Below are Amber McGuire’s thoughtfully answered questions. May the answers be an encouragement and blessing to you as they have been to the THSC family!
I have been married for almost 23 years to my husband, Joshua, and am a (retired) Air Force wife and part-time American Sign Language Interpreter. I have two sons (ages 20 and 17) and a daughter (9). I started my homeschooling journey when we were stationed in Italy with the Air Force.
My oldest had transferred from an Italian preschool into the on-base American elementary school and was not fitting in with the more strict American school culture. I was reading Dr. Dobson’s Bringing up Boys, and my husband was returning from a deployment and wanted to spend time with our sons, but the oldest would have to attend school during his time off.
All of this culminated in us deciding to homeschool. We took the plunge and never looked back!
I started off using the Robinson Curriculum with our sons, but they did not enjoy the rigorous reading and writing it required. Once they entered high school, they both did dual enrollment through our local community college to complete their Associate’s degrees upon graduation.
THSC is proud of all the sacrificial work that our mentor volunteers do for the homeschool community! THSC is highlighting a small glimpse into the heart of a personally selected mentor volunteer to show appreciation for their love and dedication to THSC and to you, the homeschool community!
My oldest, Solomon, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University at the age of nineteen.
My younger son, Isaiah, is earning his Associate’s degree this month and plans to attend Texas State University to major in Computer Science.
With my daughter, Zimri, we started with Easy Peasy Homeschool, then switched to BJU Press Distance Learning. She is wrapping up fourth grade and loves to do crafts!
Homeschooling was a great option for us.
It allows for individual attention for each child and permits them to proceed at their own pace with academics. It also worked out great with our military lifestyle.
We were able to adjust our schedules based on when Dad was home, and we never had to worry about switching schools when we were transferred to a new base. I love the flexibility homeschooling offers.
I also love that I am able to be the main influence on my children, rather than whatever current agenda society is promoting.
As parents, we are able to raise our children to know Christ and His ways and to encourage them to follow Him.
So many parents I speak with tell me they don’t feel equipped to homeschool their children, but with God’s help and the Holy Spirit, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13).
When did you start volunteering with THSC? October 2021
Why do you give your time to help THSC? I give my time because I believe in homeschooling and supporting other parents through the process. When I first started on this journey, I had people to guide me, and I wanted to do the same for others.
Is there a particularly powerful moment I’ve had while volunteering? Yes, I was consulting with a mother, and she was not feeling qualified to homeschool her child.
I asked her, “Who taught him to walk? To speak?” I continued, “You’ve already been teaching your child.” She said she hadn’t thought of that before and breathed a sigh of relief. It was at that moment that she realized how capable she already was!
Is there anything you’ve learned by volunteering? Most of the time, parents just need reassurance. They are already equipped to teach their children and want the best for them, they just need to be reminded of that by someone who has done it before.
What do you look forward to each time you volunteer? Interacting with a new parent and being there to encourage them to take the plunge, so to speak.
Why do you believe volunteers matter in the homeschooling community you serve with THSC? Many people have questions or just need some reassurance, and that is something a volunteer can easily do. I can help out other parents who are exploring their homeschool options while still being able to continue homeschooling my own children. I also think it helps those I contact to see that I believe in homeschooling enough to volunteer to help.
Do you have an anecdote about THSC that inspires you? I have had several parents that I contact tell me that schools or peers have told them they cannot or should not homeschool and that it will “mess up their child.”
I remind the parents that they already have been teaching their children. They taught them to speak, walk, eat, etc., and as a parent, they have their child’s best interest at heart. Upon hearing this, most parents breathe a sigh of relief and realize just how capable they truly are.
Are you an experienced homeschool parent? Do you have a desire to equip others to do the same?
Jessica Migura
Jessica Migura is on the THSC Customer Relations Team. She has been a small business owner, a teacher at a Christian school, THSC volunteer, and a homeschool mom to four wonderful kids. She’s also very proud to be a “Lolli” to four beautiful grandchildren. She and her husband of 28 years, Charles Migura, have also been involved in church ministry throughout their marriage.
Since her family’s homeschool journey is approaching an end, she’s been seeking God’s direction on how she can continue to contribute and serve in the homeschool community. She’s deeply grateful to see what God has done for her as a member of the THSC team, working to “encourage, equip, and advocate for families in their home education journey.”
Below are Amber McGuire’s thoughtfully answered questions. May the answers be an encouragement and blessing to you as they have been to the THSC family!
I have been married for almost 23 years to my husband, Joshua, and am a (retired) Air Force wife and part-time American Sign Language Interpreter. I have two sons (ages 20 and 17) and a daughter (9). I started my homeschooling journey when we were stationed in Italy with the Air Force.
My oldest had transferred from an Italian preschool into the on-base American elementary school and was not fitting in with the more strict American school culture. I was reading Dr. Dobson’s Bringing up Boys, and my husband was returning from a deployment and wanted to spend time with our sons, but the oldest would have to attend school during his time off.
All of this culminated in us deciding to homeschool. We took the plunge and never looked back!
I started off using the Robinson Curriculum with our sons, but they did not enjoy the rigorous reading and writing it required. Once they entered high school, they both did dual enrollment through our local community college to complete their Associate’s degrees upon graduation.
THSC is proud of all the sacrificial work that our mentor volunteers do for the homeschool community! THSC is highlighting a small glimpse into the heart of a personally selected mentor volunteer to show appreciation for their love and dedication to THSC and to you, the homeschool community!
My oldest, Solomon, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University at the age of nineteen.
My younger son, Isaiah, is earning his Associate’s degree this month and plans to attend Texas State University to major in Computer Science.
With my daughter, Zimri, we started with Easy Peasy Homeschool, then switched to BJU Press Distance Learning. She is wrapping up fourth grade and loves to do crafts!
Homeschooling was a great option for us.
It allows for individual attention for each child and permits them to proceed at their own pace with academics. It also worked out great with our military lifestyle.
We were able to adjust our schedules based on when Dad was home, and we never had to worry about switching schools when we were transferred to a new base. I love the flexibility homeschooling offers.
I also love that I am able to be the main influence on my children, rather than whatever current agenda society is promoting.
As parents, we are able to raise our children to know Christ and His ways and to encourage them to follow Him.
So many parents I speak with tell me they don’t feel equipped to homeschool their children, but with God’s help and the Holy Spirit, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13).
When did you start volunteering with THSC? October 2021
Why do you give your time to help THSC? I give my time because I believe in homeschooling and supporting other parents through the process. When I first started on this journey, I had people to guide me, and I wanted to do the same for others.
Is there a particularly powerful moment I’ve had while volunteering? Yes, I was consulting with a mother, and she was not feeling qualified to homeschool her child.
I asked her, “Who taught him to walk? To speak?” I continued, “You’ve already been teaching your child.” She said she hadn’t thought of that before and breathed a sigh of relief. It was at that moment that she realized how capable she already was!
Is there anything you’ve learned by volunteering? Most of the time, parents just need reassurance. They are already equipped to teach their children and want the best for them, they just need to be reminded of that by someone who has done it before.
What do you look forward to each time you volunteer? Interacting with a new parent and being there to encourage them to take the plunge, so to speak.
Why do you believe volunteers matter in the homeschooling community you serve with THSC? Many people have questions or just need some reassurance, and that is something a volunteer can easily do. I can help out other parents who are exploring their homeschool options while still being able to continue homeschooling my own children. I also think it helps those I contact to see that I believe in homeschooling enough to volunteer to help.
Do you have an anecdote about THSC that inspires you? I have had several parents that I contact tell me that schools or peers have told them they cannot or should not homeschool and that it will “mess up their child.”
I remind the parents that they already have been teaching their children. They taught them to speak, walk, eat, etc., and as a parent, they have their child’s best interest at heart. Upon hearing this, most parents breathe a sigh of relief and realize just how capable they truly are.
Are you an experienced homeschool parent? Do you have a desire to equip others to do the same?
Jessica Migura
Jessica Migura is on the THSC Customer Relations Team. She has been a small business owner, a teacher at a Christian school, THSC volunteer, and a homeschool mom to four wonderful kids. She’s also very proud to be a “Lolli” to four beautiful grandchildren. She and her husband of 28 years, Charles Migura, have also been involved in church ministry throughout their marriage.
Since her family’s homeschool journey is approaching an end, she’s been seeking God’s direction on how she can continue to contribute and serve in the homeschool community. She’s deeply grateful to see what God has done for her as a member of the THSC team, working to “encourage, equip, and advocate for families in their home education journey.”
