? After all aren’t homeschooler’s supposed to be this tight knit highly functioning family? Aren’t a large percentage of homeschooler’s christians? Sadly divorce has entered our ranks and it wrecks marriages and homes.
Divorce has always been around the homeschool community. There is just a subtle unspoken reluctance to talk about it. Now we talk about single parenting and homschooling which is a needed dialogue. What about the families on the brink? Is the homeschooling community open to helping them? Is the christian community open to helping them?
The guilt associated with a failing marriage is only compounded when you consider the high ideal you have for your family. It should not be a matter that you are “falling off your pedestal”. Your choice to be a homeschooler or christian or have purple hair is not a shield against martial issues.
The stats on marriages with special needs children are scary! If you have ONE child with autism you are 90% likely to divorce. If you have lost a child in pregnancy or early childhood you have a 75% chance of divorce. The incredible stressors that work against your marriage in these circumstances are titanic. I don’t think that means you are doomed though!
It’s time to reclaim your marriage! Set aside the pride and hurt that are stopping you from reaching out. This can be the hardest part. You will be tender so chose your counselor wisely. I would go straight to your pastor for help.
Make a decision to stay together and promise each other. Say it out loud. It’s time to begin rebuilding that love for each other, your family and the vows you made before God. Stormy O’Martian in the Power of the Praying Wife encouraged to ask the Lord to let you love your husband as much as GOD loves your husband.
Take the time to rebuild. If that means you need to stop some of your volunteer work or ministry work for a season then do it! Your marriage is precious and should be carefully tended to.
Show your children that you are actively working on strengthening your marriage. There is no need to share the specifics, that’s your business. By showing them how a marriage works through thick and thin you are making them a better mate to their eventual partner. (I can sneak homeschooling into anything 😉
Please stay strong! Chose to stay together! Gather wise counsel and prayer warriors to stand with you! Do not let Satan take something so precious from you, from your spouse and from your children.
