Debi Rice, Peoria
Educating my children at home was a dream long before my children were born, though I knew very little about it when God gave me that desire. I’ve discovered that challenges abound, but so do blessings! As a single mom who must also earn an income, flexibility is necessary for me, but is also a benefit for my six children.
Here is one example of how flexibility blessed my then 9-year-old son who was struggling greatly with certain math skills. He was so fully determined to succeed that even at 10:00 p.m. he was still working on math without any prompting from me. His frustration grew until I thought his head might spin off.
“Son! We are homeschoolers. You don’t have to finish tonight. Walk away!”
Two weeks later, not having touched his math since that frustrating night, I suggested he “tackle some math” minus any mention of his last experience.
Without complaint, my son agreed. I sat in the same room while he worked. Within 20 minutes he had mastered the skill that gave him so much trouble only two weeks earlier.
“MOM! I got 100%! I did it! Why was it so hard a few weeks ago? Today it seemed easy!”
“Well, son, you just weren’t ready. Congratulations!”
Included in a lengthy list of homeschooling benefits are a student learning about flexibility, readiness, and perseverance, as well as a mom seeing her child’s eyes fill with strength and celebration upon mastery of a formidable skill!
Beautiful!
LOVE your illustration of the flexibility of being homeschooled and how it can take the pressure of the kids. Great points at the end, especially when you pointed out the joy we feel when Mom’s see their “child’s eyes fill with strength and celebration upon mastery of a formidable skill!”