The Empty Schoolhouse: Reflections & Adventures of a Veteran Homeschool Mom

The anniversary of my dad's death is here. It has been 2yrs. Someday I may go back and fill in the holes in my other blog. For now, I have been reflecting on the power of a parent's words and wanted to share some thoughts.  There are times in my life that my father's words brought me to tears in a good way. Every time he told me he was proud of me. When he told his congregation with great pride that I was pregnant with Snipp and that my husband had become manager of his store. When he had a pep talk with me after Jim died. And another pep talk when he battled cancer the third time. The most precious was when he told me he couldn't have asked for a better daughter......even as I type that last one I tear up. Cuz I know me. I know the worry and frustration I gave him as a teenager. I know the times as a young woman I didn't listen to his advice. And I know he didn't always agree with how I was raising my kids. And I made him feel disrespected at times though I did...

That is the feeling I get when my homeschool graduates excel at something.  But it is also the feeling I get when my sons see a children's book we used as part of our homeschool curriculum. Their faces brighten up and they make a positive comment.  Satisfied.  Good book and good memories equals good job, teacher!  Working at the daycare and teaching preschool has made me even more thankful for the privilege I had to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool the boys all those years. Sometimes the days were long and difficult, but...oh, the feeling of satisfaction now. It was worth every struggle.  It was the best thing I ever did.  My greatest accomplishment.  Not because of how smart my boys are. They are incredibly smart.  But because of the closeness it brought us as a family and the character it built in us.  And the way our faith could be the solid thread through it all.