Compare Not
Hello, Home Edders! Has it really been 25 days since I last posted here? Hmmm... homeschooling three kids really is a struggle but yeah, life goes on.
With my two younger learners aged one year apart, I try to schedule the same lessons for each of them albeit still approaching them differently. They have very different learning styles and abilities. They say, "do not compare your children", but really, can we not?
I do take note of their differences and take that as my weapon as I tackle my role as a mom and as their teacher.
Light Moments
Anyway, while it is challenging and a definite character-tester for all of us, we always get light moments in our little homeschool to clear the air. There are definitely times when I get into a monster mode, that is, despite the reminder of my eldest to always take a deep breath and be patient. Hey, they do know how to spread my patience thin.
Regardless, I have to really give credit to my youngest's sense of humor. Legit - he can have a future as a comedian. Sooo natural.
Carnivore... Herbivore... Omnivore...
It just really got me cracking up so hard one day we were studying about animals. We do know animals that eat only meat are carnivores, while those that eat only plants are herbivores, and those that eat both are omnivores...
But then, they looked out and saw our pet bunnies...
"Mommy, Cookie and Bun-Bun eat anything! They eat plants and they also eat the dust that we just swept from the floor!" they said.
"They are everyvores because they eat everything!"
LOL. I died.
LET THERE BE LIGHT!
One night, the Little Man and I were walking to the nearby restaurant to buy food. We had some nice chit-chat and along the way, I also had the chance to test him about some simple questions.
Living things, or non-living things?! Easy-peasy! Oh, cars a non-living things even though they move because they are not really alive. Humans make them move. okay. okay...
God-Made or Man-Made?
We just spiced up the conversations a bit and went to this topic.
Cars? Man-made.
Water falls? God-made.
Table? Man-made.
Mountains? God-made.
Animals? God-made.
Clothes? Man-made.
I was just going random here. Anything I could think of, or what I could see around me...
Hmmm, what about lights?
"God-made!" he said.
Huh? I stopped for a while. How come? I looked and pointed at the bright lights at the buildings in front of us.
"Mommy, remember? AND GOD SAID, "LET THERE BE LIGHT!" and then there was light."
Yay. Why didn't I think of that?! LOL.
Remember Your Purpose
Again, as I end this post, I remind myself -- and you even - when things get tough in the homeschool, think about why we started this journey. We wanted to be intentional in our children's learning and be there along side them as they mold their individualities and characteristics.
There will be times when we will question whether we are in the right path. There will be times when we will be urged to compare... but isn't that what we wanted to achieve? Each one of them is their own person, a unique individual beyond compare.
Find time to go back to basics - make it simple. Sit back, relax and learn at each child's comfortable phase. We are not racing with anyone. Always remember, some times we have to take things lightly but keep moving. Never stop learning.
How about you, what do you do when things get out of hand in your homeschool?
Cover image: Little Miss' random doodle.