• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Simple Homeschool

Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

  • Start
    • Homeschooling 101: What to Teach and When to Teach It
    • 10 ways you’re making your homeschool day harder than it needs to be
    • 10 things every new homeschooler should know
    • How to homeschool: Links to help you get started
    • I want to homeschool, but don’t want the responsibility
    • Audiobook Deal Directory
    • Jamie’s recommendations
  • About
    • Meet Jamie
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Advertise
  • Blog
    • Most Recent Posts
    • Categories
      • curriculum
      • family time
      • field trips
      • home maintenance & management
      • inspiration
      • methods & philosophies
      • a mom’s education
      • organization
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Quiz
  • Community
  • Search
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Start
    • Homeschooling 101: What to Teach and When to Teach It
    • 10 ways you’re making your homeschool day harder than it needs to be
    • 10 things every new homeschooler should know
    • How to homeschool: Links to help you get started
    • I want to homeschool, but don’t want the responsibility
    • Audiobook Deal Directory
    • Jamie’s recommendations
  • About
    • Meet Jamie
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Advertise
  • Blog
    • Most Recent Posts
    • Categories
      • curriculum
      • family time
      • field trips
      • home maintenance & management
      • inspiration
      • methods & philosophies
      • a mom’s education
      • organization
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Quiz
  • Community
  • Search
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

3 lessons my children taught me this year

August 3, 2017 //  by Purva Brown//  4 Comments

3 Lessons My Children Taught Me This YearWritten by Purva Brown of The Classical Unschooler

Although we homeschool year-round, I like to treat this season as a time to think back about just how far we’ve all come as a family.

This summer, as I’ve taken time to relax and reorganize, I’ve realized how much I’ve learned from my children over the past year.

Who knew that they would end up teaching me lessons, too?

Lesson #1: Tell the truth

As a homeschooling mom, I spend some of my time making my children do things–things that they do not always want to do. And I can count on them to tell me truthfully how they feel about it!

Of course there are times when our wills need to be bent, but unless they tell me how they feel, we cannot resolve the problem. So I have learned to appreciate those uncomfortable truths.

This lesson is not limited to academics alone.

I’m learning that ignoring real problems and putting on a veneer of “everything’s okay” is not the best approach. My children have taught me that it’s okay to simply and respectfully tell the truth.

Being honest allows us to find a way forward.

Lesson #2: It’s okay to be bored

When I first started homeschooling, I imagined it being exciting. I thought about all the discoveries the children and I would make together – the new things we would learn. I imagined it would be one aha! moment after another.

But that wasn’t reality.

Sure, we have days like that. But some repetitive tasks get boring very quickly.

How much excitement can a worksheet generate anyway? And flashcards? And reading about Greek and Persian wars? I finally had to admit: homeschooling, like all work, can get boring.

So when the children complain that doing their times tables or learning cursive is boring, I repeat the mantra, “It’s okay to be bored” to myself as well as to them.

Homeschooling does not always need to be a series of intellectual adventures arranged back to back with no time to breathe in between. It’s okay, desirable even, to live our quiet lives and just keep working through the boredom.

New discoveries, ways of thinking, and insights sometimes come in the midst of our work.

Three Things That Made Me a Better Homeschooler

I learn this lesson anew when I have to make myself do certain tasks–like make dinner, wash dishes, and  fold laundry.

I don’t need to do earth-shattering things every day. Some things remain boring but vital.

Lesson #3: Find out!

My children have taught me to be interested in things others seem to pass by. They ask odd questions and see connections where others do not.

Ever since the day I asked Google if blue and purple leaves existed, (they do!) the drum beat of the children telling me to “ask your phone!” resounds in my ear when a question arises.

I am learning to reawaken my own curiosity. Instead of simply telling myself “I don’t know” and leaving it at that, I have started to follow it up with “But let me find out!”

Once I reached this mode, I found it hard to stop.

And when we learn something this way, the children remember it much longer and form deeper connections with what they already know. They’ve taught me that this kind of interest-driven learning offers the best kind of education–for them, yes, but also for me.

Because I am learning as well.

What have your kids taught you this homeschool year?

Category: a mom's education

About Purva Brown

Purva Brown is a writer and homeschooling mom to three. She writes on a variety of topics across many genres and lives with her husband in Sacramento, California. Her most recent book is The Classical Unschooler. She blogs at PurvaBrown.com.

Previous Post: « FREE BOOKS! Today’s best Kindle freebies for your family
Next Post: Weekend homeschool links »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Olivia W.

    August 3, 2017 at 9:40 am

    My children have been my biggest teachers in life. The past 8 years with them has taught me patience and more about life than all the rest combined! 🙂

    Stay curious! When we stop asking questions is when the discussion ends.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Grabill

    August 3, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    My kids love it when I ask Siri, “What’s zero divided by zero?” Or “What does the fox say?” Not necessarily educational, but one thing I’ve learned is that having fun with my children is just as important as teaching them.
    Rebecca Grabill’s latest post: 10 Best Halloween Crafts to use with the book Halloween Good Night

    Reply
    • Daksina

      August 9, 2017 at 6:54 pm

      Rebecca, I had to try those out with Siri. Oh my God, the cookie one made me laugh!!! I am definitely sharing that with my kids tomorrow. Thank you!! Lol

      Reply
  3. Jessica

    August 3, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Lesson 3 – Find Out. My little girl has definitely opened up my own curiosity. She asks so many questions. Also, she teaches me to see beauty in small things. She’s always creating and celebrating. It’s lovely and messy. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Take my new quiz:

Jamie’s “Quiet” Community:

Jamie’s bestselling books:

Copyright © 2023 Simple Homeschool · All Rights Reserved · Disclosure and Privacy Policy · Site by Design by Insight