Often as homeschooling parents, or simply parents in general, we love to ask others for advice. How do you do this? How did you teach that? I was approached a few days ago on a few issues and one woman replied back, “well I’m just going to have to follow you around for a day, you always have such good ideas.”

Which made me think, am I really doing what I’m suppose to be? Are my kids learning enough? Am I teaching them the right things? And the ever popular… am I failing my kids? Ok, so these are the questions we ask ourselves on a daily basis, if not hourly. Then on the other hand I thought, oh if only these women knew my house is in complete chaos more than there is order.

Most mornings I awake to my 2 year old jumping on my head screaming, “MOM I want cereal right now!” What a perfect way to begin the whole rat race of the day. I roll over to look at the clock thinking it must be some kind of crazy hour in the morning only to discover its already 9 o’clock. Oops! I overslept again, thankfully we didn’t have to be anywhere this morning.

Breakfast. School. Lunch. Laundry. Sometime the house has to get clean. Dinner. Baths. Bedtime stories. Bed, hopefully the monsters make it there by 10. Not to mention we usually have something going on during day.

Sometimes when we’re running the rat race called life asking ourselves the obvious homeschooling worry filled questions we just have to stop and think, did I do my best today? No not everyday can be like this, but most can. Was anyone in serious harm? If you knew my house that’s a very serious question. Did I teach my children to love the Lord more today than they did yesterday?

I was having a conversation one day about homeschooling with a former boss whose wife homeschools their children, and he said, “all I really want for my child to learn at this age is to love the Lord and to know how to pray.” That’s when I had an ah-hah moment. That’s why we start each school day with a prayer. That’s why we study the Word everyday. That’s exactly what I want from and for my children!

At the end of the day did I teach my precious 4 little monsters the love of the Lord? Did I teach them to love the Lord back? Did I teach them to pray? YES! I had a successful day even though I didn’t get up when I wanted to, even if things didn’t go how I wanted them to, all because I taught my children the important things in life. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (Mark 12:30 NCV)

Brandi is a wife to her husband and a mother to 4 little monsters ages 9, 6, 4, and 3. She is currently in her 3rd year of homeschooling, using a Charlotte Mason type curriculum. They live in Little Rock, AR. When not busy with life she occasionally blogs at Mama of 4 Monsters.