3 things we strive to teach our children

As our oldest is rapidly approaching his kindergarten year, Kyle and I are praying and discussing what school will look like for our children. Public? Private? At home? I have conversations with friends and with both sets of our parents, weighing out the pros and cons of all 3 options. Many have strong opinions on each and I love the fact that we all agree and respect each other that in all things, you MUST do what is best for your own family and for each child. Because we all know that what worked for Sally may very well not work for Susie.

Schooling, in any form, is where our little ones will  thrive and grow into the young men and women the Lord wants them to be. They will find their interests and passions, their gifts and talents. They will discover that numbers make their head spin or that writing and words give them comfort. School is where I first saw my desire to teach at a very young age, thanks to my incredible 3rd grade teacher. They will more than likely spend more hours of their day in school and with their teachers than not.

I think that one reason why I feel homeschooling could very well be the path for us is that I want to be the one with my children during their days. I want to be their teacher. I want to be the one that experiences all of those light bulb going off, aha! moments. I want to incorporate the Word and God's teachings as they study spelling and do science and history and math.

"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deut 6:7

 If the Lord intends for us to home school, I know He will prepare me. It won't be easy, but from my journey so far I've learned that the majority of the time, He doesn't take us to the road well traveled by many. It's more of the road less traveled by few. 

 

In the meantime, as we continue to sort through options and pray through this decision, I think about what I am teaching my 3 littles under the age of 4. What I am doing RIGHT NOW, during these pivotal, impressionable years as a mother, other than meeting immediate needs and providing a safe environment?

Here's what we are teaching our children....

Marriage is the representation of Christ and the church. And we believe that it is through our children watching and seeing Kyle and I's relationship that they are getting to see Christ. They can see forgiveness and grace, submission and honor. Go HERE for some great resources on Marriage, Christ, and Covenant from the ministry of John Piper.We also want our kids to know that mama and daddy need time together alone, so date nights and being quiet while we talk about grown up stuff are at the top of the list.

It is so important to us to spend time together as a family of 5 and for our kids to see our family as one unit. This means sitting down at the table for dinner together, no TV's, no smart phones. It means taking time for memory making, traditions, and playing trains on the rug. Having them find themselves in our family FIRST sets their foundation of not trying to find themselves in other places in the future.

With love comes compassion and through compassion comes a desire to help those in need, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To be the change, to be set apart and different in a world that begs for us all to be the same. Showing them how to love: their siblings, animals, friends, strangers, those that hurt them or do them wrong...that's where the teachable moments truly begin. That's when the Lord's work can start. Teaching love through hugs and kisses and doing kind deeds for one another. 

^"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails. " 1 Corinthians 13

We aren't perfect and we aren't trying to seem self-righteous in this whole parenting thing. We fail. Daily. Our tongues slip, our anger gets the best of us. We make mistakes. We are just human beings, sinners in this world. 

But we know that in raising our children, we DO serve a perfect God. One who is righteous, who never fails, or lets His tongue slip. His anger never gets the best of Him. And let it be known, He NEVER makes a mistake.

 

It is through His grace and forgiveness that we teach and parent our children. And we find that it is through our teaching and parenting of Caden, Baylor, and Hannah Cate that the Lord is teaching and parenting Amy and Kyle as well. I'm so thankful that my schooling never officially ends!

Be blessed today, friends!