Homeschool Iowa Convention: The Time I Won a Community

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You have a community of support waiting for you.

I’ve been to my fair share of homeschool Iowa conventions, after all, I am a second generation homeschooler.

My situation is unique though. I was involuntarily homeschooled. Take that to heart if you have a child that keeps you up praying at night at your own at home. Pulling me from the school system was the best thing my mother ever did for me, even if it took a few years for me to see it. After I married, I gave my life to Christ and I knew I wanted to homeschool my own children one day.

The local homeschool convention became a regular part of my summer schedule. This continued for seven years; until I had kids. Many, many kids, all in a row with my super Chef husband. When I had 6 kids under six, survival was more important than any 20% off coupon, so I stopped going to the convention. Afterall, I was confident in the fact that I learned a ton. I had listened to all of the seminars, heck, I even had them on CD. There were several veteran homeschool mothers on my speed dial and I had a good idea what curriculum was going to be a good fit for my personality.

I thought that I didn’t need to go any more support., but I discovered how wrong I was.

Fast forward eight years.

Early this spring, an ad for the local homeschool convention popped up on my Facebook feed. I was curious. The next week, a magazine for our statewide homeschool network; Homeschool Iowa, formerly NICHE, came in the mail. In the magazine was the schedule and speaker listings for the convention. The featured speaker was Tedd Tripp, of “Shepherding a Child’s Heart”, the author of one of my top 5 favorite parenting books. My interest was high, but even still, I am not a fan of creating a hassle for myself. The homeschool convention was on a tournament weekend during baseball season. If you have a kid in a sport, you will understand. If you are the driver, the season is all consuming. Yet, I knew God was knocking on my door.

Get ready for a set up

Are you a sucker for contests? I am especially a sucker for a contest for any place that already has my email. I don’t need a bigger email load for a free t-shirt, but the host of the convention was offering a whole family entrance for free. You know I’m gonna click that! And click, I did. A week later I found out that I had won. They might have said it was a random drawing, but I am still pretty sure it was my witty response. Either way it was becoming clear that I was going.

I wasn’t sure what my purpose in going was yet. It was not like I had planned on attending in advance. I love my curriculum and was not going to change it. I do also love a discount, so I thought I would hunt for a deal and listen to the speakers I had chosen out of the lineup.

There is something vital about sharing a common purpose and supporting others.

From the first morning, as I hit the registration tables I was surrounded by amazing people. Fellow homeschoolers. Some had traveled from several states away since there are not many conventions near Iowa. As the day continued, I was enveloped in this community that I had all but forgotten about. I read about homeschoolers, I even write for homeschoolers, but there is nothing that can replace a physical community.

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Over the next two days, I realized what my purpose was. First, I was encouraged more than I would have ever thought possible. Though I was not feeling particularly discouraged or even isolated, I left feeling repurposed and energized. Leaving the conference I remember thinking, “I am looking forward to next year.” I don’t remember saying that at the end of last year.

We were made for fellowship on a large scale as well as smaller ones.

One year we missed the Fourth of July parade. The kids were bummed, so we told them to pull up a seat in the middle of the yard and we would make it up to them. We loaded a good stash of candy and water balloons. Slowly we drove around the yard throwing candy and every once in a while bombing the kids with water balloons. It was very funny to us as the drivers of the loaded van.

We laughed at our slightly shady replacement parade. The kids were not fooled. They hadn’t chosen to skip the main parade for our little sideshow. They wanted the real thing. There is something surreal about being up close to the fire trucks, seeing the color guards and bands from every high school in three counties. Standing shoulder to shoulder with your community feels like a big family. It makes us proud of who we are and where we come from.

In the same way, it is good for your heart to look across a packed auditorium at the Iowa Homeschool Convention and see a room full of people that are walking the same path you are. We all have many of the same questions and struggles. But, I feel support just knowing, we were all there for one purpose. We’re all striving to make this next school year the best one ever. Our desire to serve our children and educate them from our homes has made us a community. That is the inspiration behind the “In Due Season” series in the first place, walking along this road together.

I encourage you to try to connect with a larger homeschooling group in your area. You can be encouraged and you can lend your courage to others at the same time. If you live in Iowa check out HomeschoolIowa.com for a support group or an event near you. You can join their FB support page HERE

Don’t forget to check out this year’s Welcome Home 2022 Homeschool Iowa convention. Let me know if you are going, and I will see you there.