The Homeschool Minute ~ Diana Waring

When you saw today’s topic, what jumped to your mind? Did you think:

#1) “GREAT! Now I will learn all I need to know about stuffing more activities into my kids’ schooling!!”

Or, maybe:

#2) “Oh, NO! They are going to show me how to cram more things into our schedule, and I don’t think I can do it!”

Or, if you are a literalist:

#3) “At last! Someone is finally going to show me how to organize my tote so that our roadschooling accomplishes more!!”

I ask the question because it can be enlightening to have our motivations exposed.

#1) If we fear that we are not doing enough, we might run to whomever or whatever promises us a way to ease that fear, thereby adding more work, more demands, and more pressure to an already unhealthy mindset.

#2) If we feel overwhelmed (and guilty for being overwhelmed!), we might try one more way of doing school in hopes that it will be THE solution, despite the increased work, demands, and pressure on our already burdened shoulders.

#3) If we spend a lot of time in the car (picture the quintessential soccer mom), we will happily look for the right system that allows us to be constantly on the go, regardless of the impact of work, demands and pressure.

But, I wonder what would happen if we stepped back from our own unique rat-race to ponder the big picture of where we are actually going. Rather than speeding up, what if we slowed down? What would that mean to our children, to their education?

Though, culturally, we believe that we can have it all; we can do it all, right now-which corresponds in homeschooling to the unending pressure to teach it all right now-the reality is we can’t. We are finite human beings with finite resources and limited time.

So, what can we do?

I recently saw a picture of an enticingly beautiful wooded area, complete with meandering stream, slippery rocks, and delightful vistas beckoning. The caption read, “The Original Play-Station.” Profoundly true. Though it would take far more time, it would be so much more fulfilling to a child than the fast-paced video version.

If our children are going to have the time to engage in imaginative play, to explore areas of learning that allows self-motivation to arise, to read endlessly the books that delight them-and do the normal chores of life like eating, sleeping, dressing, cleaning-then, perhaps, we need to actually consider schooling on the “slow,” rather than on the go.

On the other hand, if your version is to never go anywhere or do anything, then ignore this! Your assignment is to get going, take your kids to the zoo or to a beach or to a museum. Go!!!

Remember, stay relational.

Diana

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