Homeschool Monday – Savoring the Moment

We took #1 to look at her college of choice last weekend, and discovered to our great relief and delight, that her grades and test scores guaranteed her automatic acceptance into the honors program she had hoped for. I was somewhere beyond thrilled. Her grandmother said, “Now you just have to do it 6 more times.”

I was chatting with a homeschooling mom of 10 whose first 2 students have won full scholarships to prestigious universities on the day the 2nd one heard that he had a full ride. She was non-chalant about her achievement and only sighed “There are still 8 more to go.”

If we were teachers in a traditional school setting who were getting such fantastic results, we would win awards and maybe be the guest of honor at a banquet or two. We would have the luxury of celebrating our incredible achievements and be recognized as having accomplished something spectacular

Instead, the world and our own inner voices remind us only of the work still to come. There are no pats on the back, because we don’t stop long enough to get them.

My friend with the 10 said in the same sentence “J has a full ride to college, but his brother still can’t tie his shoes.” What?!?  Let’s stop at the first part at least for today. J has a full ride to college!!!!! That’s huge.

It’s not just the long time veterans who do this to ourselves. Another mom I know, in her first year of homeschooling, has a kindergartener who can read on a 2nd grade level and is flying through math that would challenge students who are older than her. Instead of toasting her success, all the mom tells me is that her 3 year old is going to be hard to teach. In two years. Which is not today.

There needs to be some sort of homeschooling mom oath where we pinky swear to help each other look at the brilliance we achieve and not just gloss it over. We need to help each other remember to dance for joy at the things we achieve. This is not a job of drudgery, but we treat it as if it’s the same old thing set to repeat every day.

Yes, the children will still be there tomorrow waiting to be taught. Even when the first goes off to college, there will still be kindergarten to teach. The fractions you explain to one child will still have to be taught to the next one. It’s hard to put that out your mind and just savor the successes of today, and yet you absolutely should.

We’re doing amazing work here, ladies. We have taken on an Herculean task and we are not only rising to meet it, we are surpassing all expectations. We deserve a couple of pats on the back and maybe even a celebratory lunch with the hubby! (If my husband is reading this, I could go for fajitas.) Yes, there is still work to be done, and you will be the person who has to do it. Put it aside for a moment. Take the time today to sit and reflect on all you have been able to do. Then call a girlfriend and brag about it a bit. It’s time you stopped hiding your light under a bushel and shared what you’ve been up to. They’ll be amazed, and you deserve to know exactly how amazing you are.