Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Homeschool 2010-2011...


It has been a journey for us. I never thought I would get this far. It was 7 years ago that I was only imagining how it would be like to homeschool. And now I'm actually in it. Many moms I know have been asking me how it's been, how do I do it, and how is it that I can manage it among other responsibilities I have. So I have dedicated this post for moms who are curious, and the moms who needs support in starting homeschool. I don't have all the answers, but I want to share my experiences of failure and success with being a homeschool mom through my blog.

For the past years, I have listed in my journal a few things I needed to help me get through the day. One of them, as my blog title says, "created to be creative in everything", it is to be creative. This is one key I know that has helped me through the years of raising boys. Another important factor is to be organized. Not to the point that I'm obsessed with keeping things in order, though sometimes I can be. But I know I have to find a way to balance all the to do list with the family, the house, and ministry. But most important is to know your calling, your purpose, and your goal. Without this it is easy to get lost and have fear of failure when you are tried, tired, and frustrated.

Many times it's the spontaneous moments that calls for creativity. For example having lunch with the kids. I have taught them that to be a family is to eat together. Meaning to keep them seated down. Many times my eldest eats so fast that he is always first to leave the table. I know he knows it, but he doesn't apply it. So I've started telling a story at the table. I have made up a story and called it "the Adventures of the Cloud Brothers". Actually they helped me picked out the title. These stories are made up as I tell them. I'm not normally this creative with telling the story. I'm actually a bad story teller, but so far they love the adventures I've made up. They just don't know that the names of the characters are their first name, only pronounced backwards. Jacob, my second son, loves those names even though they sound weird. Anyway, that is one of the ways I have found myself called to be creative.

Reading books about homeschooling has given me freedom and encouragement to continue and not give up through the years. Good books like "Leadership Education", "Christian Homeschooling", gave me direction how to create an atmosphere of learning in my home. It affirms my desire to homeschool. It has encouraged me to be prepared to inspire and teach each day. Though I must say, because I was brought up in a conveyor belt system of learning, where I was made to sit down and learn as fast I can (and wished that I was smart enough to learn fast enough), sometimes comes in my way. I find myself getting impatient, because I have this expectation that results of true knowledge should be evident right away. When I should be patient to keep helping them understand it.

Lastly, as I find myself growing and developing my character to be patient and learning to be less stress with the daily task. What has helped me a lot is that a good daily routine is a good medicine for the family. Because I believe that learning is a lifestyle, therefore learning is throughout the day. The routine maps out the day, but it does not control the day. But what I really want to say is that there is a teaching and learning opportunity in every second of the day. Whether it being doing chores as a family, or sitting down to read a book together, or eating a meal together. I want to be ready for those moments. I believe that's what the parent is called for.
"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deuteronomy 6). 

Here's a bible verse I want to share. Especially to homeschoolers. This has made it clear to me, as a mom and teacher, why I homeschool. I know there are many challenges ahead of me and my family. But I also know there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

2 comments:

Melody said...

I don't have kids yet, but I grew up home schooled and one of my favorite things about my life is how close we all as a result.

Good luck!

CIEL said...

Thanks Melody! It's my hope and trusting God will definitely use home school to keep my family close to Him and to each other.