One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling (for everyone in our family) has been the opportunity to embrace HUMILITY.
My husband tells our children that nearly every problem (of our own creation) can be traced back to humility and pride. Think about that for a minute.
(One of my favorite books is Humility, by Andrew Murray - read it for free here.)
This week, my son had to exercise humility as he admitted a plan he had made for a BIG project might not have been the best idea. I advised him about this early on in the planning of the project, but he forged ahead in his very self confident manner. (Your kids NEVER do that, right??)
As the reality of the situation hit him, he had to back-track, admit his failing, and devise a new plan. Initially, he was upset with me (because I pointed out the reality and forced him to make a change), but later he came to me, apologized, and was able to articulate he was upset with himself and not me.
These moments are GOLDEN, aren’t they? When our children admit a wrong, apologize, and receive grace and guidance from us - there is no better teaching or character-building moment. This isn’t about homeschool, it is about LIFE.
Our culture doesn’t value humility - we value PRIDE. We take pride in our accomplishments. We exalt our children for their accomplishments. We show off our houses, cars, and clothes. We value being “right” and always have an answer for everything.
It is not our natural inclination to be humble. Especially with this generation of children, “it’s all about me” - we are fighting an uphill battle to raise humble men and women, and I believe homeschooling is one of our best weapons.
OK — off my soapbox and on to the weekly roundup!
Yes, we accomplished Latin, math, debate, piano, Shakespeare, science, and a million other things this week. But those weren’t the most important things. The most important thing this week was that one lesson in humility.
Homeschooling allows us to focus on the HEART, the CHARACTER, and the SOUL of our child.
Aren’t you thankful for that? I sure am.
I hope you enjoy this week’s roundup — I’ve included a fun activity for your kids as #5 - enjoy!!!
Career vs. Calling
I just LOVE this post from young Andy, at Family Style Schooling. I shared it with my college freshman and she enjoyed it, too. There is something for all of us in this!
“What does God want to do with my life? I always assumed this question meant what job does God want me to get, but what if it means so much more? In my first semester of college, several professors challenged my ideas of career and introduced me to the idea of calling. The implications of understanding my calling have made all the difference in my life.”
How to Reach Your Teen Homeschooler’s Heart
This one is from my own archives, and it’s good to revisit my own advice every few months. Am I doing what I can to reach my teen’s heart?
The Importance of Reading at Whim and Developing Your Own Taste
This podcast spoke to my heart. The main interview is great, but the advice Sarah gives at the beginning to a mom about reading levels is GOLDEN. Listening to this episode is a great investment for any parent!
Casey At the Bat
Funny thing - we are revisiting this classic poem right now in our homeschool. When my son was young and baseball-obsessed we listened to the Maestro Classics production of Casey at the Bat, as well as read this wonderful book. This occurred during the years where I went as fast as I could to keep up with my son’s interests - and we actually stopped for quite a while on Casey at the Bat!
Now, as a 15-year-old, my son is memorizing the poem as part of his Challenge I work. We are focusing on the last two canons of rhetoric, memory and delivery. It’s been a walk down memory lane to pull out the CD and book as he prepares to present the poem on his own.
If You’re Happy and You Know It
February in SQUILT LIVE! we are Jumping into Jazz. This arrangement of such a popular kid’s song is done by Christian Sands. My husband and I saw him in concert a couple of months ago and were quite honestly floored by this young Jazz musician’s talent.
This song is included in the February listening calendar, and a little birdie told me there just might be a fun member bonus lesson this month centering around it, too. Try this with your kids as a listening activity.
Listening Activity
IMPROVISATION is composing, executing, or arranging anything without previous preparation. What does Christian Sands do musically to change this song? (examples including changing the speed, adding/subtracting notes, etc…) Make a list, draw a picture; can they sing the song and make their own improvisation? Have fun with this!
A Note: A lot of you also ask about what I’m reading. Follow me at Homegrown Book Picks on Instagram, where I keep a visual log of books read! You don’t have to have the Instagram app or even have an account - my profile is public so you can just click the link I gave you and explore the pictures.
