BUSINESS BUILDING
real world. Not all classrooms have four walls!”
I wanted my kids to be smart and educated but also able to focus on what mattered most.” Yuki agrees. “Being able to have a more profound relationship with your children and help them learn in their own unique ways is priceless,” she says. “For example, José teaches a Bible class to our youngest daughter. They spend quality time together. Doing that class together has connected them in a special way.” They take opportunities not found anywhere else. Homeschooling may not be for every family, but for those who have committed to it, new opportunities seem to open up every day. “Homeschoolers are apt to do things their own way,” Shelby says. “They don’t blindly accept the mainstream and are constantly on the lookout for better options! Our microschool gets our kids out into our community quite often. Our kids have the opportunity to start their own businesses. They’re learning how to be entrepreneurs!” “I’m grateful for all the things I’ve learned at Melaleuca and that I’m now teaching my children,” Yuki says. “For example, our oldest daughter is now taking an elective class on finances, which is something I never did when I was in high school. I’m helping her learn many of the financial concepts we’ve learned at Melaleuca—keeping an emergency fund, staying out of debt, saving for a rainy day—and she’s very excited about it. Thinking critically, rather than acting on blind faith, is a skill the Foshays want each of their kids to develop.
According to recent estimates, more than 7 million children in the US were being homeschooled as of the end of the 2021–2022 school year. That’s a big jump from 2019’s figure of 2.5 million. And while school shutdowns during the early days of the pandemic may have fueled the initial rise, many families since then have decided to stick with homeschooling—and they are inviting their friends. There are more homeschooling families in North America every year. Here are a few great reasons why these families might see building a Melaleuca business as a perfect fit. Homeschoolers thrive on flexibility. One thing many parents and kids who homeschool love about their daily schedule is how it helps them regain precious time with their family. “Homeschooling has given me a chance to get to know my daughters in a more profound way,” Yuki says, “just like when I try to get to know other people and help them discover Melaleuca. I’m grateful for the time flexibility that our business gives us, which allows us to work around our daughters’ needs.” Parents who homeschool understand that learning can occur in many different forms. “In our home, every day looks different,” Hannah says. “We have a schedule, but it’s not super strict, which is so much less stressful. Our son has freedom to do his schooling how he wants to. Like so many homeschooling families say, we want to prepare our children for life. We want our kids to not only pursue their passions but be prepared for the
They build relationships they can rely on. Homeschooling families are often part of a more broad, collaborative homeschooling community where kids and parents alike find many friends and build relationships that enrich their educational experience. Each of the moms interviewed for this story has seen these great personal relationships naturally lead to conversations about the Melaleuca online shopping club. “We’ve got the best of both worlds,” Shelby says. “When you’re part of your homeschooling community, you’re forming lots of connections, making it easy and natural to share Melaleuca. One of the ladies who I referred to our microschool is now my business partner. And the woman leading our school is now a Melaleuca customer!” They know that everyone needs a why. “If your why is crystal clear, whether it’s your Melaleuca why or your homeschooling why , everything else will fall into place,” Meghan says. That doesn’t mean a why can’t be adjusted as circumstances change! Shelby, for example, found that her why —the chance to teach again but this time with only her children—was just not strong enough. And that prompted a little self-examination. “I had to ask myself, What’s important to me?” she says. “Am I pursuing my passion of spending time with my family? That opened my eyes to another opportunity: to build good humans.
42 OCTOBER 2022 | MELALEUCA.COM
These results are not typical. Consult the Annual Income Statistics on page 58 for typical results.
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