I just realized after reviewing the blog that I never listed the Reading List from this year.
Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
Lord of the Flies
The Hobbit
The Old Man and the Sea
Daughter of Mercy
Heart of Darkness
The Hiding Place
The Great Gatsby
The hubs said I should tell you about the transition and teaching that took place between The Hiding Place and The Great Gatsby. We read those books, in that order, on purpose. We read The Hiding Place with an eye to Corrie ten Boom's definition of suffering, love and hope. We discussed the depth and hopefulness of the book. Then we moved on to The Great Gatsby.
The kids in my class immediately commented on the hopelessness and shallowness of the book. The setting of TGG is the Roaring Twenties, between the Great War and the Great Depression and in the middle of Prohibition. This was a time of massive wealth and prosperity. No one in the book is starving or ripped away from their families, and yet, it is a very hopeless book. THP is a book set during World War 2 and involves death and starvation and concentration camps. Yet, it is full of hope and love.
Our co-op class to the time to dissect and contrast. We discussed values and eternity. We read scripture and talked of possible applications in the future. We openly confronted our fears of suffering and were reminded of God's faithfulness. What a great topic!
Overall, the lit class was one of the highlights of my year. I've received emails and even a gift from the kids involved. They can see the value of dissecting worldviews now. God is good!
Showing posts with label sharing the gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing the gospel. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Parenting Teenagers
Teachable moments with teenagers are rare and random. I was thinking of this as I painted Gracie's fingernails this afternoon and recounted to her tales of painting my nails during chapel when I was in high school. How must that have felt to my principal who was giving the devotional?... I remember maybe two or three talks from chapel.
I was subbing the kids' Sunday school class this morning and we talked about how we always watch our favorite movies over and over again. One little boy said that it was so we could examine them and understand them better. Or maybe it's just because we need repetition for us to ever remember anything!
We talk and talk and talk at our teenagers. Experts give us sure-fire strategies to get them to listen. We want to have that one movie-scripted, defining moment with our kids where they experience this huge epiphany and change their ways. But that's not how it works. When they're little we sing the ABC song ten times a day for months before they can sing it correctly, all by themselves. We remind them "chew with your mouth closed" and "put the seat down" and "wash with soap" and "no jumping on the furniture". We don't remember being told the same things over and over and over again as children. We think they should just know these things instinctively. I think the reason we don't remember it is because we were told so many times and taught so well, that it went very deeply into our core. We would never dream of jumping on the couch or not bathing with soap as adults!
Talking to teenagers requires the same endurance as training toddlers. We have to say it over and over in the hopes that it will one day go deep enough that something clicks. But we cannot give up and we should be encouraged, in a weird sort of way. I don't know about you, but I want the things I teach them to go to their spirit. I want the lessons I harp on about "loving your sister", "cleaning your room", and good hygiene to be a part of their lives. I don't want instantaneous, superficial change. But Lord give me patience. It takes time.
Gospel training is just as difficult. Training my kids in grace means that I have really, really believe the Gospel myself. There are times when it feels like I'm screaming the gospel to my own heart. "I am completely known. I am completely loved. I am completely forgiven. I am completely righteous. By faith ALONE!" Over and over and over.
I forgot a meeting: Others opinions of me do not define me.
I committed that particular sin again: I am completely forgiven. Past, present, future.
I despise myself: I am completely loved and righteous.
Etc, etc.
If my own heart requires repetition, why do I think my teenagers hearts don't?
I was subbing the kids' Sunday school class this morning and we talked about how we always watch our favorite movies over and over again. One little boy said that it was so we could examine them and understand them better. Or maybe it's just because we need repetition for us to ever remember anything!
We talk and talk and talk at our teenagers. Experts give us sure-fire strategies to get them to listen. We want to have that one movie-scripted, defining moment with our kids where they experience this huge epiphany and change their ways. But that's not how it works. When they're little we sing the ABC song ten times a day for months before they can sing it correctly, all by themselves. We remind them "chew with your mouth closed" and "put the seat down" and "wash with soap" and "no jumping on the furniture". We don't remember being told the same things over and over and over again as children. We think they should just know these things instinctively. I think the reason we don't remember it is because we were told so many times and taught so well, that it went very deeply into our core. We would never dream of jumping on the couch or not bathing with soap as adults!
Talking to teenagers requires the same endurance as training toddlers. We have to say it over and over in the hopes that it will one day go deep enough that something clicks. But we cannot give up and we should be encouraged, in a weird sort of way. I don't know about you, but I want the things I teach them to go to their spirit. I want the lessons I harp on about "loving your sister", "cleaning your room", and good hygiene to be a part of their lives. I don't want instantaneous, superficial change. But Lord give me patience. It takes time.
Gospel training is just as difficult. Training my kids in grace means that I have really, really believe the Gospel myself. There are times when it feels like I'm screaming the gospel to my own heart. "I am completely known. I am completely loved. I am completely forgiven. I am completely righteous. By faith ALONE!" Over and over and over.
I forgot a meeting: Others opinions of me do not define me.
I committed that particular sin again: I am completely forgiven. Past, present, future.
I despise myself: I am completely loved and righteous.
Etc, etc.
If my own heart requires repetition, why do I think my teenagers hearts don't?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
This Hidden Side of Me
Maggie went to a private kindergarten. It was fine, twenty-five minutes away, brand new teacher. She didn't hate it, but she also didn't really learn anything. She was easily distracted and struggled with memorization. She struggled with everything. I have home video of us trying to make it through her word ring homework. She was definitely NOT a visual learner.
On the other hand, Ty, only 18 months younger, was an extremely visual learner with strong memorization skills. He taught himself to read by listening to Maggie and I do her homework. He could add, subtract and understand math concepts, as well as read, by the time he was four. But he also acted out when he got bored. Like stick someone's head in the toilet acted out. Not good. He cried if I put him to bed when his room was untidy. He needed structure and a challenge.
When Maggie "graduated" K5, she still didn't know all of her letters and could care less about math. And the private school went up on tuition. We simply could not afford it. But the public school we were zoned for was a mess. The police were called to the middle school almost twice a week and the middle school shared a building with the elementary school. The test scores and reputation for our zoned school were appalling. It was not an option. What's a parent to do?
Our small group leader at church had just started homeschooling the year before and I mentioned to him that we were leaning towards it. I had no idea that the other family there that night would react the way they did. The father started screaming, not talking loudly, screaming, at me. The mother started crying hysterically. How dare I pull my kids out of the private school? Didn't I know that because of people like us the school was in danger of closing its doors? Did I not even care about all the other families? Why was I being so selfish? He went on a ten minute rant until our leader could get him under control. Ever since then, I have been afraid of that kind of a reaction. It's only happened once since but it still leaves its mark. I've also had people, adults, make fun of my kids for our choice to homeschool. I don't understand why though.
I once overheard an acquaintance from church made a comment about how if those people really loved their kids they wouldn't send them off to some public school. I immediately pulled her aside and lovingly reproved her. She, and I, have zero right to make that kind of a statement about someone else's life. We are not the Holy Spirit and cannot make condemning, blanket statements like that. It puts that person under the weight of a law that God did not institute. That in itself makes it wrong.
People who meet us for the first time have no inkling that we homeschool. We don't advertise it. If someone asks about school, we freely tell them that we homeschool but I'm always on my guard for the ones that get offended. I've only had 2 people yell at me about it but countless others take it personally for some reason. I've even been told a few times that I was crazy.
In talking with a good friend, oh about five years ago, he gave me some advice. Now this friend was still in college, unmarried and had graduated from a public school system. After stating that if he had children right then, at that moment, and had to choose, he would definitely homeschool. BUT, he said, but he would be very careful about socialization. I asked him what HE meant by that and he explained, "I would make sure that my kids spent time with people who are different than them. Kids who were not raised the same way and have a different way of living life." He made an impression on me.
So many people, myself included, want to protect our kids, keep everything perfect and right and good all the time. But by doing so, I isolated them from the very people Christ sent us to share the gospel. That's a blog for another day.
I wonder if anyone else has had experiences like ours.
On the other hand, Ty, only 18 months younger, was an extremely visual learner with strong memorization skills. He taught himself to read by listening to Maggie and I do her homework. He could add, subtract and understand math concepts, as well as read, by the time he was four. But he also acted out when he got bored. Like stick someone's head in the toilet acted out. Not good. He cried if I put him to bed when his room was untidy. He needed structure and a challenge.
When Maggie "graduated" K5, she still didn't know all of her letters and could care less about math. And the private school went up on tuition. We simply could not afford it. But the public school we were zoned for was a mess. The police were called to the middle school almost twice a week and the middle school shared a building with the elementary school. The test scores and reputation for our zoned school were appalling. It was not an option. What's a parent to do?
Our small group leader at church had just started homeschooling the year before and I mentioned to him that we were leaning towards it. I had no idea that the other family there that night would react the way they did. The father started screaming, not talking loudly, screaming, at me. The mother started crying hysterically. How dare I pull my kids out of the private school? Didn't I know that because of people like us the school was in danger of closing its doors? Did I not even care about all the other families? Why was I being so selfish? He went on a ten minute rant until our leader could get him under control. Ever since then, I have been afraid of that kind of a reaction. It's only happened once since but it still leaves its mark. I've also had people, adults, make fun of my kids for our choice to homeschool. I don't understand why though.
I once overheard an acquaintance from church made a comment about how if those people really loved their kids they wouldn't send them off to some public school. I immediately pulled her aside and lovingly reproved her. She, and I, have zero right to make that kind of a statement about someone else's life. We are not the Holy Spirit and cannot make condemning, blanket statements like that. It puts that person under the weight of a law that God did not institute. That in itself makes it wrong.
People who meet us for the first time have no inkling that we homeschool. We don't advertise it. If someone asks about school, we freely tell them that we homeschool but I'm always on my guard for the ones that get offended. I've only had 2 people yell at me about it but countless others take it personally for some reason. I've even been told a few times that I was crazy.
In talking with a good friend, oh about five years ago, he gave me some advice. Now this friend was still in college, unmarried and had graduated from a public school system. After stating that if he had children right then, at that moment, and had to choose, he would definitely homeschool. BUT, he said, but he would be very careful about socialization. I asked him what HE meant by that and he explained, "I would make sure that my kids spent time with people who are different than them. Kids who were not raised the same way and have a different way of living life." He made an impression on me.
So many people, myself included, want to protect our kids, keep everything perfect and right and good all the time. But by doing so, I isolated them from the very people Christ sent us to share the gospel. That's a blog for another day.
I wonder if anyone else has had experiences like ours.
Post Number 1 or Introduction to My Insecurities
I could have just as easily titled this blog Square Peg Round Hole or Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe. It occurred to me the other day that I have a bit of a complex about homeschooling. No, not just homeschooling, about having lots of kids too. I feel the need to apologize to people for some reason. I don't really own the path upon which God has set my feet. This blog is the first step in making that right.
I will introduce myself for anyone who might not know me. My name is Crissy (full name, not short for anything). I am married to Chris (I call him Love Monkey). We have four children: Maggie, 16, Ty, 14, Gracie, 11 and Brody, 9. We have been homeschooling for a decade.
I am sitting on my Ikea couch in my small living room in my house in Alabama, praying. I am praying about the coming school year and the curriculum and the future of my children, Maggie especially.
I think every mother worries about their oldest child. My friend Gordon says, "We always over-parent our firstborn." He's right. I am riddled with fears about my oldest. Have I taught her well? Have I taught her enough? Is she prepared for college? Is she going to grow up and wish that we had parented her differently? Blah Blah Blah. I make myself tired.
If you are looking for a pep talk or a try-harder-do-better blog, this is NOT your destination. If you are looking for someone to paint everything rosy and tell you "YOU CAN DO IT!", this is not your Mecca. But if, for that one person who is just starting out or feeling overwhelmed and would like some company, welcome.
I do not have all the answers. I do not even know all of the questions. But I do know that homeschooling my children, being with them 24/7, and being responsible for their worldview, socialization and education is the most joyous, terrifying, overwhelming, blessed experience of my life and I love it.
Disclaimer: *because I am afraid of people thinking ill of me*
I do not think that if you love Jesus/angels/your children that you will homeschool. At all. Period. That is all I have to say about that.
I will introduce myself for anyone who might not know me. My name is Crissy (full name, not short for anything). I am married to Chris (I call him Love Monkey). We have four children: Maggie, 16, Ty, 14, Gracie, 11 and Brody, 9. We have been homeschooling for a decade.
I am sitting on my Ikea couch in my small living room in my house in Alabama, praying. I am praying about the coming school year and the curriculum and the future of my children, Maggie especially.
I think every mother worries about their oldest child. My friend Gordon says, "We always over-parent our firstborn." He's right. I am riddled with fears about my oldest. Have I taught her well? Have I taught her enough? Is she prepared for college? Is she going to grow up and wish that we had parented her differently? Blah Blah Blah. I make myself tired.
If you are looking for a pep talk or a try-harder-do-better blog, this is NOT your destination. If you are looking for someone to paint everything rosy and tell you "YOU CAN DO IT!", this is not your Mecca. But if, for that one person who is just starting out or feeling overwhelmed and would like some company, welcome.
I do not have all the answers. I do not even know all of the questions. But I do know that homeschooling my children, being with them 24/7, and being responsible for their worldview, socialization and education is the most joyous, terrifying, overwhelming, blessed experience of my life and I love it.
Disclaimer: *because I am afraid of people thinking ill of me*
I do not think that if you love Jesus/angels/your children that you will homeschool. At all. Period. That is all I have to say about that.
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