Someone very dear to me is often teasing me about the fact that I don't always answer my phone or my texts. I assure them that its not personal... but it is. A while ago it occurred to me that if I put down a child or a book or a toy to answer the phone every time it rings that I'm showing my children that something is more important than spending time with them at that moment. I work hard. Most of the day I am working... so these times when I am sitting with my kids, playing, reading, pretending... are precious. And few things could be worth interrupting those times. Those personal, one on one, or one on four :), times of personally connecting with my kids.
I have the privilege of connecting with my kids just about every day. This year we made the hard decision to homeschool. It was embarrassing if I'm honest. I feel like I'm constantly defending my choice to home school (is that word one or two??) with, "Well, you know, private schools are just SO expensive." And they are. And we might've sent Adeline to a private school if circumstances were different. And that would've been fine and good. But as it is, circumstances aren't different and through MUCH prayer and MUCH conversation we've chosen to homeschool. I kind of went into it kicking a bit... and stressing a LOT. I wanted to be a stay at home mom whose kids were in school all day! What if my child ends up illiterate? What if he/she ends up completely socially awkward? What if they are DORKS!? What if it doesn't work? What if I choose the wrong curriculum? But what it comes down to for us is this: every day for the foreseeable future *I* have the privilege of being the one to personally connect with my school age kids. I have the opportunity to train them live for God and not themselves. I have the delight of watching them learn to read, to write, to discover, to love, to worship. I won't lie, its hard.... but its personal. Its connecting. And its my life right now.
I took the obligatory backpack picture because all my friends were doing it and I didn't want Addy to not have one (YES, I have ISSUES.) but this one is so much more us. :)
I took the obligatory backpack picture because all my friends were doing it and I didn't want Addy to not have one (YES, I have ISSUES.) but this one is so much more us. :)
8 comments:
So sweet. Happy homeschooling!
Well said. Also just so you know you will be asked about teaching them highschool at least 10,000 maybe more times before Addy even reaches jr high. :) I love your reasons and I pray you get to see the fruit of your labor, even if it's just glimpses.
:>Michelle
I know you made the right decision for you family. What the Hamstra clan is learning at home is 1000 x better than a "private school"
I'm also proud of you for not answering.....I know what a social creature you are :)
"I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?"
Yea for an update! She looks so serious at "work." And thanks for the honest reminder of what is truly important and what it speaks to our precious kids.
This is just an outside opinion, but I think that your kids are going to be some of the coolest kids ever, they already are.
Keep up the good work, I admire your honesty and dedication in being a mother.
Go, Mama, Go! Even though I'm one of those who misses hearing from you, I am also one that is right with you - even though I don't get many phone calls now. :) And, I'm right there "with you" cheering you on too! You put it well, and truly it is not about curriculum choice, but that connecting. :)
Thanks for an update and love ya girl!
a contientious girl!
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