Sep. 3, 2007 - Returned
It has been a long while since I was able to post here. I apologize to all my faithful friends and readers. Though it might seem like my writing is soley for me to vent my frustration or brag about our family's accomplishments, my true desire is to help other homeschool moms.
When we began homeschooling in 1990, my (then) 3 children were all 3 yr. and under. There was no internet, and our family had very few contacts outside our immediate area. At that time we were living in New York City in an apartment on the Lower East Side-commonly referred to by New Yorkers as "Alphabet City". Back then, this area was just beginning to be revitalized after many many years of neglect. Buildings on every block were boarded up, long ago left empty by both tenants and landlord-whoever he/she may have been. There was a movement, in the CITY, for "homesteading". People signed up to have apartments, co-ops or condo's in these run-down buildings, and a instead of paying the market value, they worked so many hours to restore and/or remodel the property to get it up to livable condition. The thinking was that if someone put their time and labor into it, they would be much more thoughtful and careful regarding it's care in the future, and look after it well. It also bred respect for their neighbors properties as well.
On our recent visit to NYC, we took a drive to our old neighborhood. The change is unbelievable. Dilapidate buildings have been fully renovated, restored, or removed. New schools and buildings about. Vacant lots, once the dump sites of discarded furniture, have become community gardens. They are a site to behold. An urban meets rural ipex if you will. Little pieces of the country scattered around the city.
This area, was a mecca for drive by shootings and crime, is now an extrememly desirable place to live. WIth rents and market values to match.
Sometimes as we go along in our homeschooling, we are in a bad neighborhood, things are run down, or old or simply don't work. It may look like it is hopeless. Don't despair. You may need to step back and get a different perspective. Yes, it is awfully hard to set aside books, and programs that cost hundreds of dollars. But if it doesn't work for your child or family, something must be done.
Our old neighborhood reached a point where it had to be changed or it would only get worse. This is true of our methods in teaching our children. Within the same family, each person is an individual with a personality, and intellect of their own. They may resemble one another, or mimic each other, but what worked for child #1 may be the undoing of child #2. As Moms we need to pray for wisdom to discern the difference between carelessness and rebellion,, and true comprehension problems. . It is not easy. Child A doesn't want to get it but could; child B wants to get it but can't! This is where we have to step in and make changes. We might have to remove old barriers (methods, books ideas) and replace them with new materials, or refurbish some old materials.
The point is, if we are able to determine how each child learns best, and cater schooling to meet their needs, they can excell academically, though not necessarily above average (like so many magazine families lead us to believe is the usual result of homeschooling).
Part of the reason we chose to homeschool was to teach our children, to make sure they get it, and give them the best education for them, for them to become productive Christians and Citizens of this nation.
For many years I cried over my children's frustration and lagging academics, and I thought that we were the exception, that we were the odd ones. It took a long time for us to realize that those families featured on the magazine covers-THEY are the exceptions. Their children may have excelled above the average student no matter where they were schooled. The trouble is, when you read the magazines looking for guidance, you figure that the exception is the rule, when it comes to homeschool that is.
I really believed that by homeschooling my children I would create super genius's. They are all far more intelligent than they believe, but none are genius'. We don't have any protoge's.
What we DO have are terrific children who LOVE THE LORD, who want to serve Him with their lives. They can't quote Aristotle, or speak fluent greek and latin, but they can quote Scripture and they know how to lead a lost soul to the Blessed Saviour. Not one of us really knows what calculus is, but does that type of math really come into play when you balance a checkbook or go grocery shopping?
God had been, and is always, so good to us.Our original goal of homeschooling was that we wanted our children to be able to read, write and balance a checkbook correctly, but mostly we prayed that they would desire to serve the LORD their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. The pursuit of academics for the sake of appearances, or prestige of for academics sake is vain. But finishing our course for Jesus sake is not.
Perhaps you, like me, got so wrapped up in pursuing academics that you've lost sight of the real prize--training a Servant of Jesus for service in whatever capacity the LORD chooses. Lessons in Math and English take precedence over learning to win souls, or memorize Scripture.
Take a few steps back from your programs and methods and prayerfully seek God's will and leading, ask Him for wisdom to hel pyou train up your child in the way he should go--the way God wants him to go. He will lead the way if you are willing to take His hand and go along.
