Relax & Enjoy

Tonight I had the opportunity to hear a veteran homeschool mom share about her story, her children, her regrets, and her encouragements to us "newer" homeschool mamas.

Pat has raised 9 children.  Her 8th child baby sat for us a few years ago and we loved her!

So as Pat was sharing with a handful of us gathered around a table at a local coffee shop, I wondered if I would gain any earth shattering homeschool revelations.  I'm not even sure what I was hoping to receive or what I expected to hear.  So did I hear anything that will revolutionize the way we school? 

There was no moment that a light bulb went off, but as I was driving home and reflected on what she shared I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace and calm.  It's like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders.  A weight that I alone have put on them.

I realized that I put a lot of pressure on myself to "get school done", and lately as I'm preparing Drew for Memory Masters a lot of our regular schooling has gone on the back burner.  That is making me feel stressed and I keep thinking, and saying out loud, "we are so behind in school".  It's definitely put a cloud over my mood, my energy, my demeanor.  I don't like feeling behind, because if I feel behind I know I'm going to need to catch up!  And that thought makes me tired.

But, listening to Pat tonight, what I heard her say was...

*Love being a mommy

*You want your kids to love being a part of your family

*When they're little, play with them

*Don't be a slave to your curriculum. 

*Help them love to learn

*Pray and ask God for wisdom.  God will open and shut doors

*If you did nothing else in your day, but love your kids, that's enough!

And what I needed to hear most

*Be relaxed and enjoy your children

Do I take enough time to enjoy my kids?

I was remembering how as a little girl I wanted to be a teacher.  I would line my baby dolls up and give them a school lesson, and I dreamed of the day when that would become real.

Fast forward a few decades and I got to fulfill my dream and become a middle school teacher at an amazing school, with amazing students.

Fast forward a few more years and my students were my own children.

Teaching my own children is a dream come true, yet most days I don't act like it, or feel like it.

I want to take some time to re-evaluate why I am educating my children at home.  Everyone that home-schools has different reasons for doing so.

To simplify my reason it would be because I want to teach my children to love God and love others.  There are more reasons than that, but lately when we pray during our morning bible time, those are often words that I say.

So although tonight I didn't leave feeling a need to drastically alter the way we school, my encouragement came in a quieter, gentler way that seeped into my soul and has made me once again contemplate how I desire to spend our days.

Being a loving mommy is more important to me that being a rigid teacher.  As I read in the Psalms this morning "Blessed are those who put their trust in Him."  I am placing my trust in Him that He will direct my path on this wonderful journey of homeschooling so that I will be able to...

Relax & Enjoy

These kids are too big of a blessing not to enjoy!

P.S.  Happy Belated Easter