Creative resources and solutions for homeschool families.
This is the time of year when we throw ourselves into planning for family, food, football, and gifts. Décor for fall and Christmas lines every shelf from Hobby Lobby to Macy’s, and every food cooking show on the planet starts gearing up for holiday dinners. And we launch ourselves head-on into it. This isn’t a bad thing; it’s actually kind… Read More
Moms of special needs kids – gifted, 2E (twice exceptional), and special needs – get to hear it all.
“Aren’t you just handicapping him?”
“If you give her accommodations, she’ll never be able to do it on her own!”
And the one we tell ourselves, time and time again:
“What will people think?”
“Lord, we show our trust in your by obeying your laws;
our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.”
~Isaiah 26:8, NLT
I came across this verse a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. When I see verses like this, written by the heroes of the faith, I get the feeling that they were written in a scene like something out of a classic movie. A bold, gray-haired, authoritative man speaks with power as the music swells. Clouds roll in the background and waves crash along a shore. (Not sure why this is always in my mind, since Israel isn’t known for its shoreline, but stay with me.)
Although this scene evokes emotion, it also makes me feel like the glory of God is something that is totally removed from life as I know it.
This verse speaks the opposite. Glorifying God is the essence of life as I know it.
That’s kind of mind-blowing, if you think about it.
Have you seen Skill Trek yet? It’s a new life skills curriculum that I love…seriously, I wish it had been around earlier! It’s designed to teach all of the skills that tend to fall through the cracks, and in ways that are just plain fun. You can see my review of it here!
Skill Trek is a comprehensive life skills curriculum for early elementary through high school. It covers everything from household chores to emergency preparedness, from manners and etiquette to cooking and repairs. The program is definitely worth checking out!
I posted part of this poem on my Facebook page a few days ago, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
There is freedom waiting for you,
on the breezes of the sky,
and you ask, “What if I fall?”
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?
~Erin Hanson
I’ve written a bit about my son…he’s a non-stop, driven, out-of-the-box kind of guy. What I don’t write or talk about much, however, is how I learned to let him fly.
One of the amazing things about homeschooling is the ability to daily pour into our children – to mentor them, disciple them, watch them grow, and laugh with them. We get to be a part of both the little, random details and the major milestones in their lives. While the daily side of it might get a bit chaotic at times, I honestly can’t think of a higher privilege.
That niggling little thought looms, though, and it pops up at the weirdest times: what about when they leave home? Did I do enough? Will they be ready?
Confession time: I love curriculum. I love to research it, read through it, plan it, and expand upon it. It really doesn’t even matter what subject. It’s just fun. My motto? “You can never have too many books, only too few bookshelves.”
But watching my son grow up, I’ve slowly noticed that something is lacking from many curriculum options: actual, practical life skills.
You’ve probably read the advice in the parenting books…”Sleep when the baby sleeps.”
Well, that’s wonderful advice, except when your baby never sleeps!
When you fast-forward a few years, the baby who doesn’t sleep becomes the child who never stops. While this child is completely amazing in so many ways, they’re also hard to keep up with!
All week, I’ve been writing about ways to not only start out strong this year, but to keep going strong. To know your purpose, bend rather than break, stay in community while showing and receiving grace. To keep your eyes on the prize, rather than the million little daily distractions that can put your sight elsewhere.
In that vein, I think today’s devotion is pretty appropriate.
Ah, the thrill of a new homeschool year. Books ready to dig into, shiny new lesson plans to implement, a well-structured schedule that will work.
If you’re anything like me, you get excited over the spring and summer by all the prospects of what the new year will bring. It’s fun to unbox all of your new curriculum choices, and seeing the mailman or FedEx guy walk up to your door with boxes of books makes your heart leap for a moment. There is such a thing as “new book smell,” and it’s wonderful.