Ok, this assignment is an "ouchy" one for me...but I think the Lord has a plan so I'll just trust Him and keep plodding along.

This is our 8th year of homeschooling and you'd think I'd have a tough skin by now...NOPE!

I need to preface this assighment by saying that life has been tough for us the past few years but especially this past year and my "sore spots" are a bit more tender than usual.

Part 1 -The greatest damage is when fellow homeschoolers compair my dyslexic son to their small children who can "outread" him. Then these small children are allowed by their parents to belittle my sonwith their words, who already feeling low about his challenges in life cause him to go lower and feel terrible about what he can and can't do well. These "friends" claim to care about my son but actions dictate different feeling in my heart. I then start my downward critical cycle of: I am not doing a good job teaching my son, I am failing him terribly, I am causing more damage than good, I chose poor curriculmn, and on and on.

On the flip side of that I have a dear, dear friend who understands our challenges and encourages us all the time. I have started to go only to her when I need to talk about our issues, knowing that she will listen, encourage and pray for us. Choosing the "right" person the "hear" you is imparitive to my self worth as a homeschooler and in my identity in Christ.

Part 2 - Damage we might have caused...I believe in the past I have overwhelmed new homeschoolers with too much information. I know try and listen carefully to what their needs are and ask as many questions. I try not to recommend specific programs but encourage them to be confident and try something and to also come back and dialog with me about what their children need, how they learn etc. We all need encoragement don't we?

blessings on you all!