Michael P. Farris, Esq.
Chairman &
General Counsel

Just for Dads

Volume 52, Program 3 4/21/2004

Are your responsibilities at the office keeping you from being the dad you want to be? Michael Farris and his pastor, Joe Holman, talk about juggling work and family today on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Farris:
Joe, one of the recurring complaints that I hear from homeschooling moms is that they feel like they are flying solo, they're raising their kids alone. What do you think is at the heart of this problem?


Joe Holman:
You know, Mike, I that the heart of the issue is that we put our task before relationships. And what happens is our homes become just a small business or at best a private school, rather than a sanctuary of love. And it's amazing to me that one of the main reasons we choose to homeschool (building relationships) rarely happens because we're so busy doing other things. We need to put people first.


I remember one time I came home and my wife had a huge laundry list of things for me to do, but I was worn out; I was mentally exhausted. You know what she did? She scrapped her list; she went upstairs and wrote me a really nice love letter, and then she had the kids, one at a time, come tell me how great they thought I was. Now that night, nothing really got done except my heart was refilled, my kids expressed love, my wife put me before herself. You know, the kitchen sink and math problems had to wait. But, you know, that's really what it's all about.


Mike:
Joe, I've believed for a long time that a really important idea for the husband's side of it is to make sure that by his actions and his words that the wife understands that the husband is a part of the homeschooling experience and is really committed to it. So I really appreciate your perspective on wives supporting husbands, but it's equally true the other way around. I'm Mike Farris.

Homeschooling can lead to unexpected strain in a marriage. Mike Farris' book, A Sacred Foundation, addresses this subject. For ordering information, call 866-338-8614.