Every once in a while, I raise my heart to Heaven and remember to thank God for the gift of home education.
Usually, the prayer bubbles up at an unexpected moment--like when four-year-old Patrick blurts out an emphatic, "I love nature; I love science; I love YOU, Mommy." When eleven-year-old Theresa attends to Algebra, unconsciously cuddling baby Eileen on her lap. When the entire family dissolves in laughter remembering the lines to a favorite Ogden Nash poem. When twelve-year-old Agnes begs permission to read on ahead in The Iliad, because she simply cannot wait for the rest of us. When four dear young girls cannot think of a thing in the world they would rather do than sit round a table fashioning spoons into saints with their mother.
Would that I could go back in time and pay a visit to my younger self--that twenty-something Mommy with the two-year-old and the newborn and the outrageous, but unshakable, desire to home school them. First I would kiss the two-year-old and the newborn, and then I would tell her, "Don't worry. It's going to be great!"
How lovely - I can feel your joy. :-)
Posted by: Leonie | October 08, 2006 at 02:38 AM
Ahhh, I can feel the contentment and love now. How I wish we lived next door to you all!
God love you guys.
Posted by: Lynn | October 08, 2006 at 05:52 AM
I wish I could show this to everyone considering home schooling. There is no single reason we do it - there is the lifestyle you described. I'm so thankful I listened to my "unshakable" desire!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 08, 2006 at 08:42 AM
What a beautiful picdture...thanks for sharing it!
Posted by: Marie | October 09, 2006 at 04:59 PM
What a beautiful picture you paint of tour life...thanks for sharing it!
Posted by: Marie | October 09, 2006 at 05:00 PM
This is such a wonderful encouragment for me...I am just at the stage you describe, about to have a 17 month old and a newborn and the desire to homeschool, but occasionally unsure how I will manage to feed and change two babies at once, let alone educate them! But when you share the wonderful experiences of your family it seems not an easy undertaking, but less scary knowing that I will have the wisdom and spiritual encouragement of mothers like you to turn to!
Posted by: Alicia | October 10, 2006 at 05:18 PM