Homeschooling Adventures!

There's a whole bunch of  new people doing virtual school at home now.  I just want to encourage you all that you can do this!  We homeschooled all three of our kids for many many years.  Two of them all they way through and one all but about 2 years.  

We used every type of curriculum over the years.  From structured, to workbooks, to computer classes, to unit studies, to unschooling.

First of all, every kid is different.  That is the first thing that I learned homeschooling!  Everyone does not learn like me!  Some of my kids liked structure, some liked more freedom.  Some needed a desk, some needed to be outside. Some liked to do the pages in order, some liked to randomly open the book and do that page! 

Our homeschooling definitely evolved over the years. At first, all I knew to do was what I knew as "school" at home.  I tried to recreate it.  That didn't go over so well.  Then I realized we had the freedom to do so much more at home!  We could learn here or there!  We could learn everywhere!

We utilized the library, and games, and outside, and loads of free play.  Some of the best learning was random questions as we were flying kites at the park.

Now I know, you all doing the "virtual learning" at home won't have quite as much freedom.  But take this time to get to know your kids.  How do they learn?  Visual, auditory, tactile?  By rote, by memorizing? By singing?   Take this time to get to know yourself!  How's your patience?  How's your attitude? Take this time to listen to what they are learning.  Listen to what's going on in the classroom.

And really, it might be easier just to homeschool yourself! Ha!  I know it's not for everyone, but you'd be surprised what you are capable of!

My biggest thing is you don't have to make sure they know "everything"!  You don't have to stuff every fact into their head before they are 18.  But give them a love of learning.  Teach them how to learn.  How to find the answers.  Find what their passion is and hone in on that! 

Take this time to get to know yourself and build that relationship with your kids.  

It truly is a blessing!

Toughest job out there

I've only had a few jobs in my lifetime.  Waitress, admin assistant, retail, and at a cookie store at the mall.  But by far the toughest job I've ever had- being a mom.

It's the job that never ends.

When they are little, you are on 24/7.  It's physically exhausting.  There's the sleep deprivation and a fog of diapers, poop and feeding.  That fog does eventually lift onto a rush of toddlerhood with all it's flurry of activity and learning and talking!  The talking!

We homeschooled, so there was so much laughter, learning, and endless conversations during the school years.

Learning to gradually let go and give them freedom as they get older, is probably the hardest thing of parenting.  Letting them fail, giving them the tools to be responsible, knowing when to step in and when to step back.  It's all very daunting.  But equally rewarding. 

Seeing your kids go from this teeny tiny little one that fits in one arm- to becoming parents themselves is completely awe-inspiring.

You'd think that now that they are all grown and have left the house and have families and careers all their own, that my mom job would be over.  And the physical part of it is. 

Now I'm navigating the road of seeing my kids becoming parents.  How much to say, to help, what not to say, when not to help.  How to encourage, how to support.  How to be the grandparent and not the parent.

It's a whole other level of greatness.

When you're a mom, you're a mom for life.  The job doesn't end.  There's no 8-5, no sick time, hardly any breaks,  even when you are on vacation-you are thinking about them.

A mom to adult kids is a weird stage of life.  It's rewarding, challenging, and sometimes very raw.  I still cry over them.  Still pray over them.  I love them.  And now my heart expands as they marry and have kids.  It keeps expanding..which is a blessing.

I trust God will guide and direct them.  I pray they will trust God to do that.  I pray the things we've taught them will help them.  I pray they will learn from our mistakes as parents.  I pray they will teach me how to love them and their kids.

It's a job that never ends.  And I love it.

Being a momma

Being a mom is one of the greatest joys in life.  It's also one of the hardest jobs imaginable.  When the kids are little it's all physically demanding.  When the kids are older, it's all emotionally draining.

It is just hard.

There are great rewards. And yet there are things I would've never learned about myself if I hadn't had kids.

And now my kids are having their own families!  It is so exciting to watch and be a part of it all!

I was such a young young mom (which I wouldn't change a bit and still highly recommend to people). I had all my kids between the ages of 21 and 25.

I was young and naive.  But through a lot of tears, smiles, hugs, games and grit we made it through.

I thought I knew a lot.  Turns out I didn't know much at all!

Being a mom is a journey.  (and I'm not done yet!--navigating being a mom to adults now!)

If I could tell myself as a young mom anything I would say to her:

This won't last forever.

Stop and breathe.  Turn on the music and have a dance party.  Forget about the dishes.

Get help!  Ask friends or family for advice, or physical help if feeling overwhelmed.

Write stuff down.  Those little sayings, those funny moments.  Journal, jot, write it down because you'll forget it.

You don't know it all and you will make mistakes. A lot of them.  You will get angry, mess up, say the wrong thing.  We all have those days.  Ask your kids for forgiveness, forgive yourself and move on.  Tomorrow is always a new day.

Take that nap.  Or lay down and rest.  There's always laundry to fold.

Your kids are growing up! Let them!  Give them responsibilities and freedoms and let them fly! (sometimes they will and sometimes they won't by the way)

Being a mom isn't about control or fitting them into your "box".  My way isn't always the "only" way.

Listen to what your kids are saying to you.  They may be whining it at you or just being "difficult" but stop and hear what's behind the whine.  What are they needing.

The things they "do" to you aren't personal.  They don't have a personal vendetta to get you (well not always! ha!)

Pray!  A lot more than you think!  Feed your soul.  You need it!  Don't go dry.

Develop some friends or a network that you can meet at the park or trade babysitting.

Don't forget your husband!  Cultivate that relationship! One day you'll wake up and all those noises and messes will be gone.  All that's left will be you and him.  Grow that relationship so you won't be strangers later.

And he can do stuff too!  No he won't do it like you do but let him!  and don't criticize him when he helps out.

Love and prayers to all the moms out there!  It's a tough job but the rewards are lifelong!

I'm enjoying this side of motherhood now...and grandmotherhood!  Wow!  So much fun!