By Sad’e Lokey

I didn’t begin my homeschooling journey because I had everything figured out. I began because I felt called, and I chose to be obedient. After walking through loss, serving in the military, and rebuilding my life through faith, I felt led to teach my children at home. What I didn’t fully understand then was that this decision wouldn’t only shape them, it would transform me.

Now entering my ninth year, one truth has become unmistakable: I am not simply overseeing my children’s education. I am modeling a life before them. They are watching not just what I say, but how I live, how I respond, and how I walk with God. That realization changed everything.

In our home, education extends far beyond academics. It is discipleship. I approach their learning with intention, anchoring everything they engage with in truth, identity, and purpose. And I’ve watched that foundation take root in both of my daughters in distinct and powerful ways.

My oldest, Sarai, began writing at a young age. What started as simple encouragement has grown into something far-reaching. She is now a published author. Her books Fruits of the Spirit: McVee & The Spirit and Holy Rebel both reached top new-release rankings, including a number-one position across two categories for teens and young adults. She is also a speaker and the founder of Generations of Young Believers, boldly calling her generation to walk with Jesus unashamed.

“When children know who they are, they don’t have to compete for worth; they grow confidently in their own gifts.”

I am not simply overseeing my children’s education. I am modeling a life before them. My youngest, Kai, carries her strength differently. She is an athlete who moves with both confidence and joy, grounded in a clear sense of who she is. What stands out most is how naturally she supports her sister, rooted in security rather than comparison. I am intentional with her about this: she shows up as who God says she is first, not just as a player. She can pursue excellence and still carry the fruits of the Spirit.

Homeschooling is often met with questions about socialization, structure, and whether children miss out on traditional experiences. Those concerns are valid, and I don’t dismiss them. But my children are not sheltered from real life. They face challenges, navigate relationships, and grow through many of the same experiences as their peers, just in different settings. The difference is intentionality. Homeschooling hasn’t created a bubble; it has created space for them to develop with both awareness and a strong sense of identity in who God has called them to be.

If you’re considering this path or you’re already walking it, here is what I know: You are the model. Your children will learn more from how you live than from anything you formally teach. Your consistency, your faith, and your character will shape them in ways that last. Build identity before achievement. When children know who they are, they don’t have to compete for worth; they grow confidently in their own gifts.

Be intentional with the environment you create. Homeschooling is not about doing everything yourself; it’s about cultivating a space where your children grow in alignment with your values.

Homeschooling is not about perfection. It is about obedience. And what I know now is this: when you say yes to the call, God doesn’t just work through you. He works in you.

This article was reviewed and approved by Janice Robinson-Celeste, Publisher of Successful Black Parenting Magazine.