Dear Daughter,
I am exactly like the perfectly organized, behavior-chart-keeping, dirt-digging-for-science-class homeschooling mom.
Except the complete opposite.
I work full days outside of the home. I’m not a scholar. I watch TV. I play hooky from church occasionally, and so much more.
Basically I’m a hot mess.
But you already know that.
Oh, how I'd like to kidnap one of those textbook homeschooling mamas, put her in my closet and let her out for about an hour and a half during Literature and Composition.
Hehe. That could never happen.
Still, My Brown-Eyed Beauty, the decision has been made. We are homeschooling. Boy, are you in for it! Because, what in the blazes do I know? It was so much easier when you were four years old. I taught shape recognition like a beast.
But it’s likely to get a little dicey for us in 9th grade. Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart for sure. It’s out there now. And, I’ll ask you to look away when folks clutch their gut and die laughing when I tell them.
You can work it out with your therapist in a few years.
Because I am willingly taking the academic bull by the horns in the hopes of instilling things of much more value into your tender heart. I only have a few more years to prepare you for literally everything the world will chuck at you.
There is so much more that I still want you to know.
• Life is hard. In the times it is not, rest up, because it won’t last.
• You are beautiful no matter what demands this crazy world tries to put on you.
• There is power in being a lady. Carry yourself like one.
• Don’t quit until tomorrow.
• Algebra can be fun. Geometry can’t.
• A test will NEVER determine your value.
• Learn to express YOURSELF well. You are unique and the world needs you.
• Don’t give any boyfriend husband privileges.
• There is life beyond a classroom.
• Good friends are more precious than gold.
• This home will always be your safe place to fall.
• When you fully grasp what Jesus did for you, it will wreck you. And it will be magnificent.
It's not that I can't teach you these gems while you’re in school, it’s just that the opposition will drown them out a good bit. Kind of like today when I cranked up Let’s Groove Tonight so loudly I could hardly make out your plea to turn it off.
And trust me, you will come face to face with those messages soon enough. I want you to be strong and fierce when you fight that battle.
So to my Littlest, I love you tons. I am not perfect, but give me these next few years to help you carve your path. You are the last to fly out of my nest.
I can’t wait to watch.
NOTE: This post has been edited as a letter to my daughter from an earlier post of mine.
I commend you! You're braver and wonderful, mama. I'm doing the same for our kids. They are so sweet an innocent and while we can't guarantee that forever, I want Jesus' love for them, for who God created them to BE, to sing louder than this corrupt and fallen world. I want to give them rest when they are growing, quality food for their body/mind/soul, help them pick positive influences and friends, read literature with them, teach them virtue and valor and the Holy Word of God FIRST - and hey, I need an extra dose as much as possible. And I want them to be equipped to love love love like Jesus. All my graduate degrees taught me was that life is far more valuable. Life and love are going to keep teaching and growing us til we all drop dead - if we can keep them!
Amen @cdwyatt! Parenting is just hard, especially in this broken world. "Life and love are going to keep teaching and growing us til we all drop dead" is so very true.
Endearing post. I remember our first and last attempt to homeschool our daughter.. it was both exciting and frustrating for both parents and our kid :)
I definitely expect some ups and downs @cryptocash. Thanks for stopping by!
Never give another person the God given privilege of discipling your children. God knew what he was doing when he entrusted that precious child to you. You'll never regret homeschooling if you view it as discipleship, not just as education. Education seeks to inform, discipleship seeks to reform. You can do it! God believes in you!
Thanks for the encouragement @bluerthangreen! "You'll never regret homeschooling if you view it as discipleship and not just as education." I will hold on to that for sure.
| • Algebra can be fun. Geometry can’t.
If that's not the truth I don't know what is. lol
Haha @franklynx. Glad you appreciate my humor. I'm sure there are some who might disagree but I've never met them.
I love algebra and my hubs loves geometry. That just doesn't add up. ;-) This is a great way of describing your heart and your love for your girl.
I knew i liked you, @steemsterwoman! Lets do algebra together!
So lovely and touching from a mother and a parent's perspective. I totally support you on your decision as I myself am considering the same path for my little baby girl. The values you have to teach is of great significance over any academic learning. Learning does not take place only in institutions. It is in the every day practice and it needs to be inspired in our children.
Thank you so much for commenting @anavictoriakong! You have a beautiful baby girl! She will grow up to do marvelous things, I'm sure.
Thank you for the compliments on my little baby! Don't we all wish the most and the best for our children. Every day she grows and shows a little more comprehension, it is impossible not to look at her and wonder how she will develop and change in the years to come. It is also difficult not to feel overwhelmed by the kind of world we will need to prepare them for before we feel confident enough to let them go on their own.
"Don't give a boyfriend husband privileges."
Brilliantly put.
Mine is only 2, but she'll know these tips by heart before she hits 15.
She's a precious treasure @mattclarke. I have no doubt she will grow up knowing that with you as her daddy. :)
Look at that angel face! You, little one, will take this world by storm. Thanks for making me smile today. <3