So, too, with formation in the Faith. Home school families, simply because of the nature of home schooling, tend to avoid the cloudburst syndrome. Not at all. Home schooling takes place in real families, where children struggle to be obedient, respectful and diligent, and parents work to overcome frustration and impatience on a daily basis. But blessed by an abundance of time together, the home schooling family is capable of creating an intensive community of life and love - not because we start out as more virtuous human beings, but because we have more time and focus to deal with the realities of sin and weakness.
Family life is a wonderful laboratory of trial and error, growth and setback.
Rather than squeezing prayer and formative moments in between carpools and homework, our faith and struggle for virtue is the thread that we try to weave, throughout the day, into the fabric of our lives, and those of our children. We treasure this as a gift from God. But, like all his gifts, it is given not just for our individual benefit, but for his Church as well. Thus, to the Church itself, Catholic home schoolers offer a particularly timely and distinctive gift. Certainly, we can encourage those who listen to consider the benefits that this integrated lifestyle offers.