October 8, 2025 • 23 mins
School safety drills. News alerts. Lockdowns. As parents, it’s no wonder we lie awake at night wondering if our kids are truly safe.
In this powerful and compassionate episode, Christy-Faith addresses the fear every parent feels but few talk about out loud: the fear that school is no longer the safest place for our children. From the rise in school shootings to silent threats like bullying, anxiety, and emotional trauma, Christy brings the facts, the heart, and the hope parents need right now.
The Christy-Faith Show | Ep. 86
🛠️ LINKS & RESOURCES
Free Homeschooling Resources
Find everything you need to simplify and strengthen your homeschool journey:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/links
Thrive Homeschool Community
Join Christy-Faith’s online community for mentorship, encouragement, and real friendships that last:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/thrive
Christy-Faith’s List
A curated directory of homeschool-friendly service providers, businesses, and colleges:
👉 https://christy-faiths-list.com
Christy-Faith’s Book: Homeschool Rising
📖 Encouragement and strategy for starting strong or starting over:
👉 https://christy-faith.com/book-homeschool-rising
🎙️ SHOW SPONSORS
BJU Press Homeschool
✔ Flexible structure with a biblical worldview
✔ Built-in critical thinking and hands-on learning
👉 https://www.bjupresshomeschool.com/christy
CTC Math
✔ Online, self-paced K–12 math curriculum
✔ 50% off plus a free trial for Christy-Faith listeners
👉 https://ctcmath.com/how-it-works/home-school?tr_id=CF
LearningRx
✔ Cognitive skills training that helps with ADHD, dyslexia, and learning challenges
✔ 35+ years of proven results and research-backed methods
💰 Use code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment
👉 https://learningrx.com
True North Academy
✔ Flexible Learning Options for Grades 6–12: Live, online classes or self-paced courses
✔ Future-Ready Programs: Dual Degree and Tech & Trades Diplomas
✔ Faith-Friendly Excellence: Small class sizes, real-world skills, and teachers who share your values
📅 Classes are starting soon!
👉 https://truenorthhomeschool.academy
OTHER EPISODES FOR YOU 👀
Does Homeschooling Shelter your kids too much?
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/does-homeschooling-shelter-your-kids-too-much/
The Biggest Myths About Homeschool Socialization
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/the-biggest-myths-about-homeschool-socialization/
Behind the Scenes of Thrive Homeschool Community.
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/behind-the-scenes-of-thrive-homeschool-community/
🎧 SHOW RECAP
In this deeply needed episode, Christy-Faith helps you:
✅ Understand the real data on school safety and why parents’ concerns are valid—not paranoid
✅ Explore the unseen dangers beyond violence—bullying, anxiety, and emotional trauma
✅ See how homeschooling restores peace, safety, and connection to family life
✅ Learn why homeschooling isn’t about hiding from the world but building resilience for it
✅ Discover how personalized learning at home nurtures curiosity, confidence, and emotional health
✅ Find encouragement to follow your parental instincts, even when the world tells you not to
If you’ve ever dropped your child off at school with a knot in your stomach, this episode is for you.
📌 Be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with another parent who needs to hear that their fears are valid—and that there’s hope on the other side.
💬 What made you start thinking about homeschooling? Share your story—we’d love to hear it.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christy-Faith (00:00):
This past year, we watched as a street in our
(00:03):
area was being renamed KendrickCastillo Parkway. At the time, I
didn't know who KendrickCastillo was. At the time, I
assumed it must have been afallen policeman. And when I
found out who Kendrick Castillowas, I must admit, I was
embarrassed. You might rememberhim.
He was the young 18 year oldstudent at STEM school in
(00:24):
Highlands Ranch who died lungingat an active shooter, giving his
life to protect his classmates.Not too long ago, I was running
errands as I was taking my sonto basketball, and I drove by
Columbine High School andstopped and thought to myself,
man, wow. It feels like that'swhere it kind of all began. Last
week, there was a shooting inEvergreen, Colorado. Recently,
(00:47):
two children were killed and 21injured at a Catholic school in
Minnesota.
In November, a 15 year oldstudent killed four students in
Michigan. And then there wasalso that 19 year old who opened
fire at the performing arts highschool in Missouri in 2022, and
the list goes on and on and onand on. And, of course, we have
(01:08):
the tragedy in Utah where welost Charlie Kirk. Our children
now practice lockdown drills asroutinely as fire drills in our
country. You'd be crazy to thinkthat this is not affecting our
children.
Every ringing bell, everyloudspeaker announcement chips
away at their sense of safety.They carry this in their bodies,
(01:28):
in their sleep, in the way somany beg you not to go to
school. We are a nation ofparents holding our breath,
bracing for the next alert, thenext not my child turned into my
child. If you're a parentconsidering homeschooling
because you can't shake the fearthat school is no longer a safe
place for your child, know this.You are seen, you are heard, and
(01:52):
your concern is valid.
If you're searching for answersright now, doubting your
instincts, or feeling like theworld is gaslighting you for
even thinking about pulling yourchild out of school to
homeschool, I promise you, youhave found your people here. We
will not dismiss your worry, andwe are not gonna call you
paranoid. Maybe you're tuning intoday and you're already a
(02:13):
homeschooler. This show is foryou too. Maybe right now with
your homeschooling because youknow what?
It's not the easiest choice.There's a lot of sacrifices in
homeschooling. Worth it? Yes.Which I'll get into.
But, yeah, it's hard. Maybeyou're exhausted. Maybe you're
facing tough days right now andquestioning if it would just be
easier to send your kids toconventional school. This
(02:33):
episode is for you too becauselet this be your reminder. You
chose something brave and deeplyloving, something your child may
not thank you for yet, but oneday will understand.
So, yes, we're speaking to twodifferent people today. First,
the parent overwhelmed by thenext school shooting on the
news, the stories of bullying inthe hallways, and that deep gut
(02:55):
feeling that something isbroken. And you're thinking
about homeschooling, but everystereotype, like the
socialization, am I shelteringmy child? I'm not a certified
teacher. All that stuff is justcoming at you telling you
there's no way I could do this.
I'm gonna address those fearslater on in the episode today.
Because make no mistake, I lovehomeschooling. I think
(03:16):
homeschooling is the best thingfor kids. Do I think everybody
can homeschool? Do I thinkeverybody should homeschool?
Absolutely not. But maybe youcan. Maybe you can't write this
second. Maybe you have to makeadjustments. But maybe, just
maybe, it could be the bestdecision you've ever made for
your family.
And if school safety is what gotyou here today to think about
(03:37):
it, so be it. I'm really sadabout it, but you are in good
hands here. And also, youcurrent homeschooling parents
who are listening today, thisshow is gonna remind you of that
why. Your days might feel reallylong right now, but there is
peace in knowing that your childis truly safe and you are giving
them the best possible educationout there. This show is for you
(03:58):
too.
Here's what you can expect intoday's episode. First, we're
gonna dive into the hard factsabout school safety and why so
many families are rethinkingtheir options. Next, I'm gonna
share with you the benefits ofhomeschooling beyond just
keeping your child safe. We'regonna cover academics, family
connection, and emotionalhealth. Then we're gonna tackle
(04:18):
the most common objections Ihear from parents just like you
considering this journey, andI'll walk you through real
practical solutions, and yes,some of those myths.
And finally, if you're seriousabout exploring homeschooling,
I'll give you some concreteaction steps and resources to
help you make the next move withconfidence. Although it saddens
me why I had to make this showand why you're listening today,
(04:40):
I'm still glad you're here.Hello, everyone. Welcome. If you
don't know me already, my nameis Kristi Faith.
I am an educational andparenting expert over twenty
(05:02):
years of experience, speaker,podcaster, and founder of Thrive
Homeschool Community. I startedThrive Homeschool Community
because I don't think you shouldfeel the pressure of building a
world class education for yourchild based on doom scrolling on
social media and scatteredFacebook advice on the Internet.
Educating our kids is animportant job, and the secret
(05:22):
sauce to homeschooling is thehomeschooling parent. And in
Thrive Homeschool Community, wehelp you build the homeschool
that your children deserve. It'snot always open.
If it's closed right now, get onthe wait list because we do
offer something special for ourwaitlisters when we reopen.
Okay. Now back to our show. It'seasy to dismiss a parent's fear
as overreaction, especially whenso many families in our country
(05:46):
feel powerless. It's easy tohear the stories on the news and
think, but that won't happenhere.
But I wanna take a moment tolook at the numbers, not with
the goal of creating fear, butto validate the gut feeling that
so many of you already have. Thefeeling that our schools are no
longer safe. The data doesn'tlie. Let's start with the most
(06:07):
terrifying reality, gunviolence. Last year alone, there
were 346 incidents of gunfire onschool grounds in The United
States.
That's nearly one every singleday. These incidents resulted in
a hundred and sixty four deathsand three hundred and thirty
five injuries. And when I seethese numbers, I don't see
numbers. I see shatteredfamilies, traumatized
(06:30):
communities, and children whowill never be the same. But you
and I both know that the threatsto our children's safety aren't
always so loud.
Sometimes the danger is silentand happens in the hallways, in
locker rooms, and online. Nearlya 160,000 children stay home
from school each day simplybecause they're afraid of being
(06:50):
bullied. Think about that. Onein every five students, twenty
percent of all kids reportsbeing bullied. For these
children, school isn't a placeof learning.
It's a place of survival, andthe physical threats go beyond
fists and sticks and stones. TheCenters for Disease Control and
Prevention reports that nearlyten percent of high school
(07:11):
students have been threatened orinjured with a weapon on school
property. That's one in everyten teenagers. Then there's the
deepest betrayal of trust, abusefrom the very people meant to
protect our children. Researchfunded by the US Department of
Education revealed a horrifyingstatistic.
One in ten children willexperience some form of sexual
(07:33):
misconduct from a schoolemployee before they graduate
high school. It's a reality thatis difficult to even comprehend,
let alone accept. When you lookat these numbers, it becomes
clear that your concern isn'tparanoia. It's a rational
response to a systemic crisis.The anxiety your child feels
about going to school isn't justin their head, and don't let
(07:57):
anyone gaslight you and tell youotherwise.
No child should be forced tolearn in a state of fight or
flight. The knot in your stomachwhen you drop them off isn't an
overreaction. It's a logicalconclusion based on undeniable
facts. You know what you'redropping them off to, and it
breaks your heart, and you don'twanna do it. Our children are
(08:18):
being asked to learn inenvironments where they are
statistically unsafe, andparents are right to question if
there is a better way.
But I'm here to tell you thatthere is more to this story than
fear. We'll get into that rightafter this work. As a homeschool
mom who values a family togetherapproach and leans towards the
classical and Charlotte Masonstyles, I often struggle to
(08:40):
bring my educational vision tolife with my kids' diverse ages
and learning needs. With all ourinterests and super packed
schedule, bridging that gapbetween the dreamy homeschool I
want and reality, I gotta behonest. It's a challenge.
Now, yes, I know perfectionisn't the goal. But if you're
listening and you could use alittle easing of your mental
load in your day to day, I founda resource that has become the
(09:01):
quiet hero of our routine and itcould be a really great option
for you too. BJU Presshomeschool curriculum. Now many
think that BJU Press homeschoolis solely an all in one option
and though it does excel in thatrole, did you know you can also
opt for specific courses andtailor them to fit your family's
needs just as I have? BJU PressHomeschool provides the perfect
(09:21):
balance of structure andflexibility and easily
complements my family's mixedage family together on the couch
learning style.
They are second to none inintegrating a biblical
worldview, stimulating criticalthinking, and offering tons of
hands on activities in thelessons. To find out how BJU
Press Homeschool can comealongside you in your
homeschooling goals too. Visitbjupresshomeschool.com or click
(09:45):
the link in the show notes. Isyour child struggling with
attention, memory, reading,writing, or math? If you're
experiencing this, you know howheart wrenching it is to watch
them face these hurdles.
You've poured love, time, andattention into their education,
yet the struggle persists,leaving you feeling stuck and
desperately searching foranswers. You guys, I want you to
know about LearningRx, a provenprogram designed to help your
(10:07):
child's cognitive skills,enabling them to think faster,
learn more easily, and performat their best. I'm talking
getting real long term help herewith things like ADHD and
dyslexia. LearningRx is backedby thirty five years of
research, and their results aretransformative. Use code HOME 50
for $50 off your cognitiveskills assessment.
Go to LearningRx dot com orclick the link in the show
(10:30):
notes. Okay. Welcome back. Sowhat if you could give your
child so much more than justsafety? What if homeschooling
opened doors you haven't evenimagined yet?
While school safety might bewhat brought you here today, I
want you to know that that isjust the beginning of what's
actually possible. Maybe this isdivine meeting because what you
(10:52):
can find in homeschooling willbetter prepare your child for
their future, give them a richerand more personalized education,
connect your family in ways younever even thought was possible.
It allows you to meet yourchild's unique needs
academically, emotionally, andsocially in ways traditional
schooling can't even hold acandle to. It empowers you to
(11:15):
cultivate their curiosity, toensure that they never lose that
love of learning that they wereborn with. It offers them
resilience and confidence allwithin the walls of your own
safe home.
I want you to picture somethingfor me. Imagine your child not
just surviving the school day,but truly coming alive in their
education. Imagine an educationbuilt around their curiosity,
(11:40):
not a standardized test. This iswhere the real magic of
homeschooling begins far beyondthe locked doors and the active
shooter drills and the safetyplans. Man, am I so thankful
that my kids have never had toparticipate in one of those
drills at a school.
When you bring education home,you're not replicating the
classroom at your kitchen table.You're not standing in front of
(12:02):
a whiteboard all day. That's notwhat we're doing over here. But
what you are doing is you arenow unlocking a completely
personalized learning journeyfor your kids. Think about it.
If your child is fascinated byancient Egypt, you don't have to
wait for the one week in thatcurriculum for history class
that covers that. You can divedeep. You can spend a month
(12:22):
building pyramids out of sugarcubes, watching documentaries,
and reading every book that youcan get your hands on at the
library. You can follow theirspark. On the other hand, if
your child struggles in an area,say fractions for example, you
don't have to watch them fallbehind in their class of 29
other kids.
You can slow down. You can go attheir pace. You can bake cookies
(12:45):
and cut them into halves andfourths and eighths until it
clicks because you have the giftof time and attention, two of
the most powerful tools ineducation. Because
homeschooling, at least the waywe do it over here, it's not
about grades for us. It's aboutbuilding a lifelong love of
learning.
It's showing your child thattheir mind is a place of wonder,
(13:07):
not a vessel to be filled withfacts to then regurgitate for a
test. We all know that's not aneducation, and we all know that
jamming facts to regurgitate onFriday just to forget on Monday
isn't preparing them for thereal world. Because what we do
know is that the education of achild is the cultivation of a
human being. It's about theirheart. It's about their
(13:27):
emotional well-being.
In a world that feelsincreasingly anxious, your home
can be a sanctuary for theirspirit. And homeschooling, that
can give you the space tonurture your kid's emotional
health in a way no school systemever could. Now I know what
you're thinking right now.You're having objections. You're
like, but, Christy, I don'twanna shelter my kids.
But, Christy, I'm not acertified teacher. But, Christy,
(13:49):
how do I socialize them? Or Idon't have time to homeschool.
I'm here to tell you, if you'reasking those questions, we've
asked them too. But pleaseplease hear me when I say this,
you're not understanding whathomeschooling is.
You're picturing school anddoing that at home, and that's
not what we do over here. Iremember talking to a mom who
pulled her son out of school inthird grade. He was a bright
(14:10):
sensitive kid who starteddeveloping severe anxiety. He
was having stomachaches everymorning and had stopped
participating in class. She hadtried and tried with school
administration to no avail, andfinally she said enough is
enough, and she pulled her sonout to homeschool.
She thought, I have no idea whatI'm doing, but it's gotta be
better than what's happening atschool. And boy was she right.
(14:32):
Within a month of homeschooling,she told me, I got my boy back.
They spent time in the morningson nature walks, their
afternoons reading on the couch,and he started asking questions
again. He was less anxious andmore joyful.
He had room to breathe, to behimself without the constant
social pressure and fear thathad been weighing him down. And
(14:54):
that is what this is about. It'sabout replacing that morning
dread with morning snuggles.It's trading playground bullies
for sibling partnerships andhealthier co ops with a
healthier social environmentbecause there's better
supervision. It's aboutstrengthening the very core of
your family.
When you learn together, yougrow together. The shared inside
(15:15):
jokes from a science experimentgone wrong. The deep
conversations that come forreading a powerful story. These
moments weave your familytogether in a way that the
frantic rush of school nightsand homework battles simply
can't. Why?
Because you become the primaryinfluence in their life, shaping
their character and their viewof the world. It's a huge
(15:35):
responsibility, yes, but it'salso the most special and
amazing privilege. Safety mayopen the door to homeschooling,
but what you're gonna find onthe other side is a richer,
deeper, and more connected lifefor your entire family. And yes,
a way better education too. Soas promised, we're gonna go over
those doubts and fears that Iknow are swirling through your
(15:57):
mind right now.
Even if you are a currenthomeschooler and you're having a
hard day and you're thinking,man, that public school down the
road looks like an all inclusiveresort right now. I could use a
break. Stick around. Right afterthis break, we'll tackle the
biggest questions parents haveand the answers that might
surprise you. Before wecontinue, I wanna share with you
a program that's been a gamechanger for our homeschool.
(16:18):
At our center, we instructed andhelped kids through pretty much
every math program on the marketand know firsthand just how
important a solid mathfoundation is for our kids'
futures. As a career educatorwith high standards, finding the
right program that checked allthe boxes felt like too tall of
an order until one day I triedCTC math. CTC math is an online
(16:39):
math curriculum for k to 12students with motivating
interactive lessons that allowkids to learn at their own pace.
It does all the teaching andgrading so you don't have to and
their adaptive lessons adjust soyour child is progressing
confidently. With CTC Math, yourchild is getting a top notch
education and you just made yourhomeschool life easier.
Visit ctcmath.com to start yourfree trial today or click the
(17:01):
link in the show notes. Thinkhomeschooling means doing it all
yourself? Let me stop you rightthere. If you're looking for a
partner you can trust, one Itrust with my own kids, check
out True North HomeschoolAcademy. They're Cognia
accredited and offer live onlineclasses and flexible self paced
options for grades six through12.
Your teen can pursue a dualdegree track or a tech and
(17:22):
trades diploma all with teacherswho share your family values.
Small classes, college readyrigor, real world skills, and it
all fits your schedule in afaith friendly environment.
Ready to learn more? Head totrue northhomeschool.academy or
click the link in the show notesto explore courses and get
started today. Okay.
So as you're listening to allthis, I can hear the thoughts
(17:45):
running through your mind rightnow. How do I know? Well, I
kinda wrote a book on it. Yourlittle voice might be
whispering, but Christy, I workfull time. I can't homeschool.
Or maybe I'm not a teacher. Idon't even remember high school
algebra. How can you possiblyexpect me to teach those
advanced subjects? Or and let'sbe really honest here, maybe
that voice is saying, I love mykids, but I don't think I can be
(18:06):
around them all day withoutlosing my mind. And of course,
the big one, what aboutsocialization?
I don't want my kids to beweird, or how could I ever
prepare them for high school andbeyond? If you're thinking these
things, which I know you are andeven more, sports, sheltering,
what will the grandparentsthink? I mean, you name it, I
know it. Stop for a second. Takea deep breath.
(18:27):
I will too. And hear me when Isay, your concerns are
completely valid, and yourconcerns are the same concerns
we all had too. But I wanna letyou in on a little secret. There
are over 3,000,000 of ushomeschooling in The US right
now, and we've all asked thesesame questions you are asking
too. Society paints us asweirdos and religious fanatics,
(18:50):
but we're a bunch of parentsjust wanting what's best for our
family and our kids.
And dare I say, we see that theschools aren't preparing kids
for a bright future, and wethink we can do it better. All
of us, not only have we askedthose questions too, but we have
found creative, workablesolutions. You are not alone in
your fears, but you also don'thave to reinvent the wheel. So I
(19:13):
don't have time to go into allof those myths and objections to
homeschooling, but I'm gonnamention a few statistics that
may help you, and then I'm gonnagive you some places to go to
get all of your questionsanswered. So number one is that
most studies reveal thathomeschool children are
healthier socially, emotionally,and psychologically.
(19:34):
So that myth that homeschoolersaren't socialized just is false.
I go into socialization deep inchapter seven of my book,
homeschool rising. That's whereyou're gonna hear about the
disorder of peer orientation,fitting in versus belonging,
what is the difference, and why,yeah, homeschool kids might
present a little bitdifferently, but that's kind of
(19:56):
the point. And maybe if yourhighest priority is your kid
fitting in, that's something torethink. The truth is
homeschoolers are also beingrecruited by colleges and
universities more than everbefore.
We have higher rates of collegecompletion because our kids know
how to read, they know how tostudy, and they have
perseverance and grit. And ourkids aren't sheltered. In my
(20:16):
book, I talk about somethingcalled greenhousing, and that is
what we're doing with our kids.See, our culture today of the
school system, and you knowthis, you're listening to the
show right now, our topic todayis school safety. We have
normalized a traumaticenvironment for children, and we
call it normal because we can'tcall it what it really is, and
that is trauma.
(20:37):
Now raise your hand if you werebullied in school or you
experienced trauma in school. Ido this at conferences, and
nearly every hand is raised. Weknow from years and years and
years of research in childpsychology and development that
abuse and trauma is nottoughening up. It's trauma, and
it's a problem. So what otherpeople view as sheltering our
(20:58):
kids, that's not what we'redoing over here either.
I like to call it greenhousing.We're building strong resilient
roots so that when we dotransplant them out into the
real world, they are strong andready for whatever hits them. So
my point is with all this,before you just dismiss it as
this is weird, this is notsomething that I could ever do,
do yourself a favor and do alittle bit more investigating
(21:20):
because you just may find thatwhat the school system offers is
not in alignment with yourvalues and what you want for
your kid's future or theireducation now. Homeschooling?
Homeschooling can give your kidswhat they need now and prepare
them for a bright future.
So before we wrap up, I wannathank you for joining me on this
very important conversation. Ifyou found this episode helpful
(21:42):
or inspiring, please take amoment to like, subscribe, leave
a review, do the stars, make acomment, any type of interaction
because it's those robots behindthe screen that are determining
whether or not this show andthis episode is worth sharing.
It's something you can do inunder ten seconds and a way to
pay it forward to a mom whoneeds to hear this message
(22:02):
today. Your support helps usreach more families who are
searching for answers. So thankyou so much for doing that.
I appreciate it. And who knowshow it will bless another mom
who comes across this show.Okay. So if you are ready to
take action and you are sayingenough is enough regarding
school safety, I want otheroptions. Here are a few next
(22:23):
steps just for you.
First, start listening to thispodcast regularly. Binge some
episodes if you need to, andI'll put a couple in the show
notes. Number two, grab my book,homeschool rising. It's on
Amazon Prime. I have a wholechapter in there on
socialization, a whole chapteron what is deschooling.
I have an entire chapter inthere on common objections or
(22:45):
what if your spouse or partnerisn't on board. It is an
incredible book, perfect forsomeone considering
homeschooling. And third,consider joining Thrive
Homeschool Community. It's notalways open for enrollment. So
if it's not right now, pleaseget on the wait list because you
will be the first to know whenThrive opens, and we give you
special bonuses.
That is the community thatteaches you how to build an
(23:08):
incredible education for yourchild that they deserve and a
homeschool that you are proud ofand you feel confident in. And
though I love Pinterest andscrolling the Internet and going
to online forums, piecingtogether information is not
getting expert advising. That isnot how to build the education
that your children deserve. Youneed experts, you need training,
(23:28):
and you need to be told what todo, and that's what we do in
Thrive Homeschool Community.Plus, it's good just to be
around a bunch of other womenwho care about their kids'
education as much as you careabout yours to know that you're
not alone on this path.
Thank you for joining me today.I'll see you time. You have my
heart.
This past year, we watched as a street in our
(00:03):
area was being renamed KendrickCastillo Parkway. At the time, I
didn't know who KendrickCastillo was. At the time, I
assumed it must have been afallen policeman. And when I
found out who Kendrick Castillowas, I must admit, I was
embarrassed. You might rememberhim.
He was the young 18 year oldstudent at STEM school in
(00:24):
Highlands Ranch who died lungingat an active shooter, giving his
life to protect his classmates.Not too long ago, I was running
errands as I was taking my sonto basketball, and I drove by
Columbine High School andstopped and thought to myself,
man, wow. It feels like that'swhere it kind of all began. Last
week, there was a shooting inEvergreen, Colorado. Recently,
(00:47):
two children were killed and 21injured at a Catholic school in
Minnesota.
In November, a 15 year oldstudent killed four students in
Michigan. And then there wasalso that 19 year old who opened
fire at the performing arts highschool in Missouri in 2022, and
the list goes on and on and onand on. And, of course, we have
(01:08):
the tragedy in Utah where welost Charlie Kirk. Our children
now practice lockdown drills asroutinely as fire drills in our
country. You'd be crazy to thinkthat this is not affecting our
children.
Every ringing bell, everyloudspeaker announcement chips
away at their sense of safety.They carry this in their bodies,
(01:28):
in their sleep, in the way somany beg you not to go to
school. We are a nation ofparents holding our breath,
bracing for the next alert, thenext not my child turned into my
child. If you're a parentconsidering homeschooling
because you can't shake the fearthat school is no longer a safe
place for your child, know this.You are seen, you are heard, and
(01:52):
your concern is valid.
If you're searching for answersright now, doubting your
instincts, or feeling like theworld is gaslighting you for
even thinking about pulling yourchild out of school to
homeschool, I promise you, youhave found your people here. We
will not dismiss your worry, andwe are not gonna call you
paranoid. Maybe you're tuning intoday and you're already a
(02:13):
homeschooler. This show is foryou too. Maybe right now with
your homeschooling because youknow what?
It's not the easiest choice.There's a lot of sacrifices in
homeschooling. Worth it? Yes.Which I'll get into.
But, yeah, it's hard. Maybeyou're exhausted. Maybe you're
facing tough days right now andquestioning if it would just be
easier to send your kids toconventional school. This
(02:33):
episode is for you too becauselet this be your reminder. You
chose something brave and deeplyloving, something your child may
not thank you for yet, but oneday will understand.
So, yes, we're speaking to twodifferent people today. First,
the parent overwhelmed by thenext school shooting on the
news, the stories of bullying inthe hallways, and that deep gut
(02:55):
feeling that something isbroken. And you're thinking
about homeschooling, but everystereotype, like the
socialization, am I shelteringmy child? I'm not a certified
teacher. All that stuff is justcoming at you telling you
there's no way I could do this.
I'm gonna address those fearslater on in the episode today.
Because make no mistake, I lovehomeschooling. I think
(03:16):
homeschooling is the best thingfor kids. Do I think everybody
can homeschool? Do I thinkeverybody should homeschool?
Absolutely not. But maybe youcan. Maybe you can't write this
second. Maybe you have to makeadjustments. But maybe, just
maybe, it could be the bestdecision you've ever made for
your family.
And if school safety is what gotyou here today to think about
(03:37):
it, so be it. I'm really sadabout it, but you are in good
hands here. And also, youcurrent homeschooling parents
who are listening today, thisshow is gonna remind you of that
why. Your days might feel reallylong right now, but there is
peace in knowing that your childis truly safe and you are giving
them the best possible educationout there. This show is for you
(03:58):
too.
Here's what you can expect intoday's episode. First, we're
gonna dive into the hard factsabout school safety and why so
many families are rethinkingtheir options. Next, I'm gonna
share with you the benefits ofhomeschooling beyond just
keeping your child safe. We'regonna cover academics, family
connection, and emotionalhealth. Then we're gonna tackle
(04:18):
the most common objections Ihear from parents just like you
considering this journey, andI'll walk you through real
practical solutions, and yes,some of those myths.
And finally, if you're seriousabout exploring homeschooling,
I'll give you some concreteaction steps and resources to
help you make the next move withconfidence. Although it saddens
me why I had to make this showand why you're listening today,
(04:40):
I'm still glad you're here.Hello, everyone. Welcome. If you
don't know me already, my nameis Kristi Faith.
I am an educational andparenting expert over twenty
(05:02):
years of experience, speaker,podcaster, and founder of Thrive
Homeschool Community. I startedThrive Homeschool Community
because I don't think you shouldfeel the pressure of building a
world class education for yourchild based on doom scrolling on
social media and scatteredFacebook advice on the Internet.
Educating our kids is animportant job, and the secret
(05:22):
sauce to homeschooling is thehomeschooling parent. And in
Thrive Homeschool Community, wehelp you build the homeschool
that your children deserve. It'snot always open.
If it's closed right now, get onthe wait list because we do
offer something special for ourwaitlisters when we reopen.
Okay. Now back to our show. It'seasy to dismiss a parent's fear
as overreaction, especially whenso many families in our country
(05:46):
feel powerless. It's easy tohear the stories on the news and
think, but that won't happenhere.
But I wanna take a moment tolook at the numbers, not with
the goal of creating fear, butto validate the gut feeling that
so many of you already have. Thefeeling that our schools are no
longer safe. The data doesn'tlie. Let's start with the most
(06:07):
terrifying reality, gunviolence. Last year alone, there
were 346 incidents of gunfire onschool grounds in The United
States.
That's nearly one every singleday. These incidents resulted in
a hundred and sixty four deathsand three hundred and thirty
five injuries. And when I seethese numbers, I don't see
numbers. I see shatteredfamilies, traumatized
(06:30):
communities, and children whowill never be the same. But you
and I both know that the threatsto our children's safety aren't
always so loud.
Sometimes the danger is silentand happens in the hallways, in
locker rooms, and online. Nearlya 160,000 children stay home
from school each day simplybecause they're afraid of being
(06:50):
bullied. Think about that. Onein every five students, twenty
percent of all kids reportsbeing bullied. For these
children, school isn't a placeof learning.
It's a place of survival, andthe physical threats go beyond
fists and sticks and stones. TheCenters for Disease Control and
Prevention reports that nearlyten percent of high school
(07:11):
students have been threatened orinjured with a weapon on school
property. That's one in everyten teenagers. Then there's the
deepest betrayal of trust, abusefrom the very people meant to
protect our children. Researchfunded by the US Department of
Education revealed a horrifyingstatistic.
One in ten children willexperience some form of sexual
(07:33):
misconduct from a schoolemployee before they graduate
high school. It's a reality thatis difficult to even comprehend,
let alone accept. When you lookat these numbers, it becomes
clear that your concern isn'tparanoia. It's a rational
response to a systemic crisis.The anxiety your child feels
about going to school isn't justin their head, and don't let
(07:57):
anyone gaslight you and tell youotherwise.
No child should be forced tolearn in a state of fight or
flight. The knot in your stomachwhen you drop them off isn't an
overreaction. It's a logicalconclusion based on undeniable
facts. You know what you'redropping them off to, and it
breaks your heart, and you don'twanna do it. Our children are
(08:18):
being asked to learn inenvironments where they are
statistically unsafe, andparents are right to question if
there is a better way.
But I'm here to tell you thatthere is more to this story than
fear. We'll get into that rightafter this work. As a homeschool
mom who values a family togetherapproach and leans towards the
classical and Charlotte Masonstyles, I often struggle to
(08:40):
bring my educational vision tolife with my kids' diverse ages
and learning needs. With all ourinterests and super packed
schedule, bridging that gapbetween the dreamy homeschool I
want and reality, I gotta behonest. It's a challenge.
Now, yes, I know perfectionisn't the goal. But if you're
listening and you could use alittle easing of your mental
load in your day to day, I founda resource that has become the
(09:01):
quiet hero of our routine and itcould be a really great option
for you too. BJU Presshomeschool curriculum. Now many
think that BJU Press homeschoolis solely an all in one option
and though it does excel in thatrole, did you know you can also
opt for specific courses andtailor them to fit your family's
needs just as I have? BJU PressHomeschool provides the perfect
(09:21):
balance of structure andflexibility and easily
complements my family's mixedage family together on the couch
learning style.
They are second to none inintegrating a biblical
worldview, stimulating criticalthinking, and offering tons of
hands on activities in thelessons. To find out how BJU
Press Homeschool can comealongside you in your
homeschooling goals too. Visitbjupresshomeschool.com or click
(09:45):
the link in the show notes. Isyour child struggling with
attention, memory, reading,writing, or math? If you're
experiencing this, you know howheart wrenching it is to watch
them face these hurdles.
You've poured love, time, andattention into their education,
yet the struggle persists,leaving you feeling stuck and
desperately searching foranswers. You guys, I want you to
know about LearningRx, a provenprogram designed to help your
(10:07):
child's cognitive skills,enabling them to think faster,
learn more easily, and performat their best. I'm talking
getting real long term help herewith things like ADHD and
dyslexia. LearningRx is backedby thirty five years of
research, and their results aretransformative. Use code HOME 50
for $50 off your cognitiveskills assessment.
Go to LearningRx dot com orclick the link in the show
(10:30):
notes. Okay. Welcome back. Sowhat if you could give your
child so much more than justsafety? What if homeschooling
opened doors you haven't evenimagined yet?
While school safety might bewhat brought you here today, I
want you to know that that isjust the beginning of what's
actually possible. Maybe this isdivine meeting because what you
(10:52):
can find in homeschooling willbetter prepare your child for
their future, give them a richerand more personalized education,
connect your family in ways younever even thought was possible.
It allows you to meet yourchild's unique needs
academically, emotionally, andsocially in ways traditional
schooling can't even hold acandle to. It empowers you to
(11:15):
cultivate their curiosity, toensure that they never lose that
love of learning that they wereborn with. It offers them
resilience and confidence allwithin the walls of your own
safe home.
I want you to picture somethingfor me. Imagine your child not
just surviving the school day,but truly coming alive in their
education. Imagine an educationbuilt around their curiosity,
(11:40):
not a standardized test. This iswhere the real magic of
homeschooling begins far beyondthe locked doors and the active
shooter drills and the safetyplans. Man, am I so thankful
that my kids have never had toparticipate in one of those
drills at a school.
When you bring education home,you're not replicating the
classroom at your kitchen table.You're not standing in front of
(12:02):
a whiteboard all day. That's notwhat we're doing over here. But
what you are doing is you arenow unlocking a completely
personalized learning journeyfor your kids. Think about it.
If your child is fascinated byancient Egypt, you don't have to
wait for the one week in thatcurriculum for history class
that covers that. You can divedeep. You can spend a month
(12:22):
building pyramids out of sugarcubes, watching documentaries,
and reading every book that youcan get your hands on at the
library. You can follow theirspark. On the other hand, if
your child struggles in an area,say fractions for example, you
don't have to watch them fallbehind in their class of 29
other kids.
You can slow down. You can go attheir pace. You can bake cookies
(12:45):
and cut them into halves andfourths and eighths until it
clicks because you have the giftof time and attention, two of
the most powerful tools ineducation. Because
homeschooling, at least the waywe do it over here, it's not
about grades for us. It's aboutbuilding a lifelong love of
learning.
It's showing your child thattheir mind is a place of wonder,
(13:07):
not a vessel to be filled withfacts to then regurgitate for a
test. We all know that's not aneducation, and we all know that
jamming facts to regurgitate onFriday just to forget on Monday
isn't preparing them for thereal world. Because what we do
know is that the education of achild is the cultivation of a
human being. It's about theirheart. It's about their
(13:27):
emotional well-being.
In a world that feelsincreasingly anxious, your home
can be a sanctuary for theirspirit. And homeschooling, that
can give you the space tonurture your kid's emotional
health in a way no school systemever could. Now I know what
you're thinking right now.You're having objections. You're
like, but, Christy, I don'twanna shelter my kids.
But, Christy, I'm not acertified teacher. But, Christy,
(13:49):
how do I socialize them? Or Idon't have time to homeschool.
I'm here to tell you, if you'reasking those questions, we've
asked them too. But pleaseplease hear me when I say this,
you're not understanding whathomeschooling is.
You're picturing school anddoing that at home, and that's
not what we do over here. Iremember talking to a mom who
pulled her son out of school inthird grade. He was a bright
(14:10):
sensitive kid who starteddeveloping severe anxiety. He
was having stomachaches everymorning and had stopped
participating in class. She hadtried and tried with school
administration to no avail, andfinally she said enough is
enough, and she pulled her sonout to homeschool.
She thought, I have no idea whatI'm doing, but it's gotta be
better than what's happening atschool. And boy was she right.
(14:32):
Within a month of homeschooling,she told me, I got my boy back.
They spent time in the morningson nature walks, their
afternoons reading on the couch,and he started asking questions
again. He was less anxious andmore joyful.
He had room to breathe, to behimself without the constant
social pressure and fear thathad been weighing him down. And
(14:54):
that is what this is about. It'sabout replacing that morning
dread with morning snuggles.It's trading playground bullies
for sibling partnerships andhealthier co ops with a
healthier social environmentbecause there's better
supervision. It's aboutstrengthening the very core of
your family.
When you learn together, yougrow together. The shared inside
(15:15):
jokes from a science experimentgone wrong. The deep
conversations that come forreading a powerful story. These
moments weave your familytogether in a way that the
frantic rush of school nightsand homework battles simply
can't. Why?
Because you become the primaryinfluence in their life, shaping
their character and their viewof the world. It's a huge
(15:35):
responsibility, yes, but it'salso the most special and
amazing privilege. Safety mayopen the door to homeschooling,
but what you're gonna find onthe other side is a richer,
deeper, and more connected lifefor your entire family. And yes,
a way better education too. Soas promised, we're gonna go over
those doubts and fears that Iknow are swirling through your
(15:57):
mind right now.
Even if you are a currenthomeschooler and you're having a
hard day and you're thinking,man, that public school down the
road looks like an all inclusiveresort right now. I could use a
break. Stick around. Right afterthis break, we'll tackle the
biggest questions parents haveand the answers that might
surprise you. Before wecontinue, I wanna share with you
a program that's been a gamechanger for our homeschool.
(16:18):
At our center, we instructed andhelped kids through pretty much
every math program on the marketand know firsthand just how
important a solid mathfoundation is for our kids'
futures. As a career educatorwith high standards, finding the
right program that checked allthe boxes felt like too tall of
an order until one day I triedCTC math. CTC math is an online
(16:39):
math curriculum for k to 12students with motivating
interactive lessons that allowkids to learn at their own pace.
It does all the teaching andgrading so you don't have to and
their adaptive lessons adjust soyour child is progressing
confidently. With CTC Math, yourchild is getting a top notch
education and you just made yourhomeschool life easier.
Visit ctcmath.com to start yourfree trial today or click the
(17:01):
link in the show notes. Thinkhomeschooling means doing it all
yourself? Let me stop you rightthere. If you're looking for a
partner you can trust, one Itrust with my own kids, check
out True North HomeschoolAcademy. They're Cognia
accredited and offer live onlineclasses and flexible self paced
options for grades six through12.
Your teen can pursue a dualdegree track or a tech and
(17:22):
trades diploma all with teacherswho share your family values.
Small classes, college readyrigor, real world skills, and it
all fits your schedule in afaith friendly environment.
Ready to learn more? Head totrue northhomeschool.academy or
click the link in the show notesto explore courses and get
started today. Okay.
So as you're listening to allthis, I can hear the thoughts
(17:45):
running through your mind rightnow. How do I know? Well, I
kinda wrote a book on it. Yourlittle voice might be
whispering, but Christy, I workfull time. I can't homeschool.
Or maybe I'm not a teacher. Idon't even remember high school
algebra. How can you possiblyexpect me to teach those
advanced subjects? Or and let'sbe really honest here, maybe
that voice is saying, I love mykids, but I don't think I can be
(18:06):
around them all day withoutlosing my mind. And of course,
the big one, what aboutsocialization?
I don't want my kids to beweird, or how could I ever
prepare them for high school andbeyond? If you're thinking these
things, which I know you are andeven more, sports, sheltering,
what will the grandparentsthink? I mean, you name it, I
know it. Stop for a second. Takea deep breath.
(18:27):
I will too. And hear me when Isay, your concerns are
completely valid, and yourconcerns are the same concerns
we all had too. But I wanna letyou in on a little secret. There
are over 3,000,000 of ushomeschooling in The US right
now, and we've all asked thesesame questions you are asking
too. Society paints us asweirdos and religious fanatics,
(18:50):
but we're a bunch of parentsjust wanting what's best for our
family and our kids.
And dare I say, we see that theschools aren't preparing kids
for a bright future, and wethink we can do it better. All
of us, not only have we askedthose questions too, but we have
found creative, workablesolutions. You are not alone in
your fears, but you also don'thave to reinvent the wheel. So I
(19:13):
don't have time to go into allof those myths and objections to
homeschooling, but I'm gonnamention a few statistics that
may help you, and then I'm gonnagive you some places to go to
get all of your questionsanswered. So number one is that
most studies reveal thathomeschool children are
healthier socially, emotionally,and psychologically.
(19:34):
So that myth that homeschoolersaren't socialized just is false.
I go into socialization deep inchapter seven of my book,
homeschool rising. That's whereyou're gonna hear about the
disorder of peer orientation,fitting in versus belonging,
what is the difference, and why,yeah, homeschool kids might
present a little bitdifferently, but that's kind of
(19:56):
the point. And maybe if yourhighest priority is your kid
fitting in, that's something torethink. The truth is
homeschoolers are also beingrecruited by colleges and
universities more than everbefore.
We have higher rates of collegecompletion because our kids know
how to read, they know how tostudy, and they have
perseverance and grit. And ourkids aren't sheltered. In my
(20:16):
book, I talk about somethingcalled greenhousing, and that is
what we're doing with our kids.See, our culture today of the
school system, and you knowthis, you're listening to the
show right now, our topic todayis school safety. We have
normalized a traumaticenvironment for children, and we
call it normal because we can'tcall it what it really is, and
that is trauma.
(20:37):
Now raise your hand if you werebullied in school or you
experienced trauma in school. Ido this at conferences, and
nearly every hand is raised. Weknow from years and years and
years of research in childpsychology and development that
abuse and trauma is nottoughening up. It's trauma, and
it's a problem. So what otherpeople view as sheltering our
(20:58):
kids, that's not what we'redoing over here either.
I like to call it greenhousing.We're building strong resilient
roots so that when we dotransplant them out into the
real world, they are strong andready for whatever hits them. So
my point is with all this,before you just dismiss it as
this is weird, this is notsomething that I could ever do,
do yourself a favor and do alittle bit more investigating
(21:20):
because you just may find thatwhat the school system offers is
not in alignment with yourvalues and what you want for
your kid's future or theireducation now. Homeschooling?
Homeschooling can give your kidswhat they need now and prepare
them for a bright future.
So before we wrap up, I wannathank you for joining me on this
very important conversation. Ifyou found this episode helpful
(21:42):
or inspiring, please take amoment to like, subscribe, leave
a review, do the stars, make acomment, any type of interaction
because it's those robots behindthe screen that are determining
whether or not this show andthis episode is worth sharing.
It's something you can do inunder ten seconds and a way to
pay it forward to a mom whoneeds to hear this message
(22:02):
today. Your support helps usreach more families who are
searching for answers. So thankyou so much for doing that.
I appreciate it. And who knowshow it will bless another mom
who comes across this show.Okay. So if you are ready to
take action and you are sayingenough is enough regarding
school safety, I want otheroptions. Here are a few next
(22:23):
steps just for you.
First, start listening to thispodcast regularly. Binge some
episodes if you need to, andI'll put a couple in the show
notes. Number two, grab my book,homeschool rising. It's on
Amazon Prime. I have a wholechapter in there on
socialization, a whole chapteron what is deschooling.
I have an entire chapter inthere on common objections or
(22:45):
what if your spouse or partnerisn't on board. It is an
incredible book, perfect forsomeone considering
homeschooling. And third,consider joining Thrive
Homeschool Community. It's notalways open for enrollment. So
if it's not right now, pleaseget on the wait list because you
will be the first to know whenThrive opens, and we give you
special bonuses.
That is the community thatteaches you how to build an
(23:08):
incredible education for yourchild that they deserve and a
homeschool that you are proud ofand you feel confident in. And
though I love Pinterest andscrolling the Internet and going
to online forums, piecingtogether information is not
getting expert advising. That isnot how to build the education
that your children deserve. Youneed experts, you need training,
(23:28):
and you need to be told what todo, and that's what we do in
Thrive Homeschool Community.Plus, it's good just to be
around a bunch of other womenwho care about their kids'
education as much as you careabout yours to know that you're
not alone on this path.
Thank you for joining me today.I'll see you time. You have my
heart.
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