No matter how old we are, there is always something to learn! I am continually amazed at how much I learn while homeschooling my little ones. God made such an awesome and complex world! One of my goals as a homeschooler is to instill that awe and wonder of learning into my children. In order to do that, I have to keep the wonder of learning alive in my own life.
Being realistic, however, we all have our down times. There are days, even seasons, that we would rather stay in bed or focus on something else. The good news is that there are plenty of ways we can refresh ourselves–books, documentaries, nights with friends, and more. One of my favorite ways to refresh is attending a homeschool convention. There is something about being surrounded by like-minded parents that is invigorating, plus all the great ideas that I pick up and the new goodies in the convention hall as well!
Things to Remember
Here are a few of my favorite tips, inspiring thoughts, and reminders that I picked up at Teach Them Diligently in Nashville this month…
- God entrusted my children to me for a reason. It is my privilege and responsibility to teach and train them. I do not want to turn that privilege over to someone else. I should feel both the weight and the privilege of that responsibility. I need to support homeschool legislature. I need to embrace the beauty of homeschooling and be a light for those who may be struggling or having a hard time. Thanks to all who participated in the leadership summit for this inspiration!
- Homeschooling is an 18 year discipleship program. We need to focus on the gospel, not the modern American dream. Children need to learn, but the ultimate purpose of learning is so they can filter through what they find to discover truth, and to be able to share it with others. This inspirational thought brought to you by Israel Wayne and Kirk Cameron!
- God wants us to give our worries and burdens over to Him–both school and life related. We need to trust Him with all of our responsibilities and believe that He will lead and guide us. Thanks Trim Healthy Mamas!
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 ESV
Homeschooling is an 18 year discipleship program. Click To Tweet
Action Plan
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17 ESV
Faith without works is dead, so we need to put some of what we learned into an actual working plan. Here are some action steps that I will be doing over the next few weeks while it is still fresh in my brain…
- We need to develop a family mission statement and hang it somewhere our family will see it every day. Everything we do, including our school work, should support our mission statement. A sample mission statement might be, “We exist to know, love, and serve God, and to show Him to other people. Thanks to Israel Wayne for inspiring this action step!
- We are going to do The Talk bible study by Luke Gilkerson of Intoxicated on Life as a family. This is an important step in helping our kids learn God’s perspective on sex and marriage.
- I am going to be diligent about sitting beside my kids when they are using technology. I am also going to diligently limit passive screen time to 30 minutes per day. When we do unplug, I am not just going to send them to do something else, but make sure they switch to a quality activity. I will make an “I’m bored” jar for times when they cannot find something else they want to do. (These tips also came from Luke Gilkerson of Intoxicated on Life.)
- I am also going to start diffusing lemon and peppermint oils during school to help the kids stay alert.
- I will incorporate more movement into our days. Not only is this healthy, but it keeps our brains focussed. Check out Fitivities for some fun ideas.
- I will start coding with my kids using Scratch. Scratch is free and easy for little ones.
- I will help my kids identify their own anger cues. I will guide them to develop their own plan for what to do when they get angry. Check out Biblical Parenting for more resources.
I think I have plenty to do! The good news is that much of this is easy to implement and requires minimal effort for maximum impact. It’s worth it to restore the wonder of learning for both myself and my children. I can’t wait to reap the results!
How do you like to keep your zest for learning alive? What new thing are you implementing for your family?
andrea says
We should never stop learning! 🙂
andrea recently posted…Laziness In How We Care For Our Homes?
Mihaela Echols says
Thats crazy I was thinking this today. My children wont be mine. They are Gods blessing to me. I agree homeschooling should be taken seriously and it is a 18year commitment. Great points and great post!
admin says
Thank you. It’s hard to give our kids over to God sometimes, but I’m sure He does a much better job with them than I do!
Matilda Dennis Quaicoe says
I have always admired mum’s who sacrifice to home school just to make sure that their children come out the best.
admin says
Thanks! All moms make sacrifices!
Marie says
This is awesome. Homeschooling or not, raising kids is your own personal mission field.
@spreadingJOY
Marie
admin says
Definitely! Thanks for the encouragement!
Megan Darda says
I love how intentional you are about your homeschool journey. You are very blessed to be a homeschool mom!
admin says
Yes, I thank God every day for the opportunity–even on the rough days!
Anna Harris says
Thank you for sharing these ideas and tips! I can’t wait until I have kids and can start homeschooling them. I appreciate your blog and all your ideas you share! Love this!
Anna Harris recently posted…Backyard Update & Easter Fun
Chari says
I own a business so I am always learning because I want my personal and business development to always continue to grow! We need a mission statement for our family! Thanks for sharing!
Chari recently posted…5 Awesome Books About Living Your Purpose!
Katy Kauffman says
I’m glad you see homeschooling as discipleship. Even if other families’ kids attend regular school, we can all disciple our kids at home and instill Biblical values into their lives. I wish you well on your homeschooling adventure! It was an adventure I experienced with my parents, and I’m grateful for it.
admin says
Thanks for sharing your insight. Homeschooling definitely isn’t the only way to disciple. It’s just one of the ways we choose to do it. Thanks for reading!
admin says
I have heard him speak there too. He is great!