Encouragement

Homeschooling is wonderful.  It's fun and engrossing and fulfilling and it's absolutely the best job I've ever had.

It's also tough.  Crazy tough.   Because this work matters to me more than anything I will do in this life, I can get more than a little upset when I don't get it all "right." 

But maybe it's really quite simple...

I came across these words today on the Simple Homeschool website, written by a seasoned, wise homeschooling mama.  She provides the long view...

"My children are not grown yet, but my oldest is in college and gives me hope that my idea of “maintaining your heart for your child” is on the right track. He believes parents are the key to successful kids. Among the people he knows at college, only a handful are confident and positive about life. Being smart is secondary. All his friends are smart, but few are emotionally strong. Of course, I had tears in my eyes as he said these things. 

 My next child turns 18 soon. I think her Terrible Twos lasted 12 years, then flared up again around age 15. But I tried to keep my head and maintain my unconditional love, sacrificial giving and unwavering confidence in her. Today she is self-controlled, competent and confident, and we enjoy a close relationship. She’s excited about college and ready to move into adulthood. 

My third child just turned 16, and I am still thick in the battle for my mind and attitude sometimes. But our foundation of deep love and respect has made these teenage years not as difficult as they could be. Let’s be realistic–even parents who do “everything right” can have a child turn away and follow a destructive path. We can’t guarantee our kids will turn out okay. All we can do is control our own behavior, living a life of no regrets–full of love and hope for the little ones in our home." 

Picture of Buns taken by Caroline after the three of us finished lying on a pallet in the morning October sun, watching the chickens and writing back and forth in the kids' journals.