Some days I feel like everything just goes so well. Happy, obedient kids, lots of energy (for me, that is) and patience at an all time high. The kids are helpful doing what needs to be done, and just downright excited about life. No nit picking at each other, and they show promise as self directed learners. That is a big part of what homeschooling is all about! But then, there are some times I get a little worried. I know it happens to all of us. There is no way we can ever teach them all they "need" to know. (Who even knows what they need to know, right?) And even if I wanted to try, (haha) the rate that information is expanding we may be experiencing the next big bang real soon!
Well, I hope you know I am joking, but anyway, for our family of unschoolers, de-schoolers or "no" schoolers, as my 7 year old said recently, every day is an adventure, and a gift. And we just must remember that there is a time and a season for everything. And if the day isn't what you had planned, remember that "this too shall pass!" In this day of fast-food, high speed internet and instant messaging, we need not forget that generally, we don't see instant results. A masterpiece can't be done quickly. We must work, wait patiently, trust, and wait some more.
Some days don't go so well. Kids are grumpy, Mom is grumpy. Life happens. Things go wrong. And if you are the eternal optimist, these are all opportunities to polish up our actions and reactions to adversity. Adversity in the homeschool does come. But that doesn't mean we throw in the towel. My dear Auntie M. was telling me about her day and I told her I planned to share it. I think you will enjoy this and I pray that a little dose of reality sprinkled with a bit of humor will help you to put off the perfectionism that might be paralyzing your homeschooling efforts:
"I better go...what a day. The boys were all excited the plumber was coming to fix the pottie. I cleaned up the mess and disinfected the paint off the walls. Not too bad though. Little Bit got her hair caught in the zipper of her dress and I had to snip snip snip. Let's see... the freezer died today-- after I bought 5 frozen sale pizzas last week. So guess what we are eating for dinner? One pizza with rising crust started rising and the box was all inflated. We were afraid of a pizza explosion so we popped it. Then, Molly and I played scrabble while I was on the treadmill.
What do you say, homeschooling is life? My kids learned the plumber does not put a live snake in the pottie. School for today. "
I couldn't have said it better myself!
Homeschooling Is Life,
Nancy
Nancy Baetz is a stay-at-homer who hopes to inspire and encourage other Mother's on their homeschooling journey.
She loves to see what her kids will come up with next, and likes to write, and take photos of all manner of God's creation. Her hearts desire is to please God and be a servant even though being selfish is something she battles daily, but she knows that God will prevail and teach her this important truth. www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/ByHisGraceInColorado
