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Minute to Minute
Readers Helping
Readers | |
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| October 6th, 2007 |
| The Bible instructs parents to "Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from
it." (Proverbs 22:6) That's why it is so important for Ruth's
sister to carefully choose how she will allow her children to
be educated.
As this single mother and her two boys
undergo their transition period, Ruth's sister wrote asking
for encouragement for her sister. You gave her wonderful
advice, helpful resources, and strengthening stories of your
own successes through similar situations. You, along with Ruth
and her sister, have undertaken the difficult task of training
up your children.
Because of your trials, others found
strength, and through your weakness, they were made strong.
God is good, even when we don't understand. Please
continue to uplift one another in prayer and encourage one
another as you continue through the homeschooling
journey. | |
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| Giving It to God |
Dear Ruth and Sister, I am a single homeschooling mom of 4 beautiful children between the ages of 13 and 2. I have been homeschooling now for 4 years and have been truly, truly, truly blessed by God through it all! God holds a special place in his heart for the fatherless children, and when the father has left the home (whether or not they get to see him every other weekend) they are still fatherless. So, God takes over in helping you, dear mother, in raising your children. I majored in Speech Therepy/Communication Disorders and Special Ed. in college. I strongly advise taking your child out of preschool. Strongly Advise! There are so many resources out there for every special needs child. I have a special needs daughter, and she is doing better in my care, than in the care of strangers.
Place everything in God's hands, he will take care of you. He will meet your needs. If you
only knew how much I live off of each month but make it through. There are times I need help, but still, God provides. Get plugged in with a strong Christian homeschool support group. The bonds of friendshipI have made there, along with my home church, are priceless. They have been a great support for me. It is your job now to train up your children in the way that they should go,
and God will help you every step of the way! God bless you and I will be praying for you. A Fellow Single-homeschool mom, Tracy |
| The Rocks and the Roses |
|
Dear Ruth,
Please let your sister know that her
educational choice is very much an option for her and her
children. I will give you some options/suggetions that
have worked for me.
Always walk
with God. There will be many kind people who will
think the homeschooling task is too much for you to take on,
but God knows what your plan is well as your supportive loved
ones like your sister. He and they will help you.
I chose to work 3rd shift; this way the only
time I was away from my kids was when they were
sleeping. Sometimes I worked 40 hours, full time, but
mostly I worked a more flexible schedule of 10-12 hour days,
2-3 times a week. Look into security, health care, and
transportation fields as these operate 24/7. With a
shortened schedule you may find it easier to have supportive
friends/family watching the kids for you. Yes, you may
miss out on beauty sleep. I remember many a day showing
up at the our local group's park days with beet red eyes, of
course from lack of sleep. The benefit, however, was that my
children felt safe and loved and were able to
participate in activities.
I would strongly suggest
working within your own flexible curriculum needs as well. If
you go with a boxed set, the prep and scheduling time
needed may not fit your new schedule. Look into the
various ways of teaching as well. If the children cook
with you or go shopping with you anyway, turn it into a
math or reading lesson. A helpful resource I've
found is Family Math. Keep a simple log
over the things you covered, the things they already
know. By doing this you don't have to worry so much
about "doing Math" or "getting reading done."
Become
truly content in your life. You know you will not be able to
afford every field trip. The local homeschool kids may be
dressed so well, while yours are still wearing last year's
winter boots. Kids don't know these things nor do they
really care. Love them. Understand you may never be
able to afford private music lessons, but you can join your
local "freecycle" and find keyboards or a piano. You can
buy a book at a 2nd hand book store vendor and teach them
yourself.
The trauma of their father leaving is great
enough. You stay by their side and love them. Let them
know you will always be by their side. Homeschooling was also
a great protection for me as well. I did not have time to
overly pity myself. I did not have time to get involved
in dating or going out. May your journey be blessed with all
the bumps and bouquets that life may bring.
A fellow
single homeschool mom,
Roberta
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| One Day at a Time With God |
Dear Ruth,
I have homeschooled my daughters, as
a single mom, since they were 3 and 5. I too was
encouraged to put my youngest in daycare and my oldest in
pre-school and get a job. The state aid worker who
advised me had such malice in her voice, it gave me
shivers. I resisted and prayed and prayed and
prayed.
Please tell your sister to remember to take
it one--only one--day at a time. If she tries to look at
the big picture, the months and years stretching down the
road, she could become so beaten that she may never try to
stay at home with her boys. Don't let them use "special needs"
as an excuse to put her boys in school. No one will care
for them like their mom. Stay close to her, look for
signs of depression and helplessness, step in to give breaks
if you can. Encourage her to get outside with her boys:
go to the park, go on walks--fresh air is good for
everyone.
One day at a time with God, and she can make
it. I had to work; my girls have always gone with
me. I worked at my church in the after-school care
program; I worked in a family business; I baby-sat and
house-sat. Basically, I cobbled together whatever jobs I
could to enable us to stay together.
Now, my children are 11 and 13, the youngest
has taken violin for over four years and just was accepted
into our local orchestra. She has played several times
with our church's orchestra. My older daughter loves animals,
and as a single mom, God allowed us to own 3 horses. The
horses, their care, and training was instrumental in my older
daughter becoming more outgoing and responsive to
others. She had become very withdrawn and shy after her
father left.
I have tried, sometimes much more
successfully than others, to let God lead us and
can't
believe what he has done! When their father left, we were
forced to move into a 35 year old mobile home in a very bad
neighborhood. Four moves later, we own (well, the bank
does!) 5 acres and a new mobile home. We will be raising
vegetables this year and chickens for the eggs. Tell your
sister to keep her eyes on God and her ears shut to the world
who doesn't believe in the amazing faith of our Lord, Jesus
Christ.
Love In Christ,
Kriss
P.S. I know of at least
four other moms, in my little rural area, who
are
homeschooling. You can do
it. |
| From the Experienced. . . . |
Hi Ruth, my name is Paul; I can relate to what your
sister is going through. I have two children 4 & 19mos. I
am trying really hard to homeschool my daughter, and sometimes
it seems as though you just want to throw your hand up and
say, "Forget it. I'll just send them to public school," but
hang in there, it's all worth it at the end of the day.
Let me just give you an example of one of my days. We
were working on four letters that day. My
daughter seemed to have got them all except for the
letter "S" and the sounds -ad, -at, -ot. I was getting
frustrated so we skipped it, and I told her that we would
start here tomorrow. Well, later on that evening after dinner
she said that she wanted to be a teacher, and I told her that
she first had to learn how to spell, read, and write. To my
amazement, she began to write the things we were doing earlier
that day, including the "S," -ad, -at, and -ot words. I
knew that she was listening, but she was just being
stubborn.
So it's all worth it, hang in there. As for the special
needs of your son, no one knows his needs better than you.
Ruth, I'm sure you are helping your sister as much as you
probably can. If you have any friends that stay home that can
assist your sister with the youngest one while your sister
works with the older one that would really help out a lot. I
know it does me. Keep God first in all that you do. Start your
day with prayer and ask God to send you a help meet. He will!
He said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." God
bless. I'm praying with
you.
~Paul
I am a homeschooling mom of 3 wonderful
children. This is our 3rd year now, and I can certainly tell
you it has been a struggle for us a lot of times. In fact, I
really don't think we get anything done much at all. But
there's one thing that I have learned the hard way--"If God
has called you to do this, Stand assured that you will
succeed. Anything that you may go through is just something to
make you stronger in the Lord / Your faith, your dependence in
and on him, you believe in him."
I don't know what is going on in your
life now, but he will never leave you this way. If it is a
true calling from him. You will go through things that
may not seem like he has his hands in your trial, but if you
can hang in there until the ride is over, it will be very
well-worth every minute of it. There will be times when you
won't believe it or think you can take it another day, but the
blessings that await you are unbelievably touched by God. I
truly wish the very best for you in your journey. May God
bless you and your home with your boys.
~Teresa
My
heart goes out to your sister. I can understand how she can
get discouraged. I do
not know what state she lives in,
however, there are answers other than public school
at the
age of 3. I have adopted five children all with special needs
of one type or
another.
~Jane
I have a friend who is single and homeschooling. Ordinarily, I'm not a proponent of
public charter schools and public school ISP's, but sometimes it is very helpful in situationslike hers. She can get the "help" her son needs and still be homeschooling. Also, some areas have support groups for homeschoolers with special needs kids. It can be done.
~Carol |
| Homeschooling Resources |
The Bible ABC Memory Game uses an
engaging Bible alphabet to help develop a young child's
concentration and memory skills. Each of the 60 colorful
wooden tiles measures 2" x 2" to
help small fingers play the game. The game may be
played with fewer sets of pairs for younger children. The game
may also be played by one or more persons. Game best played by
children 3 years and older.
Each game contains:
Two complete sets of the alphabet
Star imprint on the reverse side
Coordinating words and colorful graphics
Packaged in a reusable wooden box with an acrylic lid
|
| Homeschooling Resources |
 Encourage a
young boy's discovery of the Bible with the Boys
of the Bible Textured Puzzle! Textured David, Daniel,
Jonah, Joseph, and King Solomon pieces have their names
printed on the front of the puzzle along with their Biblical
references printed on the back to provide adults an easy
way to connect the Bible to the figures.
| |
|
Thank you for
encouraging Ruth, her sister, and so many others with your
advice, personal stories, and tips. If you have any
homeschooling questions you would like to ask the Minute to
Minute readers please email
us. When
you email
us, you
give us permission to post your questions in the Minute
to Minute e-newsletter and use them in The Old
Schoolhouse Magazine's My
Voice column if selected.
Sincerely, |
Elisabeth Marlowe, The Minute to
Minute Editor
The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine | | |
