The Hovel

We discussed Great Expectations the other night in our online class. Great stuff! The kids had a million comments – in fact, they waited online for an hour after class to read their favorite parts out loud, just to laugh at Dickens’ crazy characters. I even got a call or two from pleased moms, saying their kids really enjoyed it. Still, this morning I am plagued with doubts. I was teaching without Missy for the first time in a while, and I left the class feeling pretty insecure…

Is it possible that even our deficiencies as homeschoolers are part of God’s gift to our children? I don’t know about you, but my kids are turning out a lot like me – not that they’re carbon copies, but there are, say, family resemblances. Realistically speaking, my kids are sinners, and no amount of spit and polish, no quantity of education will change that. Although it’s painful to see my sins reflected in my children, it has historically proven to be a blessing in disguise.

The New Year is a time for reflection and resolutions the world over, and it’s no different for us homeschooling moms. This week, I’m knee deep in the evaluation stage of things: How’s Charlie doing in Math? Does Molly Kate need to retake that SAT test for college entrance? How about Calvin; is he progressing? Will he ever learn to write? Maybe we need some new curriculum. That old program just doesn’t seem to be working…That’s how it goes around here, and would that it stayed so simple. My next series of evaluations always turns inward…