You've seen the headlines.  You have read the stories. 

Homeschooled kids are near perfect, academically sound and headed for glory! 

 They have won spelling bees, geography bees, and excel at just about anything set before them.  They have helped catch burglars, and are involved in all manner of philanthropy.  You can see for yourself right at this informative site:  homeschoolbuzz.

Just a few of the amazing articles to puruse:

"Generous Home Educators Reach Out to Homeschooling Hurricane Victims"

"The Good News About Homeschooling"

"Home-taught Kids Happy With How They’re Educated"

"Home-school Student Given National Award"

If you sense a hint of sarcasm in this, then you must be homeschooled yourself

And if you keep up with a lot of blogs out here on HSB, you will read some reality about this diverse group of families that call themselves homeschoolers.  But are in the midst of the "fly on the wall"  "typical day" and other journal entries, are we being real?

Awhile back, Jen Ig wrote an editorial called "Perfect Homeschooler Envy."  You might want to read that.  It really has a lot to say about comparing ourselves to others.  Not, mind you, that we can't be inspired by the lives and habits of others.  But what about feeling indicted and unable to pass muster when it comes to the daily grind?  We humans do tend to do that.  I think it is part of our nature, no matter how secure we are in who we are.  Sometimes, we look at others and feel like we don't measure up.  But even worse, sometimes we look at ourselves, and KNOW we have some definite problems. And we are afraid to admit them because heaven forbid, we might give homeschooling a bad name.  My take on that?  Let's Get Real.

My husband and I have  a covenant relationship between us and God, who brought us together.  We know that no matter what happens God won't forsake us, He will help us.  This may sound a little nutty, but I know that I don't want to have to explain myself to the Lord if I bail out----"um, well, Lord I just didn't think you could truly help in this situation---it was just too big.''  There is definitly something to be said about the Fear of the Lord.  It is the beginning and END of knowledge.  Amen.

Just like our marriage covenant, we have a similar committment to educating our kids. We are in it for the long haul.  We aren't "doing an experiment."

 No matter how hard it might be, or how inadequate we feel, we don't have to go it alone.

So, back to our honesty about our homeschooling.  If I were to invent a few headlines about our homeschooling journey they might look something like this:

"Homeschool Mom Culinarily Challenged:  Frozen dinners and carry-in Pizza on menu three times this week!"

"Pets go unfed once more~ Mom threatens to ground irresponsible children"

"Lost Math Book Surfaces In Bedrock~child insists room was cleaned back in 2002"

"Childs Learning Style Baffles Mom"

"Mother Loses Temper in Grocery Store"  (Clerks look on in horror as childs request for candy is denied)

"Laundry Piles as High as the Pyrenees"  -- Mud Puddle Attracts Children,

 (source close to family places blame)

"Library Fines Hit Double Digits for Homeschool Family"

"Midlife Crisis Contributes to Mother's Inability To Teach~ (trouble with simple math in the homeschool)

 As silly as those are, there is more than a hint of truth there.  I am NOT perfect, and I don't pretend to be.  My homeschool will probably (but who knows) never get any academic awards.  But that is ok.  Remember that book they used in high school to teach psyschology, "I'm OK, You're OK?"  Well, that is what I want you to remember today.

"I'm OK, You're OK."

That is what I want you to remember today.  Do not feel guilty about not being perfect.  Just be yourself, enjoy yourself and your kids.  Grow with the kids, Grow in the Lord.  Cherish this day, even if the house is a mess and the kids are arguing. 

 Such is life!

I "borrowed" this from my friend Deb.  The following was today's staff devotion.  She obviously has been "reading my mail" as the saying goes.  I hope you will read this and be as blessed as I am by it.

“The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in
satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23 

 

Abiding in satisfaction sounds so appealing to me right now.

Why? Because I have NOT been satisfied this morning.

I am not satisfied with my mothering,
I am not satisfied with my teaching,

I am not satisfied with myself in any way today.

 I have been visited with the evil of my own doing

 by being short tempered, impatient, ungracious and unmerciful.

However – I have also found that if I just turn my gaze back on the One in Whom I fear,

 I will find life and satisfaction in Him,

 and be able to minister to others.

If I refuse to turn to Him,

I am visited with the evil of my own selfish thoughts and objectives.

 He is so gracious to gently lead me back to Himself

even when I stray down that “not satisfied” path.

 He gives me His own Presence

to fully satisfy any deficiency in my own flesh.

 ~ Deborah

Are you convinced yet?  Here is one more headline for you:

"Homeschoolers Find Satisfaction and Peace by Looking To Jesus"

Homeschooling and Living by His Grace,

Nancy