Fallacy Number Two She who has only one child should be able to "drop everything" to help anyone at any time. She could just bring her child along. It won't take that long to help. It's the Christian thing to do.   This goes for those who are homeschooling any number of children. We're home, right? We don't have anything to do? It's the Christian thing to do, right? (Don't you just love being guilted into doing something before you even have a chance to ask the Lord about it?) The same neighbors that don't think it's possible to recreate a good education without the child doing "school" from 8:30 to 3:30, thinks mom is doing nothing so can baby-sit at the drop of a hat, run a "fast errand," be available to answer the door at ALL times to allow the UPS man to drop off their package, and so forth and so on. People at church can think the same thing, needing help to get ready for a "church-wide garage sale" or bake sale, or to help volunteer to man the phones while the staff have Staff Meeting.   Now, I did man the phones for a season for our church, but it was once a week for 2 hours tops. It was a good way to give back, and show my 7- or 8-year old son what an office was like, as well as getting some schoolwork done in another environment. It was also my idea.   It was also my idea, so the receptionist could be included in the church's staff meetings. Occasionally, it is something we can do-watch a child for the afternoon, or run an errand. These kind of things, the occasional help, I call "Ox in a Ditch" times. (Matthew 12:11-12), and is definitely something to do. Yes, we have to seek the Lord on all of these. Even if it's just a "little something," is it something the Lord would have us do? There are some who invariably are constantly in need, and it might not be the best thing to "enable" them. or it may be the thing that they need "today" because the Lord has a lesson in mercy for them to learn. So, it's always good to be able to say, "I need to pray about that and check my schedule." (Which may mean you are praying as you hear their plight on the phone or at the door. Learning to say no graciously is a good quality to learn for yourself also!)   Whether one is homeschooling one or many, it does take time. Certainly not as much if there is a houseful, but we don't do all our schooling in one isolated block of time. It's interspersed throughout the day. Sometimes it's not even scheduled, but done "after the next thing" on the list. the timing changing from day-to-day.   Just because a mom is a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean she is eating bon-bons all day. Sometimes it's time for us to stand up for our own schedules and say, "I'm so sorry, I won't be able to do that for you," and not to feel guilty over it! There is a time & a place for being a Good Samaritan, and there is also a time & a place for focusing on our husband and children.   After God, the family is our responsibility, then others. Sometimes we put "others" with God in the importance scale, putting others before husband and children. It should be God, Husband, Children, and then Others.   We need to hear what are needs and "must dos" from our husbands, also. If your husband wants dinner on the table and the living areas straightened up before he gets home, then that needs to be added to your "things to do today" list. If helping someone out (and it's not a true emergency) will come between your husband's requests, and you won't be able to take care of your own children appropriately (like educating them), then you may need to say no. These times can be for teaching your child how to minister to others, taking your child with you along the way and talking about helping others. We do need to make sure we are not leaving our duties as a wife and mother left hanging. Hearing the Lord say "go and do" is most important. We must have our spiritual ears tuned in and turned on to hear Him.   Learn to put your priorities in place so you can be available to help others, but listen to the Lord, and don't automatically become the neighborhood's "ace up their sleeve" when they have needs that sneak up on them.   Remember: God Husband Children (which includes their education) Others     Donna Conner lives with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their beloved dog, Lucia, and calls Fort Worth, Texas home. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling within the next two years. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One three years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at http://donnac.com and read her blog at http://homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC   copyright © 2006 Donna Conner All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed

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