A few years ago, the boys and I went to see the Windsor Symphony Orchestra perform. The pieces to be played included: Smetana, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and two Windsor natives. Looking over the curriculum guide sent to me, I was struck by the similarities between the stringed instruments and my family.

Sound crazy?

I think you may change your mind after reading what I have to say, especially as you take the time to examine the goals you had set for the beginning of your school year and compare them with your actual accomplishments. We can all use a pat on the back from time to time– this aims to be just that!

Play your instrument well

I know this is going to need an explanation, and hopefully it comes across to you as beautifully as it came across to me. My family happens to have four strings and one percussion, so I naturally drew my conclusions based on the string section (my personal favourite). The strings are comprised of four levels, like a really great choir: soprano (but not too loud, please!), alto, tenor and bass. The violin is the instrument that carries the melody, the soprano, with a second violin to help.

In my home, I know my husband is the leader and when a problem arises that is difficult to solve, he has the final say, *whew*. When it comes to the actual homeschooling, however, I am the one at home during the day delivering the messages and helping the kids complete their tasks … I am the violin. I sing the melody, carrying the tune of our day. 

I liken the second violin to my church body, my closest friends, other homeschool moms, blog posts that I read and, well, you know what I mean.  The job of the second violin is to harmonize with and accompany the first violin, like the alto; so I need to choose my second violin very wisely and prayerfully. I need to really take the time to chart my days and evaluate where I am doing well and where I need to re-vamp some things (like how much time I spend online, chatting on the phone and activities outside the home).

The viola has (exactly three) strings that are similar to the violin and, like the second violin, plays to harmonize. Most days, my kids are making music on the viola, harmonizing with me in a simple song. Some days, the song can be so simple and routine that if I am not careful, I miss it, thinking we aren’t getting enough done, or my tone of voice can sour an otherwise productive and pleasant day.

The violoncello, or cello as most of us know it, forms the lovely tenor section of our choir, often as a solo. I have witnessed different times when one of my children becomes the cello for a while, leading us down a path we would otherwise not have encountered.  This time of listening to their individuality helps to clarify for me just how this child is “bent” and brings much confirmation and joy to my heart about walking on the
homeschool path. This is the time for the other instruments to sit back and glean as well as to offer encouragement.

The last instrument in the orchestra is the bass (officially the double bass). I could wax poetic here for a very long time, getting quite analytical as is my nature, but I will refrain (get it … the refrain?). The bass is the one keeping the steady rhythm needed to contain the music properly, anchoring everything. My husband is the bass, literally, in our rich tapestry. I love to hear him play and am completely unable to compose my songs without him. I rely on his timing and deep, concise notes to fill out what I have brought to the table, so to speak.

Take some time today to examine the orchestra that is your home, and listen to the beautiful music all of you have written together. Keep your instruments in good tune, spending time in God’s Word, with prayer, praise and supplication. Thank the Conductor, and anticipate the masterpieces yet to come. While you’re at it, listen to some classical music … I hear it increases brain cells!

You might like to get out a large piece of newsprint paper and some crayons, moving your hands across the surface of the paper in tune with the music. Don’t stop to look at what your hands are drawing, just keep moving as the music inspires you. Once you are finished, either alone or as a family, look for images in your “scribbling” and outline them in a darker colour, or fill in spaces as you like, creating a masterpiece for the moment.

Kristina Campbell is a happily married wife in her eighth year of homeschooling the flybytheseatofyourpants method. So far her two boys seem intelligible and relatively unscathed. She also mentors with Setting Captives Free and in her spare time loves to scrapbook, paint, make linoprints and write novel study guides. In your spare time, you should check out her blog OnFire in PNG.