It's foolishness.
The Word warns us that we are unwise when we compare ourselves by ourselves. (2 Corinthians 10:12)
So why do we compare ourselves as homeschooling parents? I dunno. Maybe it's because we fear that we are not hitting some invisible mark. Maybe we think that if we told folks how we home education in our house, they would look at us with a questioning eye. Maybe we struggle with thoughts of inadequacy, and it makes us feel better to compare ourselves with another.
Okay, you have just gotten a little transparency from me on the thoughts that I fight. I have home educated my children for 11 years, and STILL those thoughts come...yikes! Some days I feel more confident in this thing than others, and even on a good day I am tempted to compare. I really hate those thoughts, truly. What's a homeschooling mom to do?
My hubby suggested that I lessen my intake of social media on that topic of homeschooling. What? Less reading tweets from homeschooling moms on
Twitter? But how am I supposed to get ideas to improve? There are some great people who put really neat stuff out there!
Well...here's the deal. It is always great to get information that will augment it improve what you are already doing. However, if I walk away feeling like what I am doing is not enough, or that all my efforts come up short, I need to step back. Maybe I need to alter my diet a bit.
Now, please don't get it get it twisted: my Twitter peeps don't make me feel that way. Ever. They are supportive and kind...and fun! What I AM trying to say is that I might not be able to handle a full plate of constant ideas all at once. In fact, I know that I can't. I do better getting a little chunk of info at a time that I can work with. So that being said, it isn't wise for me to try and digest everything I see!
In this case, for me, less is more. So this week, I will still tweet, but I will do it a little less. I will continue to do what I know God has given me that is working in our D14 Academy. I will ask the Lord to lead me to just the info that I can handle for the moment, that the kids can handle, and I will ask Him to continue to fill in the gaps and spaces where I may miss it. (He is always faithful to do so.) And I'll encourage my home educating compadres to do the same.
Well, its back to the task at hand. I've got to go teach my kiddos...and resist that urge to compare.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
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5 comments:
I totally agree, Dee. I struggle with this daily. You don't even want to know how many blogs I follow! It's not just homeschooling for me, it's also just the area of being a Christian woman. I compare all of the time and I know that I need to stop. I have a hard time giving up the blogs, though. Is it an addiction, idol worship? I just know I need to pray about it and find some way to be held accountable.
Wow, Shannon, I so appreciate your candor and honesty! Ya know, in this information age, we can get so much input all at once...OVERLOAD. I know that you are probably reading some excellent blogs, but maybe you just don't need so many of them? Jesus is with us in all things, so run it by Him, meaning this: Lord, which ones are right for THIS season in my walk with You? He may let you know to lay down all for a while, or He may call you to stick with a couple because He is speaking to you in those. You are in a good place, Shannon, in that your heart is to do what HE wants for you..go girl!
You are a wise woman - married to a wise man! Praying you reach the balance you need. Hugs! Maggie
Thank you so much, Maggie...on both counts! Hugs to you :D
Yeah when I see something interesting my first thought: Ooh I'm gonna try that! But now I am more inclined to make notes in a document I have started or by adding the site/link to my favorites. It's waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy to easy to get overwhelmed and getting caught-up in trying to do too much!
Monise
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