discovering joy in the journey

Joy to the Heart

Part two shed light on one of our goals of homeschooling – family unity.  In the midst of ‘doing’ school and life, we want to create stronger bonds, develop a spirit of unity, and magnify our Lord!

As we continue exploring the daily mommy vs teacher battle, notice how the teacher in me is starting to sound a bit repetitive…Yes, I can really be like that!

Battle #3

Teacher – “We can’t sacrifice any of our academics today.”

Mommy – ”We need to be able to develop more life skills
(chores, sewing, cooking, etc.)“

Truce #3
– Schedule 5 or 6 weeks of full school and then have 1 week for special projects like sewing, art, and cooking  OR  do 4 days of regular school and save one day a week to focus more on these skills.

(above:  our 2nd grader taking a turn on the sewing machine
this fall during our first project week!)

– Establish a plan for daily and weekly chores, making sure to include meal preparation and clean up.  We have attempted a couple different ways to implement chores – and often start strong.  However, our chores always seem to gradually disappear from our radar as academics take full swing.  I am taking a stand and we are starting them up again (especially those meal related chores)!

   
(above: from last school year…our 1st grader, 2 1/2 year old, 3rd grader, and PreK child excited to show off their chore cards!)

(above: what dinner clean up looks like currently
– Hopefully, we can do this consistently!) 

– Allow some free time in the afternoons for children to pursue and develop their interests…drawing, painting, hand sewing, etc.

Education is not  all about the academics.  Children need the opportunity to develop skills that they will have to utilize the rest of their lives!  Skills such as laundry, cooking, vacuuming, cleaning, organizing, sewing, etc. will be invaluable to the children as they grow into mature young adults.  In the process, they learn the value of hard work, responsibility, being a contributing member of the family, and diligence.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  (Colossians 3: 23)

How do you incorporate life skill learning into your day?

Have you missed any parts of this series?
The Daily Mommy vs Teacher Battle
Part 1 ~ outside time
Part 2 ~ strengthening relationships
Part 3 ~ life skills (current post)
Part 4 ~ including the younger children
Part 5 ~ persevering

In part one of the daily mommy vs  teacher battle, peace is being made by allowing our children to be able to get outside and play each day.  That was simple enough!  Now, let’s move on to something more substantial.  Today, in part two, we deal with relationship building opportunities.

Battle #2

Teacher – “We must stick to the academic tasks and stay on target today.”

Mommy – “How can I find adequate time to build strong relationships with the children and for them to grow closer together as well?”

Truce #2
– Schedule times for older kids to take a 15-20 minute break from their schoolwork to play with or read to the younger kids.

– Be encouraged by the natural tendencies the children have to talk, play, read, hug, and wrestle with each other – even if those few extra minutes ‘interrupt’  their schoolwork.

(above: our K child choosing
to read to her 17 month old sister)

– From time to time, invite the whole crew to dress up, choose hand puppets, or design some stick puppets and work together to put on a performance to share with daddy. (Of course, as in our family, the kids may take charge and come up with this idea on their own.) Be willing to give them time for planning, working through issues with one another, and for expressing their creativity!

-Do chores as a family – all working as a team toward achieving a goal.

(above:  even our 2 year old enjoyed
helping by dusting the baseboards)

-Institute a regular family fun night.  Play games, watch a movie, or have a Bible focused evening – all along with a fun snack!

– Have several fun educational days scattered throughout the year (100th day, Olympics related, family tea parties, etc) to maintain excitement in learning and to create family memories.

 
(above: our oldest trying out chopsticks at our family Asian themed tea)

–Make sure mama is remembering to wear a smile, is using pleasant tones, is looking at the children when they speak, and is giving hugs and encouraging feedback.  This will go a long way to building a positive relationship!

– Use a ‘Mama and Me’ notebook to write back and forth in to develop another form of communication to strengthen the bonds of trust and transparency. (I think this will be especially beneficial as the kids get older, but it is a good habit to start now.)

What is our goal?   Building family unity (in the midst of ‘doing’ school and life) so that we might glorify Christ!

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 15:5-6)

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.   (Ephesians 4:2-3)

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  (Psalm 133:1)

Follow the entire series…
The Daily Mommy vs Teacher Battle
Part 1 ~ outside time
Part 2 ~ strengthening relationships (current post)
Part 3 ~ life skills
Part 4 ~ including the younger children
Part 5 ~ persevering

Like other homeschool moms with a handful of children ranging in age from toddler to entering double digits, I have two very important and intense roles that I must play each day – at the exact same time. 

I am a mother  AND  I am a teacher. 

This is both a daily blessing and a daily battle.  I realize that my roles as a mother and teacher are not really conflicting.  However, in my heart, they often feel that way.  This may be due to neglecting prayer for wisdom each day, believing lies about what my role as a mother and teacher should be, or by setting unreasonable expectations for myself and/or the children.  I truly love my children and I love home educating them, but some days I feel like I’m losing on both the mommy and the teacher front …. and sometimes, I feel as if my heart is being torn in two. 

Other homeschool mamas, do you ever feel this too?

Over the next several days, I will be sharing a few of the battles that are waged each day between the teacher and the mommy in me.  I’ll also be attempting to provide a few simple and practical solutions or ‘truces’  that might ease the sparring between the two and to help settle the conflict =) .

Feel free to comment and to add ways you’ve dealt with these issues in your own homeschool!

Battle #1
(This is actually the simplest battle to solve, and you’ll probably laugh…)

Teacher – “We must fit in all of our academic areas this day.”

Mommy – “The children and I must find time to breathe in the fresh air and be able to run and play outside!”

Truce #1
-Schedule daily outside recess, preferably a time when all of us, including mommy, can go outside!  Most public schools have recess for children.  So, our homeschooled kids (and younger siblings) can too!  Just because we are the only family in our neighborhood with children outside during school hours doesn’t mean it’s wrong!  Recess and play time outside has great benefits.  So, let the kids have some free play, suggest some fun relay races, kick the ball around, etc.  Just take a break from the school work and get outside!  The books and assignments can wait until after recess and everyone will be more refreshed (even mommy).

  (above:  our sweet 18 mo old learning to toss a ball earlier this year)

– Grab some clipboards, paper, and pencils, put the younger ones in a stroller or wagon, and head outdoors for a nature expedition!

 
(above: from 4 years ago…our almost 2 year old enjoying
some fresh air and nature exploration as his sisters go on a leaf hunt!)

Feel the gentle breeze.  Breathe deeply.  Enjoy God’s creation.
It is OKAY to take a break in the middle of, gulp, a school day!

Follow the entire series… 
The Daily Mommy vs Teacher Battle
Part 1 ~ outside time (current post)
Part 2 ~ strengthening relationships
Part 3 ~ life skills
Part 4 ~ including the younger children
Part 5 ~ persevering

So many times, when I tell another mom that I homeschool our children, the first response I hear is…”Oh, I could never do that.  I just don’t have the patience!” 

Can I let you in on a little secret?  (Neither. do. I.)   Well, maybe it is not quite a secret since my children could easily attest to it and my husband knows it quite well, too.  More importantly, I know it and, of course, nothing can be hidden from my Lord.

While trying to instill a love for learning, encourage strong friendships among siblings that will last, discipline in love, and achieve academic training, we are building our childrens’ minds and character AND God is shaping ours.  Whether that means molding me to be more flexible, more patient, more gentle, more loving, less self absorbed……. whew!

Becoming a mother and choosing to be with our precious children 24/7/365 has a way of amplifying my sinfulness and creates daily opportunities for the necessary refining process to take place.  I am willing to let Christ grow me in this area through the trials, challenges, joys, frustrations, and uncertainties as we walk on this journey we call homeschooling.  It is by no means easy and I definitely do not have the needed patience, naturally, ingrained in me.   I am starting to realize that I am also being homeschooled as it is Christ who is gradually (v e r y  gradually) making the necessary character changes in me. 

(Above: a recent volcano experiment….
Yes, an inactive volcano may look calm and peaceful enough, but at any time, it may rumble and roar, spilling forth gases, ash, and hot lava that lie beneath the surface – affecting all those in the surrounding area)

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.       (Proverbs 14:29)

A man’s wisdom gives him patience.  It is to his glory to overlook an offense.        (Proverbs 19:11)

Be completely humble and gentle.  Be patient, bearing with one another in love.      (Ephesians 4:2)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.         (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

In the above verses, patience seems to be linked to understanding, wisdom, humbleness, forgiveness, gentleness, contentment, and love.  Oh Lord, may you continue to train and teach me so that  I may possess these qualities in increasing measure, demonstrating them graciously in our home.