When I first began homeschooling years ago, I was so overwhelmed!! I spent months researching all about the different philosophies and methods, learning styles of children, curriculum, and every tip and idea I could get my hands on.  I especially got caught up in researching curriculum, spending hours and hours (and often dollar after dollar) trying to find the perfect one for my children. 

I felt like I had to cover it all; every topic of every subject, so my children wouldn’t have any gaps in their knowledge, so I wouldn’t “ruin” them.  I wrote out detailed plans for our entire year, trying to squeeze everything in.  I wanted to give my children the world, and the responsibility of teaching them at home felt very heavy.  I wondered if I could really do it and I desperately didn’t want to mess my children up!

Can you relate?

I have learned so much through the years, and one of the hard-won lessons I’ve been taught is… RELAX!!  Trust in the Lord more fully and lean not to my own understanding, as the scriptures say.  That is what I needed to write in my heart!

Now in all honesty, I do recall reading advice like this from other experienced homeschool moms when I was just starting out, and I didn’t really listen.  I assumed they were kinda lazy because they were getting older and were tired of homeschooling.  Yikes, I was so wrong!

I definitely don’t know everything and I’m constantly learning more, but this wisdom gained through the years is true and I wish my younger self had paid more attention to it!  If you are just starting out homeschooling, please please listen!  I promise I am not just old and tired and lazy 🙂

To My Younger Self

Three of my seven children, have now graduated high school.  Here is the advice I would give myself if I could start over and relive my children’s early years…

• Cuddle on the couch and read stories every day
• Go on nature walks and discover God’s world together
• Draw, paint, create (and don’t stress about the mess)
• Play, laugh, sing, dance and imagine with them
• Enjoy their boundless wonder and curiosity

I wish I hadn’t stressed about curriculum and spent so much on teacher’s guides for this and that, trying to find the perfect way to educate my children.  I wish I had spent all that money on lots of beautiful and engaging living books, art and science supplies and field trips to the riparian preserve, the botanical garden, and the science center.

I wish I hadn’t been so worried about needing to cover every topic of every subject. I wish I had just picked a learning path and happily jumped in, adjusting as needed, believing in my heart that love of learning is the true goal.  I wish I had let my children choose which topics they were most excited to learn at the time and then got alongside them to wonder and explore.  True learning happens almost magically when their natural curiosity leads out.

To my younger self, I would say… Spend lots of time in play and discovery and fill your home with memories of read-alouds and story times.  Wonder at the beauty of nature, stop to admire the ladybug, gaze at the stars, spend as much time outside in God’s world as possible.  Some days, drop everything and have a dance party to your favorite music, sing at the top of your lungs, laugh together.

Those young years are prime time for filling their hearts with the good and the beautiful!  The days may be long but I promise the years are short!

Wrap those little ones in your arms every day and make sure they know you love them.  Most of all, take more time to be still and follow the Spirit and let God lead you to teach your children in His way.  Relax and just be with them in the moment and you won’t regret it!!

Older and Wiser

When I look at my 21 year old daughter, I can’t help wishing I could go back in time.  I wish I could spend more time holding her and reading stories, or painting sunsets or catching dragonflies. But I know that there is so much more time ahead with her, being a mother isn’t over when children graduate from high school.  Thankfully she knows I love her and that’s the most important thing.  And I love seeing the beautiful woman she is becoming.

Since I am older and wiser now, and my youngest children will have the benefit of my hard-earned experience.  I have surely learned my lesson about what matters most, and I am determined to take my own advice, especially with my 8 year old son and my 5 year old daughter!  Life is all about learning and growing, right?  Onward and upward, it’s never too late!  

I credit Marlene Peterson from The Well-Educated Heart for helping these principles finally take hold in my heart. What she teaches resonates with my very soul!  I am so grateful for her labor of love, for all the inspiration, resources and ideas that have lifted my vision and filled my heart with the true possibilities of learning.  If you haven’t been to WellEducatedHeart.com yet, or listened to her podcast, you are in for a treat!  It is a treasure trove, but take it slow, be kind to yourself and remember that learning happens little by little, layer by layer, line upon line, precept upon precept.  Enjoy the journey!

If you would like to see which books, resources and curriculum have passed the test of time and have been my absolute favorites through the years (I have tried SO many!), visit the Resources page.

What about you?  What would you do differently if you could start over?

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