Homeschooling: Now What?

I may have a lot of strong opinions on a lot of things but I can honestly admit that when it comes to my kids' education I am just a little overwhelmed. 

I am sure of only a few things:

1. Children naturally WANT to learn everything about everything in their world.
2. I want my children to be passionate about learning throughout their lives.
3. All children are not meant to be doctors or lawyers or astronauts or high paid executives, or even to  go to college.
4. A child's learning should be 100% individualized and unique to them.
5. Children learn at their own rate.
6. Pushing a child to keep them on our timeline of when they should know what will only extinguish thier passion for learning and possibly thier passion for life
7. The same can be said about holding a child back when she is searching for more.
8. Children (and all people in general) learn best when surrounded by love and constant encouragement.  
9. Learning and Life should not be seperated.
10. Noone is ever going to care about my children's education and future as much as I do.

Where I go from here is where I get confused.  I know that my children will not be attending public school (at least not until they are old enough to make that decision for themselves, but that is another topic) but as for what exactly their homeschooling experience will look like, I'm not sure. 

Does this make me unqualified to educate my children because I can admit that I am not exactly sure how to go about it?  NO!  I don't think so.  While I'm figuring it out my only goals are to let them explore thier world and ask questions freely, and to always make myself available to answer their question or help them find the answers.  And most importantly, to keep the fire for life and truth burning in thier hearts.

Grocery Store Nightmares

He's leaving.  Hubby was presented, 2 days ago, with the opportunity to go to training that will further his career and open up many, many more bases that we could be stationed at.  Of course, he called me to ask what I thought as soon as he got the news before he said yes and committed to it.  How could I say no?  It is a great opportunity and I know he really wants to do it. 

But here is the catch: he leaves in a week.  A week!  And he will be gone for 4 months!  I am not prepared for this.  You see, with 4 children ages 4 and under I NEVER take them all anywhere by myself.  I am afraid we may all starve over the next 4 months because I cannot even entertain the idea of taking everyone grocery shopping.

Can you picture it:  Trinity in the wrap trying to fondle every item I pick up or get close enough to look at and fussing and pulling my hair when told "No" she may not touch, Taylor using his super stretchy octopus arms to get at things that I am sure I moved the cart far enough away from so that he couldn't reach, and then Brewer and Brayah on either side of the cart screaming at each other for "looking" at the other and both informing me (at seperate times, of course) that they really have to potty now and no they can't hold it. If that doesn't sound like a waking nightmare I don't know what does.

So, yes, I am excited about the opportunities this will bring for Hubby and the changes it may bring to our family. But I am also a little scared because, although I complain sometimes (c'mon girls, we all do occasionally), I really do depend on Hubby in so many ways.  He keeps me sane.  Who knows in what kind of mental state I'll be when he returns (not to mention our nutritional state). 

Hold Onto Love, Let the Rest Go

I make a lot of mistakes. Especially under the category of "mothering". I sometimes yell, lose my temper, and I expect to much out of children that are not even old enough to blow their own noses.  

 I have days where I seem to repeat the same prayer every hour.  It goes something like this:  "God please forgive me for (insert current offense here).  Thank you for your endless love and grace.  Please help me to show that same love and grace to my children.  And please help them be good and so I can have 10 minutes of quiet time.  Amen".  And every time I ask, he forgives. 

 Each time I lose my cool and ask for God's forgiveness I make it a point to ask their forgiveness too.  I let my children know that although I am the boss that does not give me the right to do and say anything I want.  Each time I tell them (the 3 or 4 year old.  The other 2 don't do much talking) "Mommy was wrong.  Will you forgive me?"  I receive an immediate "YES"  with a big, long hug to follow.  And then they are done with it.  They don't remind me of my mistake at a later time or use it to make me feel bad.

 

How is it that these little children who know so little about the world have this forgiveness thing all figured out.  Could it be that their amazingly beautiful souls have not yet been tainted by their world.  They just want to hold onto love and let everything else go.  Wow.  I want to be like that.  I want to live like that.  I want my kids to see me living like that.

I hope that, as they learn more and more about the fallen world they live in, they will continue to hold onto the love and choose to let the rest go.  And I hope that I can be their example when they need forgiveness.