Homeschooling my kids was always something I wanted to do. My Natural Health mentors all homeschooled and it seemed like the right thing to do when we started having babies. I was pretty strong in that conviction but really didn’t have a clue what it would mean to me personally, our family or our lifestyle. So, when my son was like 2 1/2 years old we started him in a little pre-school. I remember in the orientation they talked about how they are preparing kids for school. I thought “uh oh, my kid is not going to go to school, but what harm can this little 2 day a week 2.5 hrs do to my son?”
My son was the youngest, still not potty trained and not as verbal or cooperative as the other little girls and one or two boys in the class. After a couple of months my son was asked to leave the pre-school program. I was pretty crushed as a parent and mom. Would I need to find more outside care for my son or would I take on the job?
Growing Into Home Schooling
I grew up as an only child so I didn’t have an affinity for kids like other moms. I was a workaholic and was good at business and teaching to be healthier and live better but parenting didn’t come easy to me and I was still mediocre at best. We had another baby Sarah Grace when Joshua was 3. I had a babysitter, nanny help, or Grandparents help almost every day with my two kids. When my youngest was 8 months old we ended up moving far away where I had a lot less help. That transition was more challenging but I learned how to love my kids deeper and be more present with them.
When my oldest was 6 I started attending a Coop of Homeschooling parents and kids. It was incredible to watch the dynamics of all the different kids at the same age as my son, there were highly active, low attention span boys like my son as well as focused studious kids who already were amazing readers and writers. And still they all were learning and growing. I soon learned that my son was not as different as I thought and in fact he was quite special and unique. Later I would learn that my daughter and most every kids I came into contact with was special, unique and gifted in some way.
Challenges With Home Schooling
When my kids were 6 and 3 we had one more move across the country where I would learn parenting at a whole new level. That first year after the move has been one of the hardest in my homeschooling journey. It isn’t because my kids are crazy or jumping off the walls, it’s actually because of me. I have had to train myself to learn to do “THE HARD THINGS” like create structure and consistency in my home. To overcome hurdles of poor attitudes and understand where they are coming from. I have been blessed to lean on another group of amazing women and Homeschoolers who help me understand “I AM ENOUGH”. That my challenging son is awesome and is getting better and better. They have helped me learn how to take “MOMMY BREAKS”, and led me to different resources and help. And most of all that God will direct me if I let Him.
This past week I had a really hard day getting my kids to do their work, follow directions and make progress. By 1:30 pm I was exhausted. But we still headed off to a new park for excersice. When we arrived there was lots of interesting features to this park with an overhang that looked Chinese in design. Nearby was an elderly man playing an Erhu – Chinese violin.
As my kids ran and played, all of sudden my 7 year old son labels the playground Asia and this other part of it China. Wow, I thought to myself he is absorbing and even learning his history, geography and timeline subjects. In that moment I really felt accomplished as a mom, parent and homeschooler.
God Teaches On The Journey
In that moment God reminded me that just because we have challenges or move a little slower in some areas of schooling or life doesn’t mean HE isn’t doing a great work in us. I know God is using me and my family for His testimonial. I know that doing these HARD THINGS, like Homeschooling, is teaching me way more than I can possibly understand.
Here is a list of the things and areas God is teaching me through this journey:
Diligence, Self Discipline, Time Management, Love, Forgiveness, Understanding, Patience, Personal Self Development , Faith, Self Care, Timeliness, Systems, Routines, Humility, Favor, Surrender, Hope, Faith, Joy and Kindness.
I don’t know what you may be going through, all I know is that growth doesn’t necessarily come through doing things that we are already good at. Growth comes from doing the HARD THINGS. So whatever hard patch you’re walking through today, know it is stretching you and making you grow.
Here’s a post to encourage you as you do the hard things today!
God Bless you on your Parenting, Mom, and Life Success;
Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom
