A sense of humor is a must in homeschooling....and not just a sense of humor, but laughter, fun and most of all joy which I think all intertwine.

First, let us remember that the choice to homeschool is YOUR choice, your commitment, and YOU set the tone each day. Just like in a job outside the home, just like in our marriages, just like in our relationships with our parents and siblings we choose for it to be a "happy day" or not. That choice needs to be mentally made each morning as we wake and then reinforced in prayer and finally put into action when we greet our children. I understand that we are pulled in every direction and if we added up the work we do at home homeschooling and all the other responsiblities...cooking, cleaning, taxi driver, teacher, social events director, wash maid, shopper, physical trainer....we all can finish the list, we should receive a bronze star for bravery in the battle field. But, we don't get any medals, very little thank-yous, and are, for the most part, misunderstood. But, each and every new day we need to recomit to the Lord to be joyful in the task that is ahead of us. We need to lay down our whole self for the good of what He has called us to and then we need to arise and, if need be, paint a big happy smile on our faces.

A sense of humor, joy and being a happy homeschooling mom doesn't take much. It doesn't require a degree, studying at night, or any specialized training. It does require a freed up spirit and deep down desire to be joyful! All of us are capable we just might have to change some habits. Let me give you some examples, right from my home to ours, on how to start having a sense of humor with your children.....my children have entered the kitchen, not fully awake and a little grumpy only to be met by me singing a rather off key rendition of "You are my sunshine"! They can't help but laugh and tell me how silly I am but I know inside they are feeling joy. I have been reading their history outloud to them and slowly and without hesitation started filling in my own version of the way the battle should have ended, how the pioneer man turned to the woman on the wagon train and proposed, how the indians instead of scalping the white man wanted to know what designer they used and what mall they shopped at. Every time I have filled in a science, history, or english lesson in this fashion it has brought their attention out of the mundane and with this quirky sense of humor has brought the kids joy! It has brought laughter to us all. It doesn't need to be much...a little goes along way. They can be listening to music...their music with artists I do not know...but I will tell them that I like that song and am glad to know they also listen to"The Four Tops" or "The Temptations".   They always know I am joking but with a straight face it takes them a moment to think about it. When we would go over spelling words, they would be on a roll geting everyone right and in the middle I would tell them they spelled a word wrong....they would always ask me to spell it for them and I would spell it backwards. It always made us laugh. Same thing with the definitions....they would spell the word and give me the definiton and I would say  "no, I am sorry honey, but that definiton is wrong". Then I would tell them some outrageous, clearly wrong defintion. Simple minded, yes....but it brings in joy to the home for all of us.

There are a million ways, small and not time consuming ways to bring a sense of humor back into your lives. On the days when I didn't get a chance to get dressed before them I would get them started and then run into my room and put my clothes on backwards or inside out...even my shoes on the wrong feet. Try that one in your home of middle school children and the rest of the day will be smooth sailing. If you need motivation go out and rent the movie "It's A Beautiful Life". This movie came out some time ago...several years but won several academy awards. It is about an italian father and young

son who are sent to a Nazi concentration camp. The father shields his child from the harsh reality of the camp with his sense of humor. His love is so strong that he is able to look beyond himself and keep "life beautiful" for his child. It is a sad movie, but will help you see the daily tasks of life in a different light. Even if you have seen it before I encourage you to rent it and watch it again...over the weekend and then begin this coming week with new motivation.

I hope that this will help any of you who are so blessed to have your children at home...to be able to nuture them and love them in a way that is special because you have comitted to homeschooling them. Always remember that your children and the grace to homeschool them is a gift from our heavenly Father and he is always ready and willing for us to come to him. Ask him for the grace to free up that spirit of joy that has been pushed down to the bottom of you and ask for his help in bringing it back up and out into your home and classroom. A sense of humor, happiness, joy...they are all very contagious so WATCH OUT...before long your home might be filled to the brim with laughter, joy and humor. 

Blessed be the Lord our God who gives to us freely all good things!!!