Summer Experiment

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I don’t know about you, but I am continuing school through the summer. I know that it seems like I should give the kids a break, but I like the continuity for me and the kids. I also like keeping the learning going so that we don’t have to start all over again in the fall. Summer does give me the chance to try out new ideas and not feel pressured. This summer I am trying out school with other families. We have a schedule worked out for the summer. Although it is not always the same day every week, we do see the same few families over the course of the summer. My kids love having the company. They all play nicely together, and the new people add a whole new dimension to the work. I also love working with other moms. We can learn from each other. Working together adds something extra to our relationship and to the quality of the lessons. When the kids work together, they also see different ways of doing things and build a whole new understanding of the concepts.

I have been truly blessed and filled with the spirit this summer as a result of my experiment. I think that God wants us to be in community with one another, and that must include us homeschoolers. Everyone benefits from it. The other moms that I am working with this summer are just starting out with home education. This summer time experiment has helped them to see the possibilities with their curriculum and ways to build a Godly foundation and familial relationships. I am also seeing these moms’ potential being reached as they take steps forward to take control of their children’s education. I am empowered by that. I have been blessed by seeing these moms grow and watching their children and my children benefit from it. I am being stretched, too. I am learning about different ways of approaching education. I am watching my children respond to other adults in very positive ways – sometimes better than they respond to me. I also feel like I have another person to lean on. Someone else can take the lead, which is really difficult for me to accept. I am blessed to be able to work with some else, and in the end we both get a better return for our work!

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