The Seasons of Homeschooling...

"To my teacher,
There's no one quite like a special teacher, and no teacher quite as special as you."     ~ Love, your student

 I found this note the other day on my desk from my daughter. I felt a need to share it here as well. It is my hope and prayer that this serves as a source of encouragement for you today.

How many of you have experienced the tears during math or grammar, reading or writing? The books go on the floor (whether by accident or on purpose)? Please know it doesn't last forever. We too went through a season where we argued everyday. Tears from one or both of us everyday. For us, it was as a result of that math lesson that needed to be done (at least most of the time). There were so many times that I allowed the enemy to lie to me by telling me I was the worst "mom and teacher" in the world. How could I teach this precious child if she doesn't want to learn from me?
 
Please know that there is hope for a brighter future. There is hope for everyone to enjoy a school day. There is hope for those wonderful bonding moments with your children that we hear so many homeschooling parents have. I often wondered why I didn't have what so many others had?  What was I doing wrong?  Now I can answer it. It was a season in our school world we had to go through.

Now that we have passed between the season of summer and moved into fall, can we skip over fall and jump directly into winter? No, we have to follow the journey that God puts us on and go through the seasons of life God places before us. The encouragement here is that He never leaves us through those seasons in our lives either. He has a bright plan for all our children and for you as teachers. Hang on to the Godly inspired reason for your homeschooling. This time of difficulty will pass and the joy of the "sunshine" while homeschooling will come in the morning or at least by the next season. 

You can do this magnificant job of homeschooling. Remember, there are others who know the pain and the joys of what you are going through. Get your network of other homeschooling moms or dads in place and this will help you get through that trying season you may be in. If you feel like you are alone in either your family, because they don't support your idea to homeschool or there isn't anyone in your neighborhood, community, or country then reach out to the internet. There are so many places I have found that offer wonderful resources for homeschooling parents. I wished I had found them while I was struggling alone, but I have them now. We still have our struggles today and those are the days I reach out to my great encouragers; aka ~ internet homeschooling friends. They will pull you through and allow you to begin a new day with a fresh and inspired heart of teaching your children again.  Please know, you can do this. There is a hope for a future with no tears, the books to stay on the table and a joy for the very subject you are struggling with today. Remember, God inspired you to homeschool, God will show you how to do it. Turn to Him with your frustrations and tears. He will guide you through your season. Likewise, when you have moved on to the joyous season, remember to give thanks for the hard times as it was those times that allow you to truly enjoy the great season you are in now.

    
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ...  "       Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV