The last couple of school weeks have not been easy for us.  I'm talking specifically about structured school.  Nature study and other non-textbook studies are always easy, but anything which requires sitting at a table and focusing has been truly disasterous.

Perhaps it's been the distraction of the beautiful weather and longing so much to be outside all the time, or the noise of the large construction equipment working at building a new house next door, but I'm thinking it's both those things and just plain needing a break from the structured schedule.  As it is we limit our structured learning to the morning hours, but it seems even thats been too much lately.  And instead of Mom doing as she should and reading the signs, I've been fighting it and making us all quite miserable.

The truth is I've been just as distracted as they've been, but just too stubborn to want to give up the schedule before my planner says it's time.  Yesterday and today, we all met our breaking point and we've been heavy into spending most of the day working through our ugliness.  So, beyond the talking and tears another lesson has been learned....Learn when to let go.

Oh, that's such a hard one for me!  I'm an insufferable control freak!  I know this is really surprising perhaps, but the Lord has done great work on me this last year to let go the way I have been with nature study and other things; and just let my children learn at a more natural pace for them.  You see, somewhere in my perfect worldly dreams I wanted to see my children being scholarly, book smart, able to pass all the tests with flying colors as everyone around me stood cheering and clapping for how "intelligent" they are.  For unfortunately this is how the world measures success.  I am so ashamed  that I have thought this way!  For this is NOT God's measure of success.

God blessed me with two very unique children who are full of wonderful talents and abilities and simply amaze me with these things every day.   And over the years, He has gradually taught me to let go of these preconceived, world taught ideas of what makes a person successful.  And start using His truth to measure our successes.  We are always progressing, in some ways astronomically and in others at a much slower pace....but always progressing.

Admist the turmoil, we've still be having fun outside.  I'll be posting soon about all our wonderful "hands-on" fun learning about dandelions; while we take a much needed earlier than planned break from structured studies.