So it is working…..
January 7th, 2009
The children are all moving along with the basics: reading, writing, math. We are moving into deeper science exploration, not just the Burgess Books and they are loving that. What I am most pleased with is how they are moving along with ideas. One of the MAIN things I wanted to do was make sure our kids got the “connections” between things. When you feed them rich and noble things to think about, they do that…you know…make connections. I will tell you a connections story tomorrow, I just need to figure out a picture to go with it, which is a fun stretch for me. I am seeing tons of little fruit in that area, and they are getting it in relationship to our faith in Jesus and how it all works with the world. It is amazing and fascinating to see all at once. Really, if you are at all thinking about homeschooling, look into it, check out what we use. (We love it and it is awesome) Pray and ask God to show you what is best for you kids. I promise you, you can do it. You can take being home with them all day. It isn’t as hard as you believe it will be. Okay let’s be honest, there are hard days, but let’s be real, there are hard days with whatever you choose to do. I just wanted to send a little cyber encouragment out there because I know so many Moms think about it and then think they NEVER could pull it off. In fact if I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I would be rich.
So I have to tell you a story. This morning at 6:30 I walked in the door from my run and our youngest (4) walked downstairs and sat on the couch and said, “Mom, I don’t know how to read yet, you need to teach me.” I said, “Sure bud, I am happy to teach you.” (All I can think is give me a minute bud, I am hot and sweaty, and it is still dark out, do we have to do school right away, the whole house is asleep. This goes along with him wanting to know everything right now, phonics, writing, math. He really wants to start to sit and learn with the big kids, and do it NOW.) “Will you read me Jax’s Christmas book?” Sure…and I am still thinking it is the Christmas I Spy book we got at the library. As I sit down he takes out the beautiful leather bound copy of “Treasure Island” that Jackson got as a Christmas present. I started reading it out loud to Jackson last night as the “littles” sat on the floor and played checkers with their Daddy. I thought they were not listening. NEVER assume they are not listening. I didn’t really believe he wanted another chapter in that book until he narrated perfectly, and in precise detail the chapter I had read the evening before. I was a little stunned, and then chuckled out loud and started reading. Well cuz that is just how wez roll around he-ah!
So, you see, it is working. It is fun, they are well adjusted and socially in touch with other kids their age and hungry for deeper things of God and life. This is sooooo fun. Truly fun on so many levels. I am not nuts. I heard right when God said stay home. I swallowed my fear and said “Yes Lord!”. I think I can….I think I can….. Just like the little engine that could.
Blessings to all those being obedient today~
Entry Filed under: Homeschool
3 Comments
Add your own1. Melissa | January 7th, 2009 at 11:02 am
totally needed this encouragement today. we are struggling to get back into the swing of things after the holidays and its easy to feel like you aren’t sure about the decision you made to stay home and school your children. so thank you for your post! i feel inspired!!
2. bethany | January 7th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
it’s funny, amber, but you actually inspired my thoughts to shift towards homeschooling back when i first heard you talking about it. i’ve followed your journey as much as the internet allows… and always thought to myself, “well, when i get around to having kids, we’ll have to talk about this some more.” (i thought that was a longer ways off than it was.) sometimes after reading your latest post on a lesson i would find myself daydreaming about other lessons for my one day family. creative ways to apply their learning… ways to make education real to my kids, rather than a sit-at-your-desk-and-do-this-busy-work type of “education” that i can recall. i always get so excited thinking about it… and now that my own family days are approaching…
we will be talking… you and i… because i love, love homeschooling the way i hear it described by you.
b
3. Amber(Homeschool Diva) | January 7th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Melissa you can do it…or aptly put another way, you couldn’t do much worse then the alternative:-) Next week you will feel better. Go read your homeschool statement and if you have not done that…go do it. You will feel better. Mine is under Homeschool 101. It is kind of a long term vision of who you want your little people to be if you are not familiar with the concept. The few weeks before Christmas, I was “under the bus”. That is why I wrote this today, so I could go back when I am “under the bus” again:-)Happens tot he best of us. Don’t let those perfect homeschool blogs fool you;-)
b-Keep dreaming friend. You will be a great Mommy and I can’t wait to talk to you about “this type” of education. It is such a beautiful gift. Actually when I said “Yes Lord” and decided I would stay home, I felt like this would be not only for them, but so much more about me. About me being healed of striving, and performance, and so many things that I had picked up along the way. And every day, I am here to say, that I am being healed by staying home, and pouring in, tending my little garden.
I remember laying at wake at night pre-kids, dreaming of ways to teach them about the kingdom and life. I remember crying myself to sleep after our miscarriage with our first baby thinking I would NEVER have kids. I remember being pissed when Ms, Carol got a word from the Lord. I was getting prayer for deep grief and she heard “fertile mertyl”. All I could think was that is giving me NO hope right now. She heard right!
In due time, they all came fast and furious and I remember thinking, I wanted to be a Mom so bad, I didn’t know it would be like this.I didn’t know I would lose so much of myself, and that I would become a sleepless diaper changing machine. Then they grew a little, it was not so physically taxing and I started to breath again. I realized that everything I had always dreamed about was right in front of me and if I would trust God for money and NOT feel like it was up to me to meet our bills, that I would fall right into all those things I used to dream about. Promise you won’t ever stress about money. Trust God all the way. Don’t sacrifice your kids on the altar of anything, ministry, job, social status. Just be with them and learn from them, and in due time you will find that you are better with them then you ever were without them.
Happy Baby growing and kid training:-)
Blessings to you both,
a
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