Beyond Academics

Editor's Note: Claudine is a homeschooling mom of three and sent this email to WALDSFE.

Sisters,

I am just in a mood for sharing right now. I feel like I have grown so much this past year as I have started the journey of home schooling! I am learning things I do not think I could learn any other way. I really worried when I began home schooling that my entire house would fall apart. I have never been the greatest housekeeper; for the most part, I rather read than clean. But I did an evaluation the other day, and my house is no worse off because of home school. It's not any better, but it really isn't any worse either. And I would not trade any of my home school time for a cleaner house! A lot of women ask me how I find time to home school. Now I honestly ask myself, "What do I really have to do that is more important than teaching my children and building a relationship with them?" We cannot take our material possessions or our hobbies with us into the next life, but we can take our children with us. I spent the first year of home school just getting to know my children better and building a relationship with them; in my "free"
time, I researched different ways of teaching, talked with other moms, and tried to decide on my own philosophy and style. I feel like I am learning and growing every day. My children are teaching me how to be a better mom, a better teacher, and a better human being.

I think that academics are wonderful, but the most important things we teach our children are beyond academics. The most important lessons in life are always spiritual. My main goals are to teach my children how to pray, how to resolve conflicts, how to repent, how to set goals, how to work, and how to make decisions. I talk to them a lot about how our family is a team and we all have the same goal--to help each other make it back to Heavenly Father. I really want my children to learn how to feel the spirit and how to receive personal revelation. When my children fight, I talk to them about how the spirit leaves. When they make up, I talk to them about how the spirit is back in our home again. They can really feel the difference. I try not to look at their fighting as a personal annoyance, but rather as another opportunity to teach and for them to practice problem solving. My husband has taught me to think of myself as a coach and that really helps me.

I have hard days, too, and many, many times when I handle situations poorly. Then I get to model repentance. I re-evaluate and try to make changes and do better. I can honestly say that I am making fewer mistakes (or at least different mistakes) than I did a year ago and I feel like I am growing closer to God. I lean on the Lord more than ever.
I had a profound spiritual experience before Christmas last year where I really really felt the Lord's love for me personally in a way that I never had before. This experience changed me. It has changed what I want. I used to have the need to prove that I was good enough, but I am finally learning what it means to find peace in the Lord Jesus Christ and to find rest through Him. There is NOTHING BETTER than the pure love
of Christ. It is what our souls want and ache for. Our spirits remember living with Heavenly Father and we so desperately want to be with Him again. Our children ache for His love, too, and it is our job as parents to help them find it. I have had small and simple moments where I have been able to start to teach my son that the Savior's example is the true path to happiness.

There is a song I love by Julie De Azevedo in her Pray For Rain CD called "Healing". It is a mother's song to her child.

Kissing little knees and elbows

Casualties of play
Soothing bruised or fragile egos
Send them on their way
Lost your balance on your bike
Lost a quarter Lost a fight
Hugs and bandaids come in handy
For whatever bleeds
Wishing wells and throwing pennies
Puts your mind at ease
Lights go on and cure bad dreams
Bad days only need ice cream

CHORUS:

But broken toys will turn to broken hearts
And the time will come when I can't find all the parts
Broken glass to broken dreams
Broken bones to broken wings
And you will need a healing beyond me
You will need a healing beyond me

Tuck you in and read you stories
Knowing you are safe
Watch you sleeping watch you breathing
I've a quiet ache
You'll walk places I can't know
You'll fall and I'll let you go
I'll let you go
Wishing I could hold these moments
Forever and a day
But like birds as wings grow stronger
You will fly away
I flew beyond my mama's reach
I fell and landed on my knees
And found healing comes in higher wings
Like mama said

CHORUS

Okay, maybe I'm just rambling and this email is so long no one might read it. I just want to thank all of you Sisters who are taking this journey with me and my family. As we help each other grow closer to God, each sister will be able to help her family and her children do the same. I am so grateful for my blessings tonight and for all that home
schooling is teaching me. I love my children and my husband more than ever. As we serve, our love grows. Let us all keep learning together.

Love,
Claudine

Last updated:
November, 2006

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