Sometimes, since we are not school-at-homers, I can get up and not have a clue what we are going to do.  This is not always true.  Sometimes we are in the midst of this project or that book or this movie or this event and I know pretty much what to expect out of the day.  But there are other days when I don't know where it will go. 

I confess, I still sometimes think in schoolish ways.  I want a plan!  I'll make a mental plan and subtly try to bring it to bear on my kids.  That almost never works.  At least not peacably.  How very often I miss the opportunities with them because, without realizing it, I want to dismiss something they are interested in because it doesn't mesh with what I was thinking.

I"m learning to pray and ask the Lord to lead our learning that day.  I say learning because although I've known and seen the benefits of this for a long time, I have to be reminded often to say "Lord, I don't have a clue today.  What should we do?  YOU lead us".  Invariably I have start thinking "maybe we could do this or that".  And invariably things will open up that day in ways I could never have expected or imagined.  Conversations that lead us around the world and through history and science because it "just came up".  A phone call or an invitation that gives an unexpected opportunity.  A movie or a book that grabs our interest and takes us in all kinds of great directions. 

I'm also learning to keep my eyes and ears open for those things they come up with.  "Let's make Christmas cookies!"  Although my mind says "too early! not today!"  I'm training my mouth to say. OK!  "Can you help me start a cross stitch project?"  Mind says, "she won't probably won't finish it"  Mouth is learning to say, "sure, help me get the stuff out". 

So, as in all our unschooling.  I'm doing the most learning.  Learning to watch, pray, and listen.  Listen to the Lord and His leading.  Listen to my children.  Believing that God CAN and does speak to me through my children.  Believing that the interests that my children have are God-given and should be encouraged even if different than what I had originally had in mind.  I think I'm catching on.

doulos