WITH LESS THEN A WEEK BEFORE WE START BACK TO OUR LESSONS...  I NEED TO REMIND MYSELF EXACTLY WHY WE ARE HOMESCHOOLING.  FOR ME, IT HELPS TO DEFINE MY GOALS AND MAKES ME FEEL MORE SECURE.

FOR SOME IT MAY BE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE RELIGIOUS REASONS...OR EVEN BOTH.    SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUCCESS USING THE DRILL AND KILL METHOD.. DEMANDING SCHEDULES... OTHERS MORE RELAXED AND UNSCHOOLED.  FUNNY THING IS...I'VE SEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE WITH ALL METHODS.

ONLY GOD, TRUELY KNOWS THE PLAN.  WE, AS PARENTS CAN JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN...  WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.  THIS WAS TOLD TO MY MOM AND I, AS MY DAD WAS IN HIS FINAL DAYS.... WE WROTE DOWN HIS WISDOM. 

MY GOAL FOR TOMMIE ISN'T FOR HIM TO NAIL A $100,000. JOB.  NOR IS IT, TO WORK IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET...TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE OTHER GUY.  IT'S NOT HOW MANY DEGREES HE CAN HANG ON THE WALL.  AND, I'M NOT TRAINING HIM FOR A DEMANDING JOB THAT MOVES HIM ACROSS THE NATION. 

BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT TRYING TO INSULT ANYONE FOR HAVING THOSE KIND OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.  IT JUST ISN'T WHAT IS ON OUR AGENDA.

WHAT IS AND WHAT I'D LIKE FOR HIM...  OR RATHER, WHAT I'M STEERING HIM INTO ...  IS TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND, FATHER, SERVANT TO GOD AND A CHEERFUL HUMAN BEING. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY A TACTFUL HUMAN BEING. ONE WHO ENJOYS LEARNING WHAT INTERESTS HIM...ON HIS WATCH.   

CAN HE FIX A PIPE?  CHANGE HIS OIL?  VACUME THE HOUSE?  WILL HE TAKE HIS CHILD'S HAND AND TELL HIM ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL GOD IS?  WILL HE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL OF GOD'S BEAUTY? AND, LIVE HIS LIFE KNOWING JESUS IS HIS SAVIOR? WILL HE HELP A NEIGHBOR IN NEED AND EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN?  WILL HE END GOSSIP AND DEFEND THE WEAK?  WILL HE LAUGH WITH OTHER AND NOT AT THEM?  WILL HE ROLL ON THE FLOOR WITH HIS KIDS AND DOG?  WILL HE KNOW THE MEANING OF A REALLY GOOD BOOK?  WILL HE NOT ABUSE THE EARTH?  AND, LEAVE IT BETTER THEN HE FOUND IT?  WILL HE ALWAYS HAVE THAT SPRING IN HIS STEP AND SPARKLE IN HIS EYE?  WILL HE TELL HIS WIFE..."THAT WAS A GOOD MEAL?"  A MOM CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY ...AND TRAIN.

THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT WE'LL BE DROPPING THE BALL ACADEMICALLY, BY ANY MEANS.  JUST TRYING TO GET THE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

smile-wink-nod!  AND exhale.

Posted by mom24seas

well said, I may BORROW some of that.
smile, wink, nod
Rhonda

Posted by Lapazfarm

I think it is a good exercise to re-visit our goals regularly. It helps keep us on track, you know? I like your goals for your son's schooling. They sound quite similar to ours.

Posted by nellie99

Just caught up on your very interesting Blog. Loved this one. So sad many of us me included. never gave it a thought of what kind of father or husband our child would be. This is # 1 in how happy your child will be , after having a happy childhood, and moving on into marriage. This is so important for your child to have the tools, of give and take, and how to make his wife happy and his own life happy, this is not taught in School. loved it