| In my profession, I rendezvous with so many | | | | Gifted pediatric neurosurgeon Benjamin Carson's |
| parents who declare a desire to instruct their children | | | | mother (Sonya) made him and his brother read two |
| after-school or even by means of homeschooling but | | | | books and complete book reports every week - |
| in their opinion lack the confidence, skills or even the | | | | even while they attended a traditional school. It didn't |
| education to do so. My own perplexing example may | | | | take them long to realize that their mother could |
| put many parents at ease. | | | | barely read given her 3rd grade education. |
| Many of you are already quite familiar with how our | | | | Nonetheless, it didn't stop her from making the effort |
| family was lead from a conventional education to | | | | and laying out expectations!! |
| homeschooling. There was definitely no planning | | | | My challenge to you is if you have children whose |
| involved. In fact, we were kind of thrown into it! The | | | | skills sets are still within your realm of understanding, |
| only part that was intended was homework | | | | do not give attention to future worries. Do what you |
| enrichment done with the kids after-school. But then | | | | can NOW and focus on that! Plenty of interactive |
| those little things culminated and morphed into a huge | | | | educational websites for various grade levels exists |
| enveloping gap that existed between what the | | | | on the internet. I suggest that you review them for |
| children actually knew scholastically and what they | | | | yourself when no one is present. It's a much more |
| had learned in a traditional environment. | | | | liberating undertaking when you aren't under pressure |
| Homeschooling quickly became our reality. | | | | to do well. |
| When I hit a brick wall in the form of Algebra 2, my | | | | Explore the sites and try to remember the age you |
| husband the engineer couldn't even save me! I | | | | were when you first encountered the lesson. Be free |
| panicked for some time until my son threw me a | | | | to laugh a little and let the activities resonate with |
| bone when he said "Mommy, now I can teach YOU!" | | | | you as you brush up on some of your skills and build |
| - and that's exactly how we continued. I pushed | | | | your confidence. Then, begin to think of really cool |
| aside my ego and my son and I went from parental | | | | ways that you and your children can work on these |
| educator-child student to two people sifting through | | | | together. Next, envision them working on it alone - |
| advanced algebraic material. | | | | allowing the joyful vibrations to spill over to them |
| Because I took the "light-hearted" approach and | | | | mastering the lesson for themselves. |
| learned to laugh about it, the mood was infectious | | | | You'll find that not only will your self-confidence |
| and we BOTH found the experience fun, interesting | | | | increase but it will become easier to prepare lessons |
| and powerful! Two wonderful things emerged from | | | | beforehand. Then will follow, your new aptitude to |
| that experience: | | | | teach more creatively, powerfully and joyfully. Your |
| 1) Stephen became extremely knowledgeable of the | | | | capacity to understand and convey material you |
| subject of Algebra because he was able to "teach it" | | | | thought you couldn't, will widen and deepen. Of |
| to me, his mother/former teacher of mathematics. | | | | course you will ultimately come to a point where you |
| 2) I learned that it was more than OK to admit that | | | | absolutely have no choice but to hand them over to |
| my child has outgrown my ability even if it was much | | | | more qualified people but the difference will be that |
| sooner than I had hope. Kind of like the martial arts | | | | you will have gone much farther than you expected - |
| student who outgrows his master (sensei). | | | | leaving the experience a more evolved parent! |
| Don't let the perception that you may not know | | | | Also try this exercise on behalf of your older children |
| enough hinder you from working with your child. | | | | and see what happens. If you find that your "brick |
| TEACH HIM/HER WHAT YOU KNOW WELL and | | | | wall" is much more immediate then take the initiative |
| trust me a more qualified teacher will just "happen" | | | | to look up websites and computer software |
| to come along. As I look back on that experience, | | | | programs at their levels. If tutoring is needed, seek |
| I've come to appreciate that it was the strength of | | | | out the least expensive options first like "peer tutors" |
| my vision/intention that overrode any personal | | | | (also check online). When kids form groups or pacts |
| insecurity I had in admitting to myself and others | | | | they become more willing to assist each other, i.e. |
| (particularly my son) that I had reached my limit. This | | | | academic clubs or worse - gangs. Conversely, kids |
| opened a pathway for the beautiful, effortless | | | | also tend to listen more readily to others within their |
| unfolding of his abilities. | | | | age groups. |
| It's comforting to know that am not the only mother | | | | All and all, teach what you know and consider the |
| to have experienced this - an even more high profiled | | | | fact that your child will quickly outgrow your knack |
| mother hit her brick wall much sooner than I did!! | | | | to teach them as an ultimate sign of success. |