Spunky Homeschool

Fathers

Feb. 13, 2006 at 8:29 AM

Parenting

I attended my first homeschool convention when my oldest child was nearing school age in 1992. One of the first things I noticed was how few fathers attended such events. Mine included. (My husband had an "excused absence" he was working full time and attending night school for an MBA I went with a friend.) There were a few brave souls who did venture out into the maze of books and workshops but not many.

Over the years, I have seen this changing for the better. The last few conventions I attended were much better attended by fathers and they had special workshops encouraging them. A fun title at one convention was "Help! My wife wants to homeschool now what am I supposed to do?"

Truly, fathers are an indispensable part of homeschooling. Let's face it we wouldn't even have the children to homeschool without them!

Fathers differ in so many ways. Some are very "hands on" and involved others are more reserved and offer guidance only when asked. The problem is, many times mothers think the fathers should be something different than what they are. The wife with an involved husband wishes he were less so. The father who is more reserved frustrates the woman who desires her husband to "just take the lead" for a change.The challenge for most of us is to honor the man we married not the one we wished we married. (He doesn't exist anyway!)

So begin the week with a bang. Give your children a lesson they'll never forget and you'll never regret....a mommy who truly honors their daddy.

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3 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by Dell on Feb. 13, 2006 at 9:18 AM

"The problem is, many times mothers think the fathers should be something different than what they are. The wife with an involved husband wishes he were less so. The father who is more reserved frustrates the woman who desires her husband to "just take the lead" for a change.The challenge for most of us is to honor the man we married not the one we wished we married. (He doesn't exist anyway!) "

WELL SAID and Amen! I struggled with this the first few years of marriage, then I realized how NUTSO the other style of man would drive me... I'm so grateful for my guy, and appreciate the kind of leader he is.

posted by homeskoolmom on Feb. 14, 2006 at 9:26 AM

My husband gets discouraged that fathers are "excluded" from hs events. I don't think the wives mean to do this. It's just that we are in the trenches, so to speak, while most of our husbands are working outside the home. At our hs kick-off this year, dh was one of 2 that were there. In defense, we have a small group. Dads we NEED you!

posted by homeskool on Feb. 14, 2006 at 4:45 PM

We homeschool dads are trying (and sometimes failing, but trying nonethelelss) to be the kind of Dads and husbands God has called us to be. We need our wive's support, encouragement and respect as much as they need it from us. Thank you for acknowledging what we husbands do, and want to do. I also am excited about the change I am seeing. I love reading the blogs from H.S. Dads too. Thanks again

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