At the New Jersey Moms Blog. A little post about me - the calm, relaxed mom that I am. NOT. Moms naturally relaxed with their parenting may do better to stay away, I don’t want to scare you. If you can relate to me at all, drop a comment. We would love to hear what you have to add to the conversation.
Smiling Sally left this comment the other day:
Children are children. No one looks down on you because you home school. It’s your choice, and I think that it’s a worthy choice! So stand tall and smile at all the people like me (who are grandma-aged!
Thanks for an interesting comment, Sally.
At 5′9″, I doubt many women are looking down on this home schooling mom. Hee hee. Couldn’t resist that one.
Seriously, though. I know for a fact some think I’m crazy and making the wrong choice for my children. The critics are out there, which is fine. Longtime readers know how I feel about free speech. Of course, I happen to think anyone sending their child to a government-operated public school could do way better as a parent, especially if they are raising their child to think with a radical Christian world view.
Before any one jumps all over me: I know there are valid reasons for a Christian to not home school. Sending your child on the Big Yellow Bus just so you can have the day to yourself is not one of them. Sorry if that sounds judgmental, but it’s my blog. Free speech for Paper Bridges!
As a home schooling mom, I do get a lot of “I could never do that!” from strangers I meet. That is often followed with “I just don’t have the patience.” And I often agree with those two statements. I can’t in my own power. Without the Lord, I would’ve pitched the whole endeavor years ago.
In the next day or two, I’m going to post about why I home school - a topic I’ve yet to address here. Stay tuned, it’s got lots of potential for controversy: a demon in a local elementary school.
Oh, and today is the last day to enter the latest book giveaway, Love as a Way of Life by Gary Chapman. Follow this link to leave a comment and enter. Winner announced tomorrow.
Do other mothers worry like I do when out in public?
Edmund happy to use the store’s half shopping cart/half stroller as his personal play toy. Peter chases after Lucy among the racks. Susan laughs at it all. On this Saturday morning, mine the noisiest kids in the uncrowded store. It’s a happy cavorting. Nothing broken, a blouse falling off a hanger quickly set right by Peter.
Yet I wonder.
What does the sales lady think? She’s older, probably a grandmother. I see no eye rolling, no set mouth in a firm line because my gang carouses among the sale blouses. I wish I could read the clerk’s mind.
The mother with only two children following like puddle ducks behind her, I wonder what she thinks of my traveling circus. I hear her scold her boy - he must be about five. Does she cringe at her children’s behavior as she shops?
Am I so sensitive because I feel we need to look good as a home school family?
Am I worried because I want to look good as a mom? As a home schooling mom?
Yes.
And yes.
So I shop faster.
And the lesson was learned by me.
Yesterday, as I packed the things I would need for the Vacation Bible School I was going to today, my eldest, Susan, asked to tag along.
At first, I didn’t think it a good idea.
I didn’t want to be a mom on duty, I just wanted to be an Advocate talking about children living in extreme poverty. I wanted the drive down to be a mental break from the house and all it’s craziness. And I guess part of me thought she would get in the way. She’s ten. It’s way better than a toddler, but still she has her moments of silliness.
But as she tried on a sarong I planned to bring as a prop, I couldn’t help but say yes.
Susan did great modeling the sarong, quick to jump up next to me at her cue, with no fear of standing in front a group of strange kids. She wore the Indonesian sun hat with pride. The best part of all: Susan watched her mommy talk passionately about children that need help, children living in a world she has only seen in a book or on DVD. 
I wrote recently how I want to find opportunities for my children to learn about justice and helping others, so to almost miss this kid-friendly chance leaves me disappointed with myself. I need to stop thinking of Susan as a little girl, but as a young lady who can participate in ministry along side me.
Alltop: homeschooling is now live. Thanks to the Alltop team for selecting my blog and a special thanks to Shannon at PHAT Mommy for submitting Paper Bridges.
