“Mama, we really need to harvest the green beans,” Hannah kindly reminded me at 4:15 in the afternoon.
My eyes widened. “Oh yeah, I forgot all about them.” We talked through options of when exactly to harvest them for about 30 seconds and quickly realized the best time to head outdoors was right then. “OK. Gather the troops and let’s get out to the garden.”
Thankfully I already had dinner simmering on the stove, but I had to forego my workout, which I was dressed and ready for. The green beans were more important.
For the next hour and a half several of the crew and I picked a long row of green beans. It was a beautifully, breezy and overcast afternoon. We listened to some fun music while we picked (and snacked on raw green beans). It was simply perfect! Esther was a huge help this go round, but I’m still not sure if she picked or ate more. 🙂
The First Batchers (the four big kids) and I stayed up late snapping beans together after the Middles and Littles had gone to bed. We watched (or rather we mostly listened to) a movie together while we worked and laughed. I love spending time with the kids! Any ordinary moment can be transformed into a memorable time.
But, the next morning was a school day. How could I can all those beans while pulling off a normal school day? One of the best and most challenging parts of homeschooling for me is the element of flexibility. My personality loves schedules and for things to fit nice and tidy into little boxes. That’s not real life, of course! But, thankfully the Lord has taught me to adapt through the years.
As we sat around the table enjoying breakfast Timothy had made and doing our morning Bible time, I gave the Middles and Littles an abbreviated schedule for the day. I told them we would be flexible! We praised the Lord for the wonderful green bean harvest, and we all knew that being diligent with our harvest took precedence over accomplishing other things that day. Working in the garden, harvesting, and canning are real life school.
Knox helped me wash the green beans at the kitchen sink. Lauren helped Natalie with her school. Eliana and John Luke each took a turn teaching Knox while also accomplishing their individual school work. Levi helped out with needed things while I worked on kindergarten with Esther. The Littles helped me prepare the green beans and the jars at the counter. James and I sat on the kitchen floor to go over school work together while I “babysat” the canner. And the list goes on. Everyone worked together, and by the end of the day we had canned 28 quarts of green beans and had plenty left over to eat fresh for a few extra meals. We all love freshly cooked green beans with a little olive oil and salt. Yum!
Because I went to college to learn how to be a classroom teacher, I’ve actually had to unlearn many of the techniques and strategies I once learned in order to homeschool. Sometimes people say to me, “Oh, you can homeschool because you were an education major.” I always laugh at that because it’s just not the case. Rather, I need to be a loving and attentive Mama in order to homeschool our children (which is an ongoing work in progress for me).
Anyone can home school. I truly believe that. Daddies and Mamas are the the best experts when it comes to teaching their own kids. But, it takes dependence on the Lord to train up joyful children who want to learn and work with one another. Living life together every single day (all day long) no matter what a day may bring forth is one of the best parts of homeschooling.
So if you are a seasoned homeschool Dad or Mom, please don’t give up. Your children need you! If you are new to homeschooling, please hang in there. Your children need you! And if you are thinking about homeschooling (as SO many are these days!), please just do it! Your children need you! They need every moment with you, and they are worth your time. Homeschooling is about way more than just getting school work done. 🙂
Be blessed today!
Allyson