Whether we view our children – or our nation’s children as a whole – as a “blessing or as a curse” makes a huge impact on how we view the world and what sort of political and cultural agenda we lean toward. So much has changed in the past five years in the way that adults view their roles in society and the way that they view children is no exception.
A recent article I read speaks about our culture’s developing view of children as a burden. In fact, one study shows that many young people plan to have no children…ever.
“Along with the rise of the term ‘childfree’ (reducing the idea of children to burdens), Pew is finding that an unprecedented number of Americans don’t plan to have children for no reason other than that they don’t want them. The study, released in November 2021, found that a whopping 44 percent of childless 18- to 49-year-olds said they’re not too or not at all likely to have children.
Of the childless, more than half (56 percent) said they ‘just don’t want kids.’ Another 74 percent of those who have kids said they don’t plan to have more.” (source)
That bears repeating: 44% of childless 18- to 49-year-olds said “they’re not too or not at all likely to have children.”
This cultural view of children is in direct contrast to the Biblical view of children as a blessing. Psalm 127 states it plainly: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”
Most homeschoolers understand this innately. We choose to go to the extra expense of both time and money because we value the gift of children as a blessing from God and parents are willing to sacrifice to pour into their lives in many, many ways.
This article goes on to say, “A study by the social psychologist Roy Baumeister and his colleagues found that the more time people spent taking care of children, the more meaningful they said their life was – even though they reported that their life was no happier.”
Having children and grandchildren of my own, I can agree wholeheartedly with that statement.
My relationship with my children is much deeper and richer than was my relationship with my own parents and I believe one reason for that is that we spent so much time together in the years of our homeschooling.
The conclusion of the articles says that our country would be better off if we had more children and I believe that to be true in an economic sense as well as a personal and emotional sense as well.
We believe that children are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord and that homeschooling is not only a great academic benefit but a wonderful blessing to all the relationships in a family that can impact generations to come and our nation as well.
Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated on important cultural and political events that directly affect our rights to homeschool.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
Whether we view our children – or our nation’s children as a whole – as a “blessing or as a curse” makes a huge impact on how we view the world and what sort of political and cultural agenda we lean toward. So much has changed in the past five years in the way that adults view their roles in society and the way that they view children is no exception.
A recent article I read speaks about our culture’s developing view of children as a burden. In fact, one study shows that many young people plan to have no children…ever.
“Along with the rise of the term ‘childfree’ (reducing the idea of children to burdens), Pew is finding that an unprecedented number of Americans don’t plan to have children for no reason other than that they don’t want them. The study, released in November 2021, found that a whopping 44 percent of childless 18- to 49-year-olds said they’re not too or not at all likely to have children.
Of the childless, more than half (56 percent) said they ‘just don’t want kids.’ Another 74 percent of those who have kids said they don’t plan to have more.” (source)
That bears repeating: 44% of childless 18- to 49-year-olds said “they’re not too or not at all likely to have children.”
This cultural view of children is in direct contrast to the Biblical view of children as a blessing. Psalm 127 states it plainly: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”
Most homeschoolers understand this innately. We choose to go to the extra expense of both time and money because we value the gift of children as a blessing from God and parents are willing to sacrifice to pour into their lives in many, many ways.
This article goes on to say, “A study by the social psychologist Roy Baumeister and his colleagues found that the more time people spent taking care of children, the more meaningful they said their life was – even though they reported that their life was no happier.”
Having children and grandchildren of my own, I can agree wholeheartedly with that statement.
My relationship with my children is much deeper and richer than was my relationship with my own parents and I believe one reason for that is that we spent so much time together in the years of our homeschooling.
The conclusion of the articles says that our country would be better off if we had more children and I believe that to be true in an economic sense as well as a personal and emotional sense as well.
We believe that children are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord and that homeschooling is not only a great academic benefit but a wonderful blessing to all the relationships in a family that can impact generations to come and our nation as well.
Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated on important cultural and political events that directly affect our rights to homeschool.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
