Although Summer officially began last month, I think it was yesterday that I actually felt it at its peak!  My kids and I were working on the farm, (CSA work share) and the mercury hit 102 while we were there.  I completely wilted!  My body wasn't acclimated to the heat as it should have been and basically I was useless.  This coming from an Arizona native doesn't make a lot of sense, but nevertheless, that scorching, stepping-into-a-blast-furnace feeling that I used to love doesn't endear me anymore.  I can't understand it! 

So how are you weathering the heat?  Not just the outside temps, but what about the climate in your homeschool?  Are you able to stay cool when the heat gets turned up?

Just as we must go through the seasons the Lord put in place for our world; tilling, seed-time, weeding and harvest, we must also go through the seasons when the heat is turned up high in our own homes.  For us, homeschooling can be considered a seasonal affair.  Not that we only homeschool at certain times, but what I mean is that certain conditions must be in place for learning.  The children (and the mom) must be "good soil" or teachable.  They must be "well watered" or have mom or dad imparting much input to the learning process.  They must be "weeded in a timely fashion" which means getting in there and yanking out the thorns and thistles before they overtake the seedlings.  And in this season right now we must be "protecting the young plant" from the scorching sun, the burning wind, the diseases and the pests.

Isn't it funny how we can use the analogy of planting with raising and teaching our children?  The Lord himself used this analogy many, many times in scripture.  But the truth is that our children are like plants.  They must be nurtured, fed, cultivated and protected. 

And just as a farmer rotates his crops so the soil in one area doesn't become depleted, we must rotate our homeschooling, so that the children get the full experience of the knowledge and skills that we have given them.  They must learn about what is in season, so that they will be prepared for that season.  They must also be exposed to that which is out of season, so that they will be ready for it when it comes. 

As the parent, "teacher" we must be ready and aware of the season that our child is in.  How can we know?  By watching, listening, observing.  Our child's behavior will show us what they need from us.  Are they showing frustration?  That should be a key clue for us to change something in the way we are nurturing that child.  Are they showing a need for independence?  We should re-evaluate whether they are ready for it, and if we have missed anything.  Of course, it is a given that we should always be in prayer about this.  But through prayer, I believe the Lord will give us greater insight into our children and their needs.  Always pray!

There isn't any way to address all the needs, but like a lovely plant that produces good fruit, we must remember that although it *could* happen: that a lonely plant in the wilderness very well may grow to maturity and produce good fruit, our children are not alone in the wilderness.  The Lord has put our children in our care, and it is up to us to grow them to fruition by His methods, using His guidance and relying on His timing and most of all, by His strength and power.

We mustn't try to do this on our own, or we will burn out, or up.  Right now it's the season for many moms to be re-evaluating their homeschooling.  Summer is zipping by and some of you might be very concerned about it for many reasons.  (I will try to go into that next week.)  Right now, stop worrying, and get  some refreshment from God's Word.    Even if you have read Psalm 19 one hundred times, go read it again.  I can guarantee that it will speak to you in a different way today.

Blessings!  Stay cool and drink lots of pure water today!  (Read Psalm 1 also, it would be a good one to have the kids ~and mom too~ memorize!)

Nancy

p.s., stop by my regular blog~I am having a little contest.

Posted in hsingislife, 0 comments, Link
Leave a Comment