Full Year Reflection: Mountain Moments, Lifeschooling, & Lessons Learned the Hard Way

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First, I'll issue fair warning that there is in all likelihood a most probable chance that none but me will find this post interesting. If you are not plagued by OCD...if you do not agonizingly anguish over shoulda, coulda, woulda's, if you view homeschooling as an oddity...then this post will surely bore you. Consider yourself duly warned & proceed with caution!

I find it Infinitely beneficial for the sake of my sanity & for the cause of improvement to periodically look back on where I've been in order to best determine how to proceed where I'm going. When I first began the 2014-2015 school year, I fully intended to write a reflection post at the end of each term (we school in 6 weeks on, 1 week off intervals in a year round schedule)...but alas, here we are at the end of the 5th term with only 7 weeks left in the entire school year & I've written only one reflection...and that was at the end of the 1st term! I'd classify that as an epic fail in terms of blogging goals. I must amend that while I have only written 1 reflection, I have indeed greatly contemplated the weeks of school that ensued between then & now.

I had to chuckle as I reread that 1st Term Reflection. If only I'd known then what molehills those meltdowns were compared to some more mountainous moments that we were destined to endure...but alas hindsight is always 20/20 & there was no way of knowing then what I know now. By the end of the first term we were firmly entrenched in my well-thought out plan for the school year...and by the middle of the second term all of those schemes had gone awry...

Near the end of August, only a few weeks into the new school year, it was clear that Sweet 'N Sassy's motor skills were no where near ready for our PreK curriculum. All of my precisely formatted lesson plans were scrapped, & I (frantically) scrambled to reformat her school year. If you know me then it will come as no surprise that this nearly sent me into a nervous frenzy. Right about the time I felt like I had gotten things back on track & a new plan formulated, we discovered that we were expecting our fourth little one. Elation soon followed with panic as I realized 2 things: 1. The fate of my schoolroom was now in jeopardy (petty, I know, but if you know me then you know how much I love having a separate schooling space). 2. Per the usual, I was SICK...the term morning sickness is wholly inadequate. From early November until late December, our school time was frequently interrupted by unpleasant breaks (If you're a momma, you know exactly what I'm talking about). On November 12, my grandpa passed away. Traveling for the visitation & funeral had us doing school in what I considered unorthodox times & ways. Papaw G's loss was the first that our big girls truly felt & grasped to understand. We never truly got back in our 'normal' groove after navigating our way through that time. Thanksgiving & Christmas were soon upon us & that exciting yet hectic season kept our school days in a rather ragged rhythm. I fully intended on buckling down when we commenced in the New Year, but just a week into our new term, Goldilocks was plagued by a mystery illness. From the beginning of January to mid March, several times a week sickness would strike, & as a result we frequently did school from the waiting room of Doctor's offices or from Abigail's pallet on the living room floor. Thankfully Goldi has been symptom free for nearly 4 weeks now. Springtime is now upon us, & with it comes an eagerness to put schoolbooks away. Fresh air & sunshine beckon us away from our desks, & once again we find ourselves rebelling against the school day structure. 

I would like to say that I've handled the last 6 months with grace & faith, smoothly navigating through rough waters...but that would be a falsehood. My OCD tendencies, my uptight nature, & my acute need for structure have made this time incredibly trying...but even more humbling. There has been much to reflect on...much opportunity to lean upon God's strength when mine so often failed. In the midst of these 'mountains' more often than not I felt...nay, I KNEW I was failing. The Gaggle deserved a much more gracious & patient mother & teacher. It was immensely humbling to realize that as much as I spoke to them of trusting in The Lord & of the fruits that should accompany such faith that in the moments of having the opportunity to model that trust & exhibit those fruits, I sorely failed...needless to say I am ever more appreciate of His Amazing Grace! Already, I am looking back on the last 6 months with thankfulness for every 'mountain'...knowing that a year from now they will merely be molehills.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way:

1. A schoolroom is nice but not necessary: 

6 months ago I would have wholly advocated that a homeschool family needs a designated & even separate space for schooling...if I've learned anything in the last 6 months it's that while a schoolroom is nice to have it's not necessary. Our first son will be arriving in a few short months, & not too far down the road our schoolroom will become his domain. (With 3 big sisters, the poor fella is going to be in dire need of some sacred space of his own!) When that time comes, we will be transitioning learning spaces from our current schoolroom to the more central hub of the home...the dining room. When once that thought would have nearly disabled me (I'm only slightly exaggerating), I am now finding a big of thrill at the process of adapting. 

2. We don't homeschool. We life school.

This above all is the greatest lesson learned. Despite reading countless blogs that discouraged such behavior, heedless of wise advice to the contrary, I have been guilty of compartmentalizing our schooling. I've always had a set schedule & an exact location in which learning occurs, & when the curriculum for the day has been completed, we put the books away & school for the day is done. The events of the last 6 months have shown me the folly of that behavior. Both the Gaggle & I were missing out on countless opportunities to learn as we lived. The countless disruptions that have occured over the last 6 months have forced me to unorthodoxly (in my former barbaric opinion) educate the Gaggle. We've schooled in the car, in waiting rooms, at the back of a funeral home, & on the living room floor...before long & unintentionally this began a habit of conversing, questioning, & discussing that occurred not in precise allotted segments but rather at all times. We learn anytime & any where...or perhaps all the time & everywhere. Prior to this we discussed designated curricula and rarely deviated from it or expanded upon it, but quite often now we find ourselves making note of what goes on around us & encouraging exploration into the questions that arise from observation. Sickness has led to some anatomy study. The loss of a life brought discussion of salvation & God's gift of life eternal. The coming of a new sibling provides opportunity to practice patience & selflessness. Springtime promotes the appreciation of nature & God's creation. We are beginning to shirk off the restrictions that come with orthodox education...we no longer just homeschool, we life school...and it's awesome! I'm sure there is a more eloquent way of saying that, but it truly is an awesome thing to watch your child view all of life as an opportunity to learn.

3. Don't lose sight of the goal.

In my reflection from our first term, the Lone Ranger & I set a long term vision for Davidson School for Girls (a name change is in the works). The reason we do what we do is this:

1. To raise children who know & love Christ.

2. To equip our children to be disciples & to make disciples.

3. To teach our children how to be lifelong learners & discerners of truth.

Bearing this mission in mind has truly been a sanity saver over the last 6 months. It has enabled me to determine what tasks are necessary & what are disposable. This goal has allowed us to see and appreciate the benefits of life schooling in contrast to our former ways. This vision for our family is rooted in the anchor of our Savior, & it has lent itself towards providing stability in tumultuous times....further affirming that Jesus is indeed the solid rock upon which we stand & that all other ground is sinking sand.

Already I can see that the experiences of the last 6 months are indeed molehill moments...although at the time of their occurrence they very much felt like mountainous obstacles. Already I know that when I read back on this reflection, I will chuckle in memory. Already I am thankful to have written down these reflections as a reminder from where we have come & from how far we've yet to go! 

At this juncture we have 6 weeks left in our current curriculum & to complete the required 180 days. Upon finishing the time required by the state, our current plan is to transition to one 4 week, 2 day/week term. This will allow us to review all that we've accomplished in the year & to ensure that all skills are mastered before beginning our new curriculum in August. This year we will take a fairly traditional summer break as our little Ezra is due to arrive in July. At the end of August, we will resume our 6 weeks on 1 week off schedule & begin learning new material.

I will not even pretend as though I'll accomplish the feat of writing a year-end post...the freedom of the final day, & the eagerness for our next school season already outweighs any further reflecting I might do. I've already begun making plans and preparations for the 2015-2016 year & will share those in another post soon. If you've stuck with me through this lengthy contemplation, I hope that it's been somewhat worthwhile to you. Veteran homeschoolers, I'm certain that you can relate to some of what I've mentioned, & potential homeschooling momma's I hope that some of what I've learned might prevent you from learning these lessons the hard way. As much as for your entertainment & benefit, these reflections are for me...to keep me humble...to keep me on track...and to keep my eyes on the goal.

Train Up a Child...How?

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As each member of the Gaggle has come along, the Lone Ranger & I have increasingly felt the burden (& the blessing) of how to raise them up in the 'training and instruction of the Lord'. (Ephesians 6:4)

How does one do that? How do you herd up little heathens...keep them calm...keep them still...keep their attention? What do you teach them? Where do you begin? 

The task is daunting! Believing parents' greatest desire...their greatest joy...would be knowing that their children 'walk in the truth'. (3 John 1:4) Our children personally & sincerely accepting the faith is what we all want...but how do we lead them there?

A couple of years ago the Lone Ranger began doing family devotions with the Gaggle before bedtime. In the time since we've tried several tactics, used countless children's Bibles, & mostly wound up feeling defeated. If you've any doubt that your child is indeed a sinner in need of saving, you've only to attempt this feat to rid yourself of such misgiving. We struggled to find something, ANYTHING that would work...that would give any evidence that seeds were being planted. Our kiddos needed more than watered down Bible stories...and we were exasperated. The time that we so intended for good became something that we all dreaded...until my wonderful husband struck upon the perfect teaching tool.

Several months ago the Lone Ranger came home with a skip in his step & a renewed excitement for our devotion time. When I inquired as to the reason for this revitalized outlook he said something about a Catechism. I had not a clue as to what he was talking about. I nodded, agreed, and at the first opportunity sneakily googled the word Catechism. 'Oral Instruction'....that's the definition. A deeper look defined it as this: 'a collection of questions and answers that are used to teach about the Christian religion'. I must admit that I was a little skeptical as to how this would solve our dilemma, but my husband was so full of excitement & had done so much research that I found myself catching his enthusiasm. 

That evening after supper we gathered around the table, & the Lone Ranger asked the Gaggle a question. 'Who made you?' Immediately they answered, 'God made me!'  They were right of course, & it really was as simple as that. From that moment on our devotion time has been different. Each night the Lone Ranger pulls up our catechism, reviews questions & answers from the precious nights, & asks a new one. The Gaggle (& I) memorize the answer. The catechism also has scriptures that support the theology so we check those out as well. We make a game out of seeing who can answer the most questions or answer them the quickest...and the girls LOVE it! I've been astonished by their reaction. Our girls are ages 5, 4, & 2 and each of them (even precocious Belles) participates. Their enjoyment & obvious gain of knowledge would be enough reason to continue but today something occured that further solidified my commitment to this style of instruction.

As a parent have you ever had your kiddo ask you a question...a hard question? Have you ever fumbled for an answer? Have you ever not known what to say, & so you respond with 'ask your dad'? Well that happens to me ALL THE TIME!  The Gaggle would ask me something like, 'Why can't we see God?' And I'd be all like, 'ummmmm....well....hmmmmm....'. That's a good question. It needs a good answer. Now, thanks to our Catechism I have one! The proper answer is this, 'God does not have a body like men'. Our catechism has provided a foundation, a reference point upon which we can turn to for answers. Just today my girls were asking questions about the Trinity & how it works...not long ago I'd have stalled and given some mumbled answer. Today I could remind them of their catechism question: 'Are there more gods than one?' They immediately responded with the answer they'd learned: 'There is only one God.' The question immediately following is this: 'In how many persons does this one God exist?' Again they knew the answer. 'In three persons! The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit.' 

I can't tell you how many times this scenario plays out. Weekly at least, more often daily. Our Gaggle is learning what they believe & why they believe it (and so am I!) As the questions come, so do the answers...and it's such a blessing. I tell you all of this because it's truly changed the dynamic of how we 'train up' our children. (Proverbs 22:6) I tell you this because we have a responsibility & a duty teach God's truth to our kiddos when we 'sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up.' (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) We have that calling and it is daunting and overwhelming...but we MUST do it. This catechism has given us a wonderful avenue upon which to be faithful to that responsibility. I share it with you because I hope it'll do the same for you! Below is the link to the catechism that we use. Don't be frightened by your children's age...they are capable! Don't be intimidated baby your lack of knowledge...learn with them! I pray that this will be a lesson you & yours!

http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/acbg.htm.   

Dodgeball & Jesus

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Years ago when the Lone Ranger was just a pup, a dear family friend took John & a few other fellas under his wing. He taught them how to hunt & skin a kill. He taught them the art of archery. The hallways of an old abandoned school building turned out to be great range upon which to practice those skills. In the midst of all that, he did something priceless. He taught them about Jesus. This man took it upon himself to be mentor and friend to the Lone Ranger. He poured into his life, & my husband was forever changed by him.

The whole shooting-archery-down-the-abandoned-school-hallway ended up evolving into a thing. More fellas began showing up, & before our friend knew it, a ministry was born! Eventually the boys realized that the basketball court provided another area of entertainment, & some of the guys began to play ball while others shot archery.  Somewhere along the way, basketball turned into dodgeball, & let me tell ya that gets intense! Our friend roped his wife into helping chaperone, and soon they were also serving snacks. Snack time proved to be the perfect opportunity to share the gospel. The kids would stuff their faces, & our friend used that time to share with them the message of the Cross. 

Skip ahead a few years to 2008 when the Lone Ranger & I were expecting our first daughter. Our friend called my husband one day & asked if he might be interested in helping out with Dodgeball Night. John agreed & soon began helping teach during snack time. The next year I joined the crew as a room mom of sorts. For the last 6 years the Lone Ranger and I have been blessed to serve alongside our dear friends. They have been such examples of how to selflessly serve the Lord. 

Tonight we begin again another season of Dodgeball/Archery Night. Every Thursday evening from now until April kids will come play dodgeball, shoot bows, & hear about Jesus. Bonds are formed, trust is built, & (it is our prayer) that lives are changed. At a time in life in which most are carefree & flying on the sense of immortality, it is imperative that they grasp their eternal prospects. We LOVE these kids. They have become OUR kids....our hearts break when they suffer, & we rejoice when the light of understanding comes into their eyes.  Tonight they will come into a forlorn building with no heat to wage WWIII with dodgeballs. They'll eat nachos & Little Debbie's. They'll drink pink lemonade (and it MUST be pink lemonade)...but beyond that they will hear the Gospel. Our heart is truly that this be about more than a good time. Our goal is not to woo these kids to the Salvation by way of entertainment. We want them to know the magnitude of what Christ has done for us...we want them to come to Him with full sobriety & understanding of the weight our our sin...their sin. 

Would you pray with us? Would you pray for their hearts to soften? Would you ask for their salvation? Would you pray for wisdom as we love on them? Would you lift the Lone Ranger up as he takes on the burden & blessing of sharing Christ's love?  Would you make our kids your own?  It would mean the world to us to encompass this ministry in prayer.