PROFILE: Readin’, writin’, ‘rithmatic
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 28, 2010
Welcome to the life of Brandy Klaiber, homemaker, mother and teacher.
And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Klaiber and her husband, Jeremy, are the proud parents of two boys, Kaedan, 8, and Kenan, 3. Jeremy brings home the bacon, thanks to his 15 years of employment at Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. in Franklin Furnace.
Brandy keeps the home fires, and the roadways themselves, on Ohio Furnace Road burning.
Aside from the normal chores associated with maintaining a home, those fires include the unconventional duties of teaching her young boys what is traditionally taught in school classrooms.
“To me, home school begins at birth,” Brandy said. “School work is an all day process.”
Members of the Hanging Rock Apostolic Church of God and steadfast believers in the King James Bible, the Klaibers feel that any arena where God is not allowed, such as public schools, is no place for their children.
“Having the mother at home keeping things in order is part of our understanding of the Word of God,” Brandy, 28, said. “We feel (that sending) our children into places that teach God isn’t necessarily real undermines what Scripture teaches as a whole.”
As a result of his home-based educational curriculum, Kaedan was able to finish kindergarten in just a few months and now reads at the high school level. Just like in public schools, his studies cover the traditional subjects, but his teacher is only in charge of one student.
According to Jeremy, that 1-to-1 ration makes a huge difference in the quality of Kaedan’s education.
“He’s already a grade ahead of where he should be at his age,” Jeremy said, noting that his wife sets aside time for learning “all day long” in their household.
Jeremy also mentioned that Brandy, unencumbered by classroom schedules, takes the boys on numerous field trips to further their understanding of her lessons.
“The opportunities that arise outside the books from day to day to instruct these boys are numerous,” Brandy noted, adding that she incorporates lessons in areas such as science while cooking, cleaning, or taking bubble baths.
She also teaches integrity and values, classes that never end. “Being able to show our children why we believe what we believe in the Scriptures, along with modeling the lifestyle, is just as important” as course work, Brandy said.
A Scripture devotee, Brandy points to the Bible for every decision she makes with her children.
Those decisions include teachings on responsibility.
“She teaches them so much and then has Kaedan doing chores like dishes, taking out the trash and making his bed,” Jeremy said.
The Klaibers have become so accustomed to following God’s Word that they feel called to add to their nest. They are presently in the process of obtaining a “foster-to-adopt” certificate through the state of Ohio so they can share their love with other children, as well as adults.
“We are planning to foster whichever child is in need of a home for now, and keep the possibility open for adoption if they are unable to reunite with their birth family,” Brandy said.
“It really is more than just helping a child or children,” she continued. “We hope to be able to mentor the birth parents and make a difference in their lives as well.”
And then she made an understatement that is obvious to perhaps everyone except her.
“I really don’t do much of anything else during the day besides keeping house and teaching.”