Blogging with Julie - on Homeschooling
On Being Perfect
After a frustrating morning of homeschooling four young children, I had HAD it. Nothing had gone right. The last straw was my oldest refusing to understand a math problem. Without warning, I took the math book and slung it across the floor!!! There was silence, and four young innocent pairs of eyes staring in my direction. Instantly I felt horrible and dissolved into tears. Through my despair and tears I blubbered, “If only I could be perfect!” Then with the upmost love and affection my eight year old daughter said, “Mama, if you were perfect, you wouldn’t have to trust Jesus!” Wow. That said it all. I was trying to do it all in my own strength without relying in the Lord to do this awesome task of homeschooling my children. From that day on until the present I can still hear that sweet little voice reminding me that NOT being perfect is my REASON for trusting in the ONE who IS perfect and IS able to give me all I need to guide these precious children He has given me.
But What About Socialization?
This question is one that was asked a lot when homeschooling was becoming popular years ago. Today it is still brought up by those that don’t understand how a child could possibly be socialized without sitting in a classroom of their peers. Romans 12:2 reminds us to NOT be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Sometimes there IS a better way to do things than the way everyone else does it!! Think about it…..God put within a family everything a child needs to grow strong physically, emotionally, spiritually, and SOCIALLY. He gave us a mother, father, siblings, grandparents and other extended family. Most importantly, during the formative years, the family SHOULD be the ones that mold and shape a young child. But then we get the question: what about the “real world”? Don’t homeshoolers have MORE of an opportunity to be in the “real world” than those who are at a desk all day? Take the children with you wherever you go and let them see and learn about the world. Take them to Costco and let them figure out how to save money by buying more. Take them to help an elderly person in need. Take them to a dairy farm and milk a cow! The possibilities are endless. Your homeschooled children will learn how to communicate with ALL ages—not with just children their own age. Don’t let other people discourage you. With time others will see that not only are your children “socialized” but they are thriving in the home environment. “The proof is in the pudding” as the saying goes!
Let them Play!
As homeschoolers it is so important to be sure we are teaching our children what they need to know for their age group. But one important aspect of their childhood that we need to be sure they are experiencing is LOTS of play time. Now when I say play, I don’t mean electronic games, I mean using their imagination and just PLAYING. They can dress up and have a tea party, they can play outside and build a fort!! But what can give them the ideas to play? READING to them is the answer! (I still need to get back to talking about reading!) Children get ideas from books and then go “play” it. Its amazing what they can come up with. After reading “Little House on the Prairie” my daughters built a covered wagon with a red wagon, hula hoops and a sheet! They NEED unstructured time– and what better way to have that than to get their school work done early and have most of the day to play. You can never give them their childhood again. Lets be sure they have TIME to play. Write to me and let me know your thoughts…………..Until next time………. Blessings, Julie
