What I Have Learned From Homeschooling My Children

As I woke up late this morning (yes 7:00 am is late for mom) and was trying to figure out where to start with my giant list of stuff that needs to get done, I came across these thoughts about homeschooling and am thankful for the blessing of having my children by my side! No we haven't grown squash this year but we are learning all of these lessons and are so thankful to be at this great time of life learning and growing together as a family.

What I Have Learned From Homeschooling My Children
by Deborah Wuehler

I have learned that homeschooling is a way of life and not a rigid set of cookie cutter rules and curriculum. I have learned that no matter how challenging, draining, exhausting, monotonous, or exciting homeschooling can be, I'd never, ever change my mind and send my children away to experience that life with someone else.

I have learned that the yellow phone book listing of schools and the yellow school busses that drive by have nothing to offer and cannot even be compared to the yellow blankets we cuddle up with the while reading about Laura Ingalls and a boy who was stung by hundreds of yellow jackets, or how Walter Reed discovered that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquitoes, or that the word yellow has two syllables and double consonants, and all while eating yellow squash we grew ourselves.

I have learned that when they are young children they are precious, and I wouldn't want to miss anything they have done or learned or thought or said, no matter how seemingly insignificant to the world. And I have learned that when they are older, I wouldn't want to miss their friendship and laughter, and the way they hold your hand in public.

I have learned that children have more questions than I can sometimes answer, but I love trying to answer as many as possible, and hearing their own explanations of things is unforgettable. I have learned that if you can teach a child to stay curious by staying curious yourself, you can keep their minds alive with wonder, along with the desire to do their own research.

I have learned to never give up; even when I think I can't do this--thereby teaching them by example that they don't have to give up when they think they can't do it either.

I have learned that I'd rather have my kids wandering all over the house when they are supposed to be doing their schoolwork rather than wandering the halls of an institution; I'd rather have toddlers wandering and getting into the toilet paper rolls as the rolls wander all over the house rather than toddlers wandering at the day care wishing they were with mom. I'd rather have minds wandering, thinking about friends rather than fractions, instead of worrying that they are wandering the streets with foolish friends, or have wandering faith because of what they have been taught in school for so many years.

I have learned that homeschooling makes you flexible and patient, and that you either have to laugh or cry at how the day is going. I am still learning to choose to laugh, and if I laugh, usually the family will laugh with me.