Category Archives: Parenting

It’s A Beautiful Way to Live

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–This is from a blog post I wrote at my old blog, “Confessions of a Homeschool Mom” back in 2006. I thought many of you would enjoy it.  Our daughter, Summer is now 9. She doesn’t suck cookie dough off her toes anymore. I’m glad I caught a picture of it.–

 

“Spencer Jay!”

“Yes, Mama?”

“STOP JUMPING ON THE COUCH!”

“I’m not, mama! The couch is bouncing under me!”

And so it goes.

Yesterday I walked into the kitchen just in time to see my newly-turned-three-year-old enjoying the cookie IMG_6135
dough that she had just stepped in… she was licking it off of her toes! Don’t call the sanitation patrol. I’ve got it covered. Believe me, it won’t help.

Fifteen years ago, I would have freaked out but I just handed her a washcloth (after the picture, or course) … and moved to the next crisis.

At least life is never boring, right? What happened? Oh yeah. That.  I remember now! And we rather ENJOY it!

It’s not that I’m complaining because I wish my life were different, because I really don’t!

It’s just that sometimes a girl needs to vent. Ya know? Take this post for example. I started writing it three hours ago. Since I sat down to type a “quick” entry, I’ve changed a poopy diaper (remember she’s just now eating cereal so it’s not the picnic it used to be!) , nursed the baby, wiped a teary-eyed face, handed out peanuts to the neighborhood (at least it felt that way) , located the Bob the Builder Bandaids, checked the pot roast, corrected an essay and
answered the phone at least five times.

Sunday afternoon is supposed to be my “time” to goof around while my kids play quietly… reading every volume of their Little House books and
inventing new theories for determining the speed of madagascar beetles.

Right???

And now I can’t remember what I wanted to say when I sat down to say it three hours ago.

And—it’s a beautiful way to live.

Heidi St John Guide to Daylight

Everyday Joys

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Overheard at my house today before 10:00 a.m. today:

“What’s for dinner, Mom?”
“Finish that up! It shouldn’t take you all day.”
“How do you spell ‘exhausted’?”

“Mom, we need to hire a maid.”
“Mom, what does >that< say?”
“Mom, I lost my book again!”
“Mom, what does this say? Barfer??” (the word was “before)
“She’s bothering me again!”
“He won’t stop annoying me!”
“But it’s not my day to unload the dishwasher.” (well, NOW it is.)
“This is my favorite book EVER!”
“Moooom! She answered the phone when you told her not to!” (This was heard by the caller)
“Mom! I only have one more page left!” (first time reading a chapter book)… “You’re the BEST MOM EVER!” (I served tea.)

Heidi St John Homeschooling Guide to Daylight

Working: It’s all in the family

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Got Kids?

Homeschooling?

Got laundry?

Feeling behind? Overwhelmed?

Good news!  If you have a child who is four or older, you’ve got help! 🙂

Homeschooling is a lifestyle. Around here, sometimes that means taking the day off and catching up on chores that have been overlooked. We teach our children the importance of working simply because they are part of the family.  While we reward our children for “extra” things like washing the car or helping with a family project, their primary reward is the reward of working together as a family.  Of appreciating the food they eat and the clothes they wear—and the warm comfy bed that greets them each night.

As they grow, knowing they have done a good job by helping their parents around the house becomes a reward in and of itself, and an important part of growing up.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to train up your kids! Train them in every way you can—pretty soon they will be running their own homes.

The Importance of Discipline

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Your child depends on your loving correction!

Several years ago, a friend of mine pulled me aside and pointed out a character flaw in one of my children. Apparently this child was not only being disrespectful to another adult, but rude as well. It hurt to hear this from my friend. It stung. I was mad—and a little embarrassed too. But you know what? She was right. I needed to address the problem, and not allow my child to hide behind me.

That meant apologizing to the adult and asking for forgiveness. It’s amazing the peace that follows conflict when it is addressed and corrected.

Are you disciplining your children? A loving mother will lovingly discipline her children. As parents we must remember that much of the responsibility our children’s behavior rests with us.

There are consequences to refusing to address character issues in the lives of our children. Ask the Lord to give you a discerning heart so that you can see what the real issue is and then follow-through with your child. He’ll thank you later.

Be encouraged! There’s No Such Thing … As Super Mom

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Last week, I spoke for NCHE (North Carolinians for Home Education) at their awesome conference in Winston-Salem. I loved being able to talk with many of the 6000+ attendees on everything from multi-level teaching to marriage. Moms, and especially homeschool moms really float my boat.  They are my people, if you know what I mean.  🙂  I get being a mom. Most of the women I spoke to had similar questions and the biggest one is usually “Am I doing enough?”

We do so much, don’t we? Or at least we try to do so much. Ballet, soccer, music lessons, co-op, church, birthday parties. Just looking at a potential list of all the things I “could” be doing but am not makes me feel like a failure sometimes.

Man, we’re hard on ourselves! I used to ask myself if I was doing enough a lot when our kids were all little, but I must admit, it’s lessening with each passing year. Now that two of our daughters are grown, I find myself emotionally tied to less “super” things … and more sappy ones. Turns out that the best memories we all share are pretty simple. Like reading together. Nothing “super” about that… or is there? 🙂

One of the reasons I love speaking to moms is because it provides me with an opportunity to “be real” about my own life—flaws and all.  You see, there’s no such thing as a mom who has it all together. The mom who is SUPER academic will often wonder why she can’t be more laid back like her unschooling friend. And the mom who is SUPER organized may secretly wish she could be more laid back. Some moms are SUPER at socializing while others are SUPER at crockpot dinners. We’ve all got our strengths and weaknesses. And that’s okay. I think the key to avoiding Super Mom Syndrome is just to keep being real with each other.

You see I’ve come to believe that the best encouragement comes from ordinary moms being … well … ordinary. It’s not the “Super Moms” that encourage me. It’s the moms who share the same struggles I do but who remain willing to try again tomorrow. The mom who can say “Yeah, I thought about quitting homeschooling last week too!” … and then didn’t quit because she was reminded of the why rather just the oh-so-daily tasks of homeschooling.

The mom who falls down, and then talks about how God met her where she was at—and kept at it—shows us that His strength really is made perfect in weakness.

That’s the good stuff.

At the end of the day, my kids won’t remember me as Super Mom. But I hope they remember that I loved them. That I asked for forgiveness when it was necessary. That I wasn’t embarrassed to put a frozen pizza in the oven even when company came over for dinner unannounced and that I taught them how to navigate the often rough waters of parenthood with a little flair all their own. I hope they learn how to listen for the Lord so that they take on His yoke and not someone else’s. His yoke is easy. His burden is light.

You don’t have to be Super Mom.  Just have to Abide in Him. You can do all things through Christ.

Heidi St John Guide to Daylight

This is Who You Are, Day 7

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Refuse to Be Sidelined

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Something sad and fascinating is happening to parents in this post-modern era. We’re being lied to. We’re being told that we aren’t necessary—and what’s worse, many moms today are buying the lie! After all, they say the “village” can do it better.

Slowly but surely society is shutting parents out. What used to be regarded as a parent’s responsibility is now seen as an infringement on the child. If we want to stay in the race and finish it we must refuse to be sidelined. MomStrong moms possess a willingness to endure rather than become a passive onlooker in the lives of their children.

When the world says “give up” or “it’s not your business,” I challenge you to stand up for the sake of your child. Go ahead and risk being annoying. Be the mom who knows the names of your child’s friends. Be the mom who asks the hard questions and loves unconditionally. Be the mom who refuses to be sidelined and actively guides her child through every stage of growing to adulthood.

Your children don’t need the government or the school system to teach them about the big things in life, they need their parents. Moms, you are stronger than they say you are. You are more capable and more invested. You’re your children’s mother, and kids today need their mothers to be all-in.

They need the wisdom and love of their parents, and they need a mom who is one hundred percent invested.

Be that mom!