Prayer Request from Sonya

I am praying for you, Sonya.  This is such important information to share.  It will truly be a blessing.

Becca<><

Sonya, I think that is just the message that today’s homeschooling moms need to hear. I wish I had had someone to tell me to BACK OFF when I started homeschooling them at ages 3 and 4. Thankfully, I found CM after about 6 months, and completely stopped with my 3yo. By then the 4yo was 5 and was reading independently, so there was no stopping him! Still, I wish I would have cherished those earlier years longer and not been so anxious to “keep up” with other families who had their children in pre-K, Mother’s Day Out, and other preschool type programs. I also wish I had known the value of simply reading lots of good books in those early years and not stressing about math, science, and history. What I wouldn’t give to rewind the clock and go back to when my children were 3 and 4. I know I missed so much that I’ll never be able to get back. So glad God is a redeeming God, and that He put a better way in my path before it was too late. I’ll be praying for you. I understand that it’s a great risk of offending some moms who really think they’re doing the best for their little ones (or even older ones) by really piling on the academics. 

If I could ask them one question it would be this: Are you doing this for them or are you doing this for you? 

Are the children ready for this workload, or are you piling it on them because it makes you feel good to tell other homeschooling (or not) moms what all your kids are doing? Is this workload affirming your children or your own self-esteem and worth as a homeschooler? 

Those are TOUGH questions. But if someone had asked me that when my children were younger, I would have had to say that I was doing most of it to validate myself–not for my children’s benefits.

Praying!

Praying too!

I will surely keep you in my prayers.  I would definitely be one of those moms that could use encouragement about keeping the pace slow.  We try to keep it slow and then we quickly get sucked into considering activities to do (co-op, sports, bible groups, etc).  I’ll be at the PA Chap convention so hopefully you can speak about this topic!!  

You are very talented in writing and speaking.  Thanks for your time and truly caring about all of us.

Praying! When I first started home schooling 20+ years ago I got some great advice along these lines and I have remembered and tried to live it ever since.

Start out slow, and then ease up!

Sonya you’re in my prayers.  I know you’ll find the right way to share this message.  And I bet it will be in a way that sticks with the parents who hear it.  I still open my conference notebooks and re-read your words I copied down while you spoke …. little half sentences, and phrases that have helped me keep cool in this kind of manic homeschooling world we live in. 

@curlywhirly – I LOVE THAT!  Thanks for sharing.

Will keep you in our prayers! It just occurs to me that you all there at SCM have been such a blessing to our family – we should be praying for you year round!