Chapel
Seasons
of Change
Homeschooling the Heart of a High School Student
An interview with Sally Clarkson
B By y J Je en nn ni if fe er r Pepito
Pepito
As a new homeschool mom,
Seasons of a
Mother’s Heart
was one of the
first books I read. Sally Clarkson’s gentle
encouragement to enjoy each moment
with your children was a great inspiration to me. When I heard her speak years
later, her words of wisdom again
inspired me to continue building relationships with my children, realizing the
far-reaching effects we as mothers have
on their lives. I am excited to talk with
her now, focusing on how we can
disciple our high school students as they
prepare to enter a new phase of life.
TOS: Many parents dread homeschooling through the teen years,
feeling like the academics will be too
hard for them. How did you handle
getting your children through the last
four years of school?
SALLY: The reason that so many
parents dread the high school years is
that they think they are supposed to
teach or instruct their children in
areas where they are not confident.
Another pressure is that parents with
students around that age seem to
become extremely anxious about
transcripts and SAT tests and getting
everything in that their child needs.
The peer pressure of what others are
doing with their children can be
threatening.
All colleges need your money, so
getting into college is not difficult. I
do not have a single friend whose
child has not gotten into college who
wanted to go there. My children have
applied to and been accepted by so
many different colleges: local,
private, Christian, and international.
Our transcripts have never been questioned. For giving scholarships,
colleges are most interested in SAT
scores and extracurricular activities. I
see many moms trying to be sure their