3 Import Things You Need to Know to Homeschool.
1. You don’t have to have it all together!
I felt so much pressure during my first year of homeschooling! I felt the need to prove to myself and others my kids were excelling. Because of my misguided desire for success, I jumped ahead and put my 4-year-old in a grade above her age level and pushed her to succeed. By the grace of God, she is naturally inclined to learn and it didn’t affect her as much as it probably should have.
Around year 3, life got really hard. We had another baby, the world was CRAZY and shortly after that, I lost 3 important people in my life. This forced me to give up my desire for perfection and for the first time, I took a deep breath. Life is so short. When my kiddos are grown, no one is going to ask me if they skipped a grade, when they were potty trained, when they stopped sleeping in the bed with me! These self-inflicted rules don’t lead to the freedom we are called to in Christ!
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36
Free. Free to fail. Free from self-imposed rules. Free from others opinions. free from profromace.
FREE. TRULY FREE
In what ways do you need to be set free? addiction? performance? negativity? There is hope! The only hope! Jesus.
2. It will not go the way you plan!
Let go of your expectations. The best way to feel disappointed is to set your standards too high. There were so many times that I powered through a hard time because I clung more to what I thought something should look like rather than letting the Lord work in my life and the lives of these precious kids he entrusted to me.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
Do you trust him? When plans change, kids get sick, your seven-year-old can’t write or be ready yet, do you trust HIM? His plans are always higher than ours. His plans always lead you closer to him. Are you willing to be uncomfortable to know The Lord better?
3. Taking breaks, starting over, and quitting for the day is perfectly ok!
Stop! REST. If tensions are high, kids are in moods, you didn’t sleep well so you are grouchy, TAKE A BREAK! No one has won awards for ignoring the need for rest. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Elijah in 1 Kings 19, right after he called down fire from heaven to destroy prophets of other gods ran. he was so overwhelmed and scared about everything he had just been through that he was the lowest he had ever been he felt like the wanted to die. He sat down and fell asleep. God sent an angel to care for him. After his physical needs were met, God spoke to him and fulfilled his spiritual needs. WE NEED REST. We need to take care of ourselves and sometimes that requires us to stop what your doing and do NOTHING. Pleasing the Lord doesn’t mean ignoring the rest that He blessed us with.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest“ Matthew 11:28
Where do you need rest? Are you willing to put your idea of success aside to pursue a higher calling?
If no one has told you today, you are LOVED and an amazing Mom!
Your Fun Friend,
Katie
