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This next list is more directed toward ME. 

1. Treat schooling like the JOB I used to have.....no excuses.
   
   
2. Consider what is going on in YOUR life. My issues were: health, recent move and culture shock ( a foot and a half of snow at a time!), menopause and hubby’s schedule (or lack of one).

Here was one of the hardest things for me to consider.  I needed to look at our lives and decide what I really CAN do vs. what I WANT to do.  When I was honest with myself, I realized there were many things I needed to put away. Some days the pain of my illness is so great, it is a major feat of strength to just cook the meals and read to Caleb.  I needed to focus on my STRENGTHS, but remember my limitations.

Another fine lady reminded me to have a "heart relationship" with my son.  How easy it was to forget one of the most important things in raising a child amidst all the lists, schedules and appointments.

One way I decided to try to accomplish this was "start from scratch". Another woman told me to start with ONE lesson for 20 minutes or so a day, and just accomplish the planning and teaching of that for ONE MONTH.  After another month, add another subject. 

She also asked me what ONE THING do I want to accomplish for this school year?  I chose reading, since that has been our main focus for this year anyway.  I started with that, then added Math, much sooner than one month.......but if he does not learn ONE additional thing this year, at least he will be able to read, fill out a job application, balance his checkbook and be able to tell if he is being cheated in a business deal. 

My son has some mild learning issues he deals with on a daily basis, plus a health issue that might go away, but it might not.  I have read many home schooling articles devoted to children with learning problems and the most important thing I can see, is that it is MOST important that I teach my child day to day living. 

It is most important for me to know that Caleb knows his manners (please, thank-you, may I?) than for him to try to memorize the birthdays of the Presidents.  I would rather he knew how to take the trash out without being told than to know the theory of quantum physics.  I would MUCH rather he know how to operate a saw and know how to use power tools, than how to rhyme "oil".  These "hands-on" abilities will take him further in life in the arena he will probably end up in.....is this NOT why most of us home school anyway?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING anyone shared with me, and that I can share with any of you is : BE OBEDIENT TO GOD, and to the leading of the Holy Spirit IN YOUR LIFE.........not is someone else’s.

Just like it was difficult for me to escape the "rules and regs" mentality of a certain church group I used to belong to and let the Holy Spirit lead me in life, it was just as difficult for me to understand that I could be a very successful home schooling mom if I let go of the lists and schedules and let GOD do the leading not only in our spiritual lives and in our home life, but also in our home school. This concept is difficult for obedient S.H.E.’s to grasp.

Everyone thinks that staying at home all the time is easy. Having had a career in the past, I can say with confidence that I think it requires more discipline.  And if you do not automatically have that type of discipline then being a stay at home mom and home schooler becomes a type of prison which you are constantly trying to break out of. You will make up any type of excuse as to "why" it would be better if little Johnny or little Suzy would be better off in traditional "school".

THEN you give up, put the child back in public or Christian school and THEN very soon thereafter, you get the GUILTIES. Oh, you have cleaned up the house, started a few new projects, but then you start hearing those reports about home schooled children. Which in turn leads you to pulling him out and bringing him back home, start a new schooling schedule, letting the house go, leaving your projects on the shelf.........and on and on it goes until you feel so torn apart you are now physically ill.

SOMETHING HAS TO STOP.......and the only way to make that type of behavior stop is to DO IT GOD’S WAY..........PRAY, LISTEN, then DO.  Be obedient to God.  Consider what HE wants you to do.  Remember your limitations.  Focus on your strengths.  Have a heart relationship with your child (and your whole family for that matter).  It is YOUR life that God gave you, not someone else’s.  Glorify and Honor Him by letting the Holy Spirit help you run your home school.

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