Do you want to homeschool? Do you want to start your next homeschooling year off right? Don’t know where to start? Take a moment to think on a few things first!
Like many other crunchy parents at this time of year I find myself deep in planning for homeschooling. One would think that the first thing to get done is curriculum, it is the logical thought right? After 8 years of homeschooling though I know a bit better. The right place to start is in my heart.
I need to remember why I want to homeschool. The list always includes helping my children build character traits that will help them in life and help them be the best human beings they can be. I am reminded that my children are like little mirrors and they reflect those around them, specially Mom and Dad.
So I start not with them, but with myself. Where am I at? Am I frantic? Am I centered? Do I show them the best sides of myself or do they see me crumbling under pressure and clutter.
Clutter…. it is hard to think in clutter. My husband often says a cluttered home is a sign of a cluttered mind. There is a difference between cluttered, messy, and lived in and I promise you my house has seen all three from time to time. We aim for lived in these days. Enough creative chaos to spark imagination and keep expectations realistic but clean enough that we can find the tools we need to do the jobs we want to do, be it reading, writing, or building a pyramid.
This year like others I know I need to orgaize again, de-clutter a bit, donate a lot of things we no longer treasure. This will help me think more clearly and when I can think clearly I can focus more on being the best Mommy for them.
If your wondering where to start with your homeschooling plans, start with yourself, you might be surprised with how much changes when you change. Your the mother, the heart of the home. Make sure your heart is well! If it loves clutter, go for it! If it is sobbing under a pile of laundry all the time though take care of that and make a plan to keep your heart free so you can focus on the important things.
Lastly, I once read that you should never teach from any place but joy. If you can start a lesson joyfully, take time to get to that place! It is worth it. Don’t teach angry, stressed, or indifferent, those emotions are what your children will learn, those emotions are what your children will mirror in their education!
Be kind to yourself, take care of your heart!
Clutter is such a constant battle, isn’t it?
Nice post!