October 13, 2009

To Homeschool, or NOT!

Last night during Family Home Evening, Aric was giving the lesson on Faith. Jasper was being a little pill and wasn't really trying to pay attention or answer his questions. So, being the more FORCEFUL parent, I started in on how it's our job to teach her and her job to learn... blah, blah, blah.
After I was done with my tirade, she responds "Mom, they teach me at school." I'm sure in her mind, she was not thinking I'm not doing my job as a Mother, but this is how I took it and another tirade began!
I tried to explain to her how Heavenly Father is proud of her when she learns to read and spell, but what she learns at home is much more important, that she needs to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is her parents job to teach her that. I kind of went off really, but it scared me!
I do think public education is important, but I KNOW that children need their Parents' teaching more than anything else. The home is where they learn to be good people, it is where we hone the skills that they are learning in school, it is where we teach them the value's we hold dear in our lives whether that be through Religion or not.
So, it really got me thinking... If she doesn't understand that, maybe I should Homeschool full time! NO, I don't really think that, but I do want my little girl to understand and know that everything I do as a parent is to TEACH her. She is only 6, but I am wanting some validation from her. :)
I'm sure some day she will understand, but it surprised me how much it hurt to hear this from her and I want her to understand TODAY!! Motherhood just keeps getting harder! :)


She loved the way I fixed her hair into a bun on Sunday, so a Photoshoot ensued...
She really gets into this, she does her own poses and faces. Such a girl!



Aric has been telling me for years that I SHOULD homeschool, and while I don't feel it is necessary (and I don't think I would be any good at it), there may come a time when it is. I hope I will be prepared to TEACH her then, and I pray that I can make Heavenly Father proud of my skills,.. as a Mother/Teacher/Nurturer.

3 comments:

ShelleyG said...

Brooke you are doing a fabulous job! Being a mom can be so hard!! I have great respect for women who homeschool. I would be soooo NOT good at it!! I remind myself that it is good for our children to learn to be strong in the world. ;) There are also great life lessons they gain from going to school like learning to be on time, listening, working with others, and even learning to deal with boring stuff. I too wonder if there will come a day when we need to homeschool, but so far I think we can send our kids into the world as long as we are giving them the gospel tools to navigate their way through.

I am so sorry you guys got the swine flu!! I hope you are all better! :)

Mellissa said...

Jasper sounds like one opinionated little girl! She reminds me of another little girl that I know...

Ugh, I hate those days, when you start to feel insecure about yourself as a mother. But, just from the little I know about you, I don't think you have much to worry about.

I've been toying with the idea of homeschooling for a while now, but Anicka is just SOOO excited to go to school. So, I'm thinking that maybe I'll just make sure I'm super involved with homework and everything, and possibly supplement the school's curriculum a little. I don't know. It's a tough choice. And I know what you mean about being afraid that you wouldn't do a good job homeschooling. Those mother's that homeschool all of their children get some major respect from me.

Angie said...

I am sure she will appreciate it someday and understand the important things in life. You are teaching her by taking her to church and I know you do great family home evening lessons. I guess I will have to find out the feeling when Teryk leaves and I have to share the authority figure role :S. By the way, her pictures are so cute and I can see a big difference in age, even to the ones on the side called "beauty." Crazy how fast life is flying by.