Life Lessons
Mentor Mom, Barbara West invited some veteran homeschoolers to do a video for her facebook group, Homeschooling Colorado titled “Dear Younger Homeschool Me...” I’m grateful to be included in this project among amazing women who I respect and look up to.
This is one of the most beneficial ideas I have heard of in a long time. There is no greater wisdom than what you can get from people who have walked the walk before you and who are willing to share from their hearts about what they have learned.
Across the world there has been a massive educational shift due to the pandemic. People are looking for the very best information on what it takes to homeschool and how to be the best home educator they can be. The learning curve is steep and the time is short. While the burden of the pandemic is overwhelming to our world, the fact that families are growing closer and stronger is a major blessing.
I hope you will be encouraged by all of these great women’s stories, and I pray that lessons I have learned the hard way will bless you.
Dear Younger Homeschool Me
You are more capable than you think you are. Stop doubting yourself and unleash your uniqueness. Be brave, dare to do the things that you dream about.
Don’t compare yourself to other people, only compare yourself to who you were yesterday and how you want to be remembered after you are die.
Don’t walk on eggshells when you are dealing with people trying to make friends. If they make you feel uneasy, cut them loose. Let them go. If you have to work that hard to be friends with someone, it isn’t going to last anyway. It’s better to have no friends than bad friends. Teach your kids to be each others’ best friends, to be true to one another, and to choose their friends carefully.
Don’t worry about how everyone else homeschools. Don’t look at what other people are doing and allow yourself to be tempted to add extras to your life that you haven’t been called to. Take time to make sound decisions and stick to them until you know something is no longer right for your family. Don’t do what’s good, take time to discover what is best and then chase only after those things. There are a million good things out there, but that doesn’t make any of them the best thing for your family.
Money isn’t as important as you think it is. Living meagerly is better. It will teach your kids to appreciate things more and to be better stewards. They will have better character if you live humbly. Don’t spoil them, but work hard to bless them in creative ways. Time together is worth more than anything money can buy.
Spend more time looking into your children’s eyes. Listen to their banter. Laugh with them. Play with them. Cherish them. Don’t chase after big things. Choose your projects carefully. The most important things are the small things and they are centered on quality interactions that involve the hearts of your children. Read out loud to them more. Never stop sharing stories.
Lighten up. Learn to laugh. Let go. The days are so very long, but the years are much shorter than anyone can ever convey with words. Every moment matters. Don’t let time slip through your fingers, as it is the most valuable asset you have. Your children want to be with you. Nothing on earth is more important than them. Always be present. Be here, now.
Choose your battles. Ask yourself; “Is this a character or moral issue?” “Will this have eternal consequences?” “What will happen if I don’t dig in my heels in this moment?” “What will happen if I stick to my guns?” “How can I be more loving and encouraging in this situation?”
Take more time to breathe and pray. Take time to find a better way that will bless your children. Above all else, seek understanding, strive to provide unconditional love, and smile at your children. Slow down. Let them see your love in your eyes, hear it in your voice, and feel it in your embrace.
Say no, don’t be a yes girl. Choose wisely. Be firm but loving. Stay strong. Be brave. Let go of perfectionism. Do your best with what you have. Don’t cling to ideals of how things should be. Stop mourning what isn’t. Embrace what is. Stay positive. Choose joy and thankfulness. Turn off the tv. Don’t let anyone mentally bully you into making choices your gut is telling you is wrong. Seek God first and trust Him with everything, nothing is too small, He cares about it all.
Listen to me girlfriend, you’ll be glad you did.