This article has REAL pitfalls of homeschooling! Actually they are the real pitfalls of parenting.
The only trouble I have is the length. There is so much in the article, so much to think about, and so much very worthy advice, I can't possibly read it all before I have to go deal with dinner, and scouts.
That and his constant reminder that this is for homeschooling parents. Like public schoolers don't face this very thing? Or private schoolers? While homeschoolers have a greater opportunity for sheltering, and controlling more aspects of their children's lives, Public and private schoolers face the same kinds of questions of discipline, media viewing, and participation.
A few notes from what I did read:
"1. We are imbalanced when sheltering from harm is the predominant expression of our parenting. Are we more concerned with protecting our kids from that which is bad or with putting into them that which is good? I want to ask that again: Are we more concerned with protecting our kids from that which is bad or with putting into them that which is good? Consider that rearing children is like creating a family menu. If we keep them away from all junk food and feed them only prunes, their bodies will respond negatively. Protection from too much junk food is obviously a good idea, but their bodies need balanced nutrition. Physical health is achieved by both avoiding what is harmful and taking in a balance of what is good. To raise spiritually and morally healthy children we need to do the same. We must certainly protect them from harmful influences, but more than that, we must give them that which strengthens them spiritually and morally."
Prunes are prolly good for you, but too much of a good thing.
I like how the article consistently points to the 'heart' of the matter. A child's heart is far more important than how much math or science, or literature they know.
And then there is this line:
"... that our children learn what is important not from what we say, but from what they see us “stress out” over."
What do I stress over, what is most important in our lives?
I have a terrible temper so I am trying to tame that. I stress over the tasks of volunteering and housework. Are those the important things?
Good thoughts. I also (as you know) have a temper that Jesus and I am taming slowly. I stress over unimportant things and hadn't thought about how much they learn from that. Good article.
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