In my Daybook posts the last two weeks I mentioned I was reading Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years. I have not read a homeschooling book in a couple of years and although this was a good one to read, before I share my notes for my Book Club Time series of posts, there is a caveat. The author is not Catholic but her ideas, suggestions and encouragement are across the board sound…until page 188 of a 195 page book.
“In grey areas such as watching TV or wearing pants versus dresses, birth control or even courtship versus dating, individuals have the freedom to make up their own mind, because these specific issues are not clearly addressed in Scripture.”
Obviously as a practicing Catholic, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, this sentence does not hold true. Holy Mother Church has taught extensively from Scripture and Tradition on the topic of birth control. But, that one sentence does not warrant tossing the book. In situations like this, we must be as the Israelites when leaving Egypt…take the gold. The book is filled with lovely, encouraging and truthful nuggets of gold for the homeschooling mother. It would be a shame and a waste to toss such a book for one sentence written in ignorance of the beautiful truths taught by the Church. That being said, let me share some of the wisdom I gleaned from Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years. (Direct quotes in bold)
Book Club Time: Daylight: Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years
When our children are grown, what do I want them to remember about their homeschool days?
I want my children to remember days spent learning as a family, or even days spent learning on their own, but maybe in the backyard on the hammock…or reading while rocking a little brother or sister. I’d like them to remember learning about their faith as a natural part of the family God entrusted them to.
Time is a gift, and so are the children God has given us to raise. So try this: when you think of homeschooling, scheduling, housework and dishes, ask the Lord to give you His perspective. Everything else falls into place when we know we’re doing what He’s asked first.
I have not been as silent for the gentle whispers and quiet knowings from God as I should be. I have not necessarily sought His direction first or His perspective instead of…
Busy homeschool moms, let’s be known for going to Jesus to seek His priorities before we pencil in our own. He will help us maintain a healthy balance throughout the homeschool years.
Longevity in homeschooling is the result of resolve and obedience; it’s certainly not about patience! It’s about knowing why we’re homeschooling instead of just how.
Reading this book helped me to consider or reconsider my why once again. I needed to revisit that place.
Discipleship is the goal of education.
This is a frequent theme in the writings of Sally Clarkson as well.
By surrendering to seasons, we learn to listen to other things that God might be teaching us during those times.
Ah, surrendering. See I typically fling myself the total opposite…charts, graphs, color coded schedules and lots of post it notes later, then…then I surrender. I recently wrote this reply to Jenna on her Instagram account when she mentioned breaking out the spreadsheets, “…I love to head the same route–spreadsheets, color coded charts and post it notes. Instead of fighting for control though, I have to surrender. It’s that verse about women gaining their salvation through the bearing of children. That’s not a verse only for the actual labor and delivery…it’s for the everyday labor of raising our children. It’s only when I ride the contractions, surrender to them, that I sense relief and progress. The more I try to fight or control them, the worse they are. I’m praying for you, really praying because it’s hard, this work we do of gaining our salvation through child bearing.”
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break.
My OB one time told me, “You’ve got be like a reed swaying in the wind or you will break.” I imagine that at times…swaying…not breaking…swaying…
Chaos and clutter actually impede our ability to live freely and peacefully, because physical clutter eventually results in mental clutter.
Oh my gracious yes. And the clutter feels inevitable with 9 of us.
We are stewards of our own time. We can blame it on whatever we want to (and I realize that some things truly are out of our control), but for the most part, we are the ones responsible for how we choose to manage our time.
Can anyone say Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook?
As your children grow, mealtimes will become part of the tapestry of special memories they will have from their growing up years.
Ask the Lord to show you what life for your family looks like and then trust Him.
No comparison, no wishing, no envying…just humble prayers of guidance.
At the end of the day, without self control, we open ourselves up to the bitter taste of regret ans wasted opportunities.
This sounds all too familiar.
After all, the home is the domain of the woman. She sets the tone of the home, by God’s design. If Mama’s wasting daylight, chances are, everyone else will follow suit.
How often is it easier to spot the splinter in my husband or children’s eye without regard to the huge log in my own? Many a confession has begun from this very problem.
God chose YOU with your child in mind…He has already equipped you for the task to which you have been called. We must not forget that it was God who called us to homeschool in the first place. He will provide what we need to homeschool our children exactly when we need it. But we must trust Him.
This is a tough one when the world, your family, friends and sometimes even your children tell you differently. Not only did God call me to homeschool these souls, more importantly, He called me to be their momma. He knew that I was and am the right momma for them; to teach them about Him and His love. I am not perfect, but I am His choosing and He is perfect.
Where is your confidence homeschool mom? If it’s in doing things a certain way so that your kids will grow up to love and serve God, you’ve got to surrender. There is no formula. There is only faith.
Years ago, my oldest was only 3, her sister 1 and I was 8 months pregnant with their little sister, I was up nursing the one year old late one night. Without thinking about homeschooling or really anything of importance or substance that late at night, the word “Confidence” was clearly impressed upon my mind and heart. “What?” I thought in my sleep deprived fog. “Confidence. More families quit homeschooling due to lack of confidence than any other reason.” I’m not sure of the time frame or even how I became aware of one of Mary’s titles, “Our Lady of Confidence.”
Again, reading Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight Managing Your Days Through the Homeschool Years has been very, very good for my heart, mind and soul this past week. I needed these reminders, these memories and this encouragement as I embark on my oldest daughter’s Senior year in the Fall with many more years of homeschooling ahead of me still.
Amy Caroline says
Sounds like a excellent read. Thank you for sharing!