We are wrapping up our 7th year of homeschooling. One would think I would have things pretty well figured out by now. Well, I wish I did, but my problem is I have six children. They are not the problem, the problem is someone forgot to tell my kids #2 and down, that they were supposed to learn, retain information, and get excited about the same things as child #1.
Funny enough, God blessed me with six completely different children. Six uniquely different children. I guess I could look at it as a burden and moan, “why me, why couldn’t they all be the same?” However, that would be a big waste of time. Instead I need to look at it as a challenge. More importantly, I need to focus on what works for my family.
Someone always has the latest and the greatest curriculum, method, routine, whatever. While I whole-heartedly agree that we can share useful information with one another, {I hope you have found some helpful tips here!}, its easy to fall into the trap of doubt and the “grass is greener” syndrome. Don’t do it.
Each family is unique. Just like my children are unique, your children are unique, so are the lady’s down the street. Speaking of the lady down the street. If she opens her immense craft closet each afternoon and her children spend hours creating Christmas gifts for all the neighbors, in July, well then that’s awesome for her and her family {and for you if you are a neighbor!}, but that’s her family.
If your friend at co-op has a child that can identify any bird by call, site and recite the scientific name in Latin, awesome for her family. Maybe you have another friend who’s child is solving algebraic equations with pretzels at morning snack, kudos. You sure do have some interesting friends!
However at my house it’s more likely that glue and glitter are getting spilled on the floor, and dripped into someone’s hair, and still another is crying that their stick figure is getting ruined by the spilled glue and glitter fiasco. I have a nature lover, but he would prefer to wrestle gators than to learn a species name in Latin, and most days I’m just glad my 6th grader can remember his multiplication facts.
If you stop by my home on any given day, you are much more likely to find my kids fighting over the computer mouse, playing with the ice dispenser on the fridge, wrestling around on the floor, or begging for a snack. Sitting quietly reading a stack of books or solving math equations? not so much.
Does that mean I’m a failure as a homeschool mom? I have brief moments with those thoughts that’s for sure! But most of the time, despite ourselves, I think we’re doing okay.
After all this time homeschooling I have come to the conclusion that God is calling us all to walk different paths. Homeschooling in your home is going to look vastly different than it does in mine. I’m sure you are breathing a sigh of relief!
God did not give my husband and I a couple of children who like sitting quietly and coloring. Nope. We have six active, full of life children who would rather being hanging off a jungle gym or riding bikes than working on a craft. {Interestingly enough, I would choose the craft, but that’s a different blog post}
Do what works for your family. Do what makes your family happy and pleases God – not the neighbor down the street or your Mother-in-Law. Yep, I said it. You have my permission to throw whatever is not working out the window and embrace what is working, how ever crazy that may be.
Go enjoy your day and your crazy kids, I know I will!
This week at Bundle of the week, check out some great homeschool e-books:
Oh, you’re signing to my heart. My children enjoy art – my boys would rather be in the top of the tree or running through the woods. We barely have time for crafts – because they are so busy out enjoying nature and the feel of the wind on their faces. Love your post and the way you are encouraging others to be who they were created to be!
Well said! It is easy to compare and look at your own home and wonder if it is working. If we wanted our children to all learn the same thing at the same time in the same way there is a place for that — school!
I needed this. I constantly need this. While I love reading other blogs, it is very easy to fall into the trap of seeing all the “cool” things people are doing and feel like an epic failure as you drag out your same, old, textbooks another day. Yet, it works for us. Oh, and don’t feel bad, my craft “closet” could fit into a shoe box. Ok, maybe two shoe boxes 😉
Fantastic! Honestly, after more than twenty years I feel the same way. I guess if we wanted cookie cutter school, we wouldn’t homeschool. We want to meet individual needs- and I feel like I’ve had to reinvent the wheel for each child. I appreciate you candor. I think our households look similar- although my boys are usually up for a craft or two- its what they do when we are done that gets them in trouble. 😉
Like in your house, it seems that in mine, all my kids do all day is run around screaming, building forts and legos, dancing and fighting over the tv and computer. I know they are learning BUT if I begin comparing my children with other homeschoolers, it might look like they are going nowhere.
As for sitting and reading… we do that here too, but most of the time, we get interrupted a dozen times before the chapter is over!!
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“I know they are learning BUT if I begin comparing my children with other
homeschoolers, it might look like they are going nowhere” Gosh!!! sounds like you live in my house!!! Some days I wonder if I’m doing a good job and THEN my children will surprise me with what they really know and have learned! Despite my short comings (and I have many) my kids seem to be doing pretty well.