4 surprising homeschool lessons about character

I had cause to celebrate a life accomplishment this week for an art project. I pondered this for a few days, coming up with a few ideas, but they didn’t feel major enough.

You know how sometimes things are so obvious you miss them? I am in the trenches of my first half of life accomplishment and almost missed it for its close proximity.

Homeschooling.

When we pulled away from the machine of public education we could never have imagined the trials and joys headed our way.

We made the choice, unsure about it ourselves, with quaking spines as we stood trembling against the opposition. We withdrew our daughters and they were fully ours again.

Those were some scary times, yet electric with possibility. Each day proposed adventures to be had. Life to live. It was grand indeed.

Celebrate the days when homeschooling

I am so proud 10 years later as my little girls are now high schoolers.

It is hard not to pat yourself on the back and put a sticky note on my shirt. A note I’d see in mirrored reflections shouting “You are doing great!”  Many days I could have used that.

Homeschooling is a largely thankless job, and without God’s direction, the whole thing would have flopped.

Let’s lay it all out there. Homeschooling is hard work. It takes dedication like nothing else I have ever done.

Sometimes I fail miserably. Other times impart euphoria over the possibilities of learning new ideas in unusual ways.

Each day has a lesson. It can come through books and lesson plans. But, that isn’t where the real learning happens.

4 Homeschool lessons on character

• This lifestyle builds character. You really learn to die to selfishness pretty quickly. It can be messy and painful in the moment, but I’ve had no better learning environment for this than right alongside my kids
• Parents are ultimately qualified to facilitate learning with their kids. It doesn’t require a degree; it requires passion and unrelenting devotion to teaching OURSELVES to help our kids do the same. There is nothing we can’t learn from them, and it is a humbling joy to learn right along with them
• One of the funniest things I have heard over the years goes something like this, “Oh, you must be a saint/the most patient person ever” That is funny on the level that if you knew me, for say 10 minutes, my secret would be blown. I am not patient by nature. I have become more patient with practice. Every day presents new opportunities to practice. I don’t have it down yet, but keep trying
• Another quip is “I could not stand to be with my kids all day, how do you do it?”  I have heard this said with dripping sarcasm coming from patronizing smiles. I have heard it from well-meaning strangers and loving friends. You name it, after 10 years, but that I have heard a variation.

I loved being a mother to young children, yet, I believed that school was the next step and at one point might even have thought homeschoolers must be weird. When did it become weird to enjoy our kids?

I missed them while they were in school and thought it was odd, at first, to have them home again all day we quickly learned to love it.

Embrace imperfect homeschooling

I could tell you a million things perhaps of how this lifestyle has benefited our children, our family bonds, and our community at large. But that will have to save for another day…

When I think of my greatest accomplishment, homeschooling is the brightest jewel in my crown. It has changed me.

On some days it is the hardest thing I have ever done and I want to hide in the closet and weep…it is okay, you know, to be honest about this. (If you homeschool please stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Ain’t gonna happen)

But mostly? I rejoice with thanksgiving over having this opportunity. This life I never imagined.

Homeschooling moms rock

I know some think I have sacrificed too much, training up these girls full time.

More the pity to never be able to share with them what joy this has brought into our family. I pray my children will one day rise and call me blessed (perhaps, when the teen years have passed )

This life I live has shaped me into who I am today. To me, that is a great accomplishment. Letting go of so much baggage and learning to dream again.

Realizing that I love learning. I’ve been educated in life. Fully, uniquely, qualified after all- to be me.

Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend, and yes, even Homeschooling mom.

A title that deserves so much more respect than it receives.

With or without that worldly appreciation, I know in my heart that the experiences have been enough. I met who I really am in the kiln.

And her name is Christa. Embracing her chosen field, and learning every day.

 

P.s. want to find some great purposeful character-building resources? Check out Year round homeschooling here