The Day My Kids Were My Teacher

Posted by Karen | 0 comments

Just this month on April 1st, I had planned to have  a “Kids Teach Mom Day,” an idea I heard from a lovely mom during the Heart of the Matter Conference.  What a great way for me to see what the kids have learned all year, as well as reinforcing what they know.

When the day came, they excitedly planned their lessons. They couldn’t wait to turn the tables and teach me. We started out with Bible/worship time.  My daughter read some Psalms and then they all chose songs to sing for worship. We had a really sweet time together.

Next up was my kindergartner teaching me.  Maybe I overestimated how this would work; after all he is in kindergarten.  I think my expectations were too high.  But overall, he did his best and smiled through the whole thing!  I also realized some areas that he needs to work on, so that was good for me to know.

Then, my second grader had his turn.  I was actually surprised at how well he did.  He explained everything so thoroughly in math. What a relief! He really has been learning all along!

Finally, it was my fourth grade daughter’s turn. Here is where things started to fall apart. She was teaching me her math, and making some mistakes, so I began to help her. Then the tears started flowing. “I’M supposed to teach YOU!” she said.  Lots of stress.  Lots of tears.

I began to second guess this whole thing and started to feel like a complete failure. Replaying the kids’ struggles in my mind, I was really down.  ”Maybe I am not doing a good job teaching them,” I thought.  Then, I realized my mistakes in this day.  I never made it clear that I wanted them to teach me things from the year that they had already mastered.  Part of the problem was that they were teaching me things that were either new or not quite mastered. I also realized my expectations were too high. I needed to let them have the freedom of teaching me without me correcting them throughout the whole lesson.

I also realized the most important thing.  When God called me to homeschool, I decided my main goal was to raise godly children who know and love the Lord first and foremost. The academics are important, but are nothing without a knowledge of God, and a relationship with Him. That is when God reminded me of this through the most precious way. My daughter had to write an apologia in her science notebook about her faith. This is what she wrote:

“In the Bible, (the Old Testament), God said to shed animal’s blood as a sacrifice.  But Jesus died, and shed His blood for our sin!  My life is amazing because I’m saved!  And all you have to do is believe, everything changes, you’re born again spiritually!  Amazing—right!  So I believe because Jesus really did shed His blood and rise again, the Bible says so-I believe and you should too!  Love God! And Jesus!”

See that sweetheart, YOU really did teach ME.  That was the best lesson of all today. You are truly learning the most important lessons.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Karen DeBeus is married to the love of her life, Steve, and a homeschooling mom of 4 children ages 10-2. She was called to homeschool when her oldest was kindergarten age after thinking, “I could never do THAT!” Now she is passionate about encouraging others on their homeschool journey. She is also working on simplifying all areas of her life,including homeschool, and putting God first in all she does. Read more about her journey to simplify at www.simplylivingforhim.com.