 We come to this space of homeschooling our gifted children often in a sudden and unplanned way so it is no surprise that we begin by thinking it is all about curriculum and books and not having any educational gaps. Of course, we sign up for so many classes and buy all the stuff simply because that is what everyone else is doing so we imagine that must be what homeschooling is.
As new homeschoolers we don't realize the truth is it simply makes us feel more in control since we honestly have no idea what we are doing. Even though we haven't completely thought it through- at least it feels like the beginning of a plan. The burden is this, school wasn’t meeting their intellectual or emotional needs so of course we decide that suddenly all of that responsibility is on our shoulders. So we do ALL the research . We plan our days by the hour, maybe by the minute, attempting to squeeze in all the subjects, with breaks for lunch and snacks. We are so filled with the fear of not giving them ALL the things. We fly forward into the unknown absolutely overwhelmed but committed. With rare exception our kids resist. They fight with their siblings. They cry and argue. They don’t go with the flow. We threaten to send them back. We have taken that safe space we call home and made it into school. We take off our mama hat and put on our teacher hat and it all blows up in our face. 😬😬 It gets worse, we ask for advice on facebook and everyone tells us we must be firm. Our kids must listen and obey- punish them if they don't do their "work" , withhold screen time and games - all the things they love - even though we know in the back of our minds that gifted kids seriously resist being controlled. Our own kids would never give in to this manipulation so that just makes us feel even more inadequate and alone. So we fall into bed each night, completely spent and exhausted and we wonder in the darkest hours how we can possibly get up and do this all again in the morning. Or for another 10 years. It really doesn’t have to be this way. As a homeschooling mama of 4 gifted and intense girls ages 19, 16, 11 and 7 - I have walked the path ahead of you to pave the way for your release from this madness. To show you that everything will be okay. Mamas, I want you to know there’s another choice and it feels so much more authentic and real. Let go of having it all figured out - just for now - and focus on getting to know your kids all over again. Imagine your perfect day. Figure out a rhythm for the things you must do. Spend quality time together. Get out in nature, read good books, find a community. Discover what they are curious about and most enjoy learning about. The rest will come. The thing you don’t know yet is that homeschooling gifted and emotionally intense kids is the most beautiful and amazing experience if only you will begin the journey to self directed education and allow your children some control over what and how they learn. We have to be willing to relearn everything we ever knew about parenting, education, and living. We have to stop doing school at home. Inside you there is also a little voice that is telling you there is another way. Are you listening? There’s a deep knowing that things can be so much better than they are. There’s a part of you that knows you are a rebel , you are a powerful woman capable of breaking free of all of the powerful stories about how this life is supposed to look. You are so much more. Your kids are so much more. What if bringing your kids home is your awakening? This is your invitation to step into a new paradigm if only you would allow it. A spacious life is a sacred sisterhood of homeschooling mamas who want to create a life of intentional choosing. We know that we can consciously decide how we are showing up, how we spend our time and that when challenges come our way - we can respond in a meaningful and productive way. In doing so we can not only free our children but also ourselves. Mamas, join me in living a spacious life. Join our free Facebook community for homeschooling mamas of emotionally intense, creative and gifted kids here... https://m.facebook.com/groups/1590064657967771
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