Teaching Tuesday

When things aren't working like you'd hoped they would...

When your kids are behind in school and you don't know how to help...

When extra pressures are frustrating you and them...

What do you do?

We are facing some of these issues right now in our home. We have had a rough year getting everything in for school partly because of our recent move, partly because of scheduling conflicts and partly because when we are stressed we can become dysfunctional and a little stress-paralyzed. I pray I am not the only one.

But because we do homeschool, I feel an enormous amount of pressure to get back on track fast when these things happen. So last night as I was talking with Savannah, I realized she was feeling an enormous amount of pressure...school, friends, future, small business, ACT testing....it was just getting to her. So we paused. Cried. Evaluated. Regrouped. Prayed and made a plan. We are going to go to a more collegiate schedule for her school, where she can focus three days on the subjects that really eat her lunch and two days on the ones that she eases through. I could see relief on her face as soon as we made the decision. Hopefully this will work.

But isn't that the beauty of homeschooling?....getting to adjust the schedule when you need to....making it work for the student and the teacher....looking at the makeup of the child and getting to do what is best for her? I love it. It's not the first time we've rerouted and I am sure it won't be the last. 

I am sure glad God's grace is bigger than our bad days....because even in homeschooling we need that new grace and mercy everyday.

When You Share What You Know

When you share what you know...

1. You teach

2. You encourage

3. You motivate

4. You inspire

5. You help

6. You give peace

7. You give understanding

8. You promote oneness

9. You are generous

10. You make yourself vulnerable

11. You mentor

12. You bless

13. You give wisdom

14. You help prevent problems

15. You show the way

16. You lead

17. You comfort

18. You give insight

19. You calm fears

20. You  _________________.


I was blessed this week by a group of homeschool moms that made time to get together and share what they know about teaching and parenting. I can't tell you everything I gained....so much more than I imagined...even to some degree so much more than I can even completely comprehend. I'm still sorting through the wealth of advice, encouragement, curriculum and ideas that we exchanged. I'm beginning my 8th year of homeschool and find myself still needing the blessing of friends who walk this road too.

Whether you homeschool or not isn't really the point of this post...It's sharing what you know. When we are selfish and keep what we know a secret for whatever reason, we rob others of the wisdom God has given us through our own life experiences. You never know who will hear your story and be inspired and motivated. Let's be a people that is eager to share with those around you. Stingy people don't get nearly the satisfaction and fulfillment that generous people do.

Be generous. Share.

Complain Much?

One of the many hazards of homeschooling is that my kids aren't always quite as polite to the teacher as they might be if the teacher were someone else. There's a comfortableness that, while endearing, can also be taken advantage of if we aren't careful.

Complaining seems to be the most popular issue at hand right now. Complaining about doing schoolwork, how much schoolwork, how hard the schoolwork is, how boring it is, how tired they are, how long it takes....need I go on????

Anyway...I've explained until I'm blue in the face, we've spanked (yes, we do that), we've prayed, we've raised our voices (ok..maybe that was just me), I've lectured....And I've grown weary.

And since I'm not a complainy type person for the most part, this is under my skin. WHEN DID THEY BECOME THIS WAY??? I think the same way we all do sometimes.

1. We only want to do what we want to do.

2. We think what we want is the most important thing on earth.

3. We think we are right.

4. We don't think of the effort others have made for us to have, do, be....

5. We become covetous. We want what others have even if that mean different but not better.

And so now I'm figuring out a plan of action that might help my kids think before they complain...at least some of the time.

1. Gratitude. Speak and write thanks when you are tempted to complain.

2. Do something for someone else when you are tempted to complain.

3. Pray about your attitude. Is this really something that is important enough to complain about?

4. File your complaint. Write it down and place it in the complaint jar. If it's still worthy of conversation at the end of the day, we will read it.

As I was thinking about these things I thought how they really apply to any area of our lives. We waste so many words complaining about things that don't matter, that when we really do have a concern that deserves our words, no one listens. I'm praying that I can teach my own kids the extreme value in a word spoken in due season. Just because I'm an adult doesn't mean I've mastered this concept. In fact, it's just a great reminder to use my words wisely.