Posted in Lessons I Have Learned

I received a great compliment from my neighbor the other day.  She told me she was trying to think of children that get a better education than mine and she couldn't come up with any! Even the Royal Family and Bill Gate children don't have the privledge of being taught by someone who LOVES them!  WOW!! She went on to mention all the books in our house, the projects we do, the ton of field trips we take and all the traveling we have done as a family.  She is a retired teacher and a wonderful friend to our family.  We are so blessed to live next door to her (And her husband, a retired Baptist Pastor.  I am telling you we hit the neighbor JACKPOT!!!).  We see her pretty much every day and she is so interested in what the kids are doing and learning.  The other day she brought my daughter a little greeting card display box she picked up at the store (It was empty and they said she could have it.)  She gave my daughter some suggestions of how to make a diaorama and off my 5 year old went to make a village out of paper and cotton balls!  She is always bringing the kids little thing to make a project out of.

It is nice to get this kind of encouragement occasionally!   I feel like I am always spread too thin and I wish I could do so much more with each of my kids.  Sometimes I get tired just explaining to store clerks & strangers that the kids are with me because they are homeschooled.  Then having to explain or defend our choice to educate our kids ourselves!  Sometimes I even beat myself up because I wish I was better at homeschooling AND housekeeping!

So if any of you are feel overwhelmed or discouraged remember the words of this wise retired schoolteacher "Even the Royal Family and Bill Gate children don't have the privledge of being taught by someone who LOVES them!"  Pat yourself on the back and know that you are doing GREAT!!!!

BTW, if you need more encouragement regarding your choice to homeschool click here and read Homeschooling vs. Hotel Magaement, an Analogy!