Mike Smith:
This week, I’m joined by Barbara Curtis. Barbara is the author of numerous books, including Mommy, Teach Me!, The Mommy Survival Guide, and The Mommy Manual. Barbara, welcome to the program!

Barbara Curtis:
Hi, Mike! Thank you very much for having me.

Mike:
Barbara, you taught preschool-age children and then decided to bring your children home to homeschool them. Tell our listeners about the rewards of doing preschool at home—why did you make that choice?

Barbara:
Well, Mike, first of all, I want to thank God for nudging me in that direction, because, looking back, although I might have had logical reasons to do it, I truly see God involved in the whole process, as He has been in all of my raising my kids. And now that half of my children are grown and out the door, I’m really grateful that I had those early years with them.

What the immediate cause of my deciding to preschool at home was that I had been trained as a preschool teacher, and I had the experience of children falling in love with me—as they tend to do with their preschool teachers. And when I had my own children, I thought, why not just take the things that I know about what children need and their educational development, and apply them with my own children at home.

They’re just such rich, rewarding years, and I wouldn’t want to give them up to someone else.

Mike:
Well, Barbara, thanks for sharing that information today! I look forward to continuing our conversation next time. And until then, I’m Mike Smith.