Tag Archives: God’s plans

Moms~Do you Realize?

Christianity, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

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Moms…I wonder if you realize you are your child’s first teacher?

When I first started my teaching career, I had not yet become a mother.  In fact, as you will remember from an earlier post, I didn’t ever want to be one!  (Me a Mom?  Never say Never).  But I was an expert in raising children.  You could have asked me and I would have told you.

I have asked God to forgive me for the number of times I sat across the table from a mother and told her what she was doing wrong as a parent.  I am not kidding.  Why her child was having the learning difficulties he was having….oh, I was kind in my wording, but I still said it.  By the way, God did forgive me.  For I truly did not know what I was doing.  I was fresh out of college and at the age that made me an expert at everything!

Then, I became a MOM.  At first I thought the reason I read to my womb was because I was “officially” a teacher.  Then I realized that my profession did not matter.  I was my child’s first teacher.  I knew that the first few years were the formative years.  Playing “peek a boo”, walking, talking…all of these milestones happened before my child would ever step one foot into a classroom.

  I have found in my later years a couple of things.  First, some parents don’t understand that responsibility or they don’t feel like they are “teachers”.  Well you are!! One way or another you are teaching your child.  Their “ABC’s” and “1,2,3’s”and values… by actually helping them determine right from wrong, or seeing the example you are setting. You will teach your child morals and values…or someone else will.   But make no mistake about it you are your child’s first teacher! 

Remembering my first child’s birth, I gasped when I realized the tremendous responsibility I had.  I read all the books, compared him to friend’s babies….when should he crawl, is he on schedule?  Pressure.  And quite honestly, as good at telling parents how to parent before parenting myself…I was as good being that parent.  Or so I thought.  Then someone talked to me.

“Relax” she said.  “You cannot teach him everything he must know.  Children learn at different speeds, in different styles.  The most important thing you can do is love your child….and give him TIME. Teach him about Jesus and pray with him.”   I heeded her advice.  And I relaxed.

Moms….relax.  Enjoy your child.  Work his vocabulary when you take him to the grocery store and pick up can goods.  Talk to him when you take a walk, pointing out all the beauty of nature.  Read to him (this is one of the most important thing you can do in my humble opinion), sing to him (even if off key), play with him.  And the most important?  Teach him about Jesus.  Start early and never stop.  Learning is “caught, not taught”. In some cases that can be good…some bad.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

 Once I went back into teaching after my boys were mostly grown, I realized many things.  First of all, I quit sitting across from parents pretending like I knew it all.  Even though there were some things I was concerned about, I never was condescending.  I knew that parent loved the child more than I ever could understand.

Second of all, some moms just needed suggestions on how to “teach” their children.  Many times they began to realize that it wasn’t the “teacher’s responsibility” to do all the teaching.  All in all, my motherhood made me a better teacher.

So moms…always teach.  You are the first.

Blessings~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*NIV Bible, google clipart image

Hello? Who? “Homeschooling Calling”??

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Hello?  What?  Who?  Me?  Excuse Me?!

That is pretty much how it started.  Seriously.  I needed a direct call from God to convince me that I needed to homeschool.  Or at least a hit on the head by a two by four!

Be careful what you pray for.  

I had been a teacher in the public schools.  What would people think of me?  Would I ruin my kids’ lives?  They will be social outcasts, gulp, forever!! There was a lot to consider here.  In 1992 it wasn’t exactly a “popular” thing to do.  We were bordering on the edge of weirdness. 

A lot of my friends thought we were crossing a line.  It was okay to “talk” to God, and even “hear” from Him, but this was a pretty major situation.  I remember one friend even told me…..“You will never get a job in the public school system because it is an insult!  And what about sports, how will your boys ever compete?  I am worried about this Tammy.”

Oh well, wouldn’t be the first time I did something “weird,” it was just be the first time it had an effect on my children.  So back to the praying.  And never tell me God does not have a sense of humor.  

I had delivered some cookies to someone I did not know too well at the time.  She told me as I was leaving that she had felt led to homeschool her daughter.  Remember I did not know her that well?  I told her that my husband had wanted me to pray about it, but that I needed a “two by four” to hit me across the head.  She knew he would.  And he did.

Disclaimer***this is not my suggested way to look for answers from God***

I was crying when I arrived home.  I needed the quietest place in the house.  (Did I mention I had two boys, 6 and 4?)  I think I ended up in the shed or the end of our street, or somewhere like that!   I had my Bible in hand and I begged God to show me what to do.  

I knew the answer already, but I was bucking up against it big time!  I had to retain my reputation in the town!  I had always wanted to teach in my hometown. The boys?  I cannot mess them up Lord!!! What was I doing?  Lord, nooooooooooo!

Wait for it…..WHAM….the two by four.  I opened the Bible to 

Isaiah 54:4-13  “Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame.  Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.  You will forget the shame of your youth.”  OK.  First whack!!

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.”  Second Whack!….

“Both your sons will be taught by the Lord and great will be your children’s peace.”WHAM, WHACK, WOW.  

So you see the picture.(Literally…weren’t they cute?)  I had no choice.  I had my confirmation.  Pretty clear to me.  More weeping ensued…throughout the years I might add…not an easy job! But more on that in later blogs.

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We started fall of 1992.  The eldest was homeschooled until his junior year of high school.  He then attended a private high school.  Our other son was homeschooled through seventh grade, eighth in private Christian school and attended a public high school. Both graduated with high school diplomas….and college diplomas…and the youngest received his master’s degree last year.  

I don’t think we ruined their lives.  We accepted the call, and I would do it all over again.  They both said that they are glad we homeschooled them, and they totally enjoyed telling students in their college courses they were homeschooled…just to get a reaction.  Yep, they picked up someone’s sense of humor in school!! Those kids pick up so much from their peers in school…..teehee

Everyone has a different story.  It is a calling, I truly believe.  And I hope I can encourage you in your journey. 

P.S.  I got a job in the public school system in my hometown 10 years ago.  I told you God has a sense of humor!

Blessings,

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

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Me a Mom? Never…say Never!

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ME a Mom?  NEVER

Famous last words.  Never say never. 

When my husband and I were dating, even at a young age, we knew what we wanted.  We started dating when I was 16 years old.  We did not want children.  Ever.  Never, ever.  It was not a argument, or more than three sentences.  We were not having children.  So, we agreed to it and never was it brought up again. It was a plan.

Until February 1986.  I woke up one morning wanting a baby.  It was as if something had broken loose in my heart.  There was an empty spot that I was not aware existed.  I wanted children.  I had changed my mind, question was…had my husband?

Suffice it to say…he had.  We were ready.  Of course I did not get pregnant right away.  It is amazing when you want something so badly, it seems so long to attain.  Here we had gone 6 years without being pregnant and content to wanting to be and not content.  Oh how fickle we were. Our plans had changed.

Now I am a goal setter.  Once a goal is set, I do everything I can to attain it.  I read articles, practiced all necessary things to achieve pregnancy….yep, even laid upside down.  There, I said…laugh if you want. 

Some six months later it happened.  I got pregnant.  I was teaching and I was the only woman to ever carry a baby.  I was very sure of that.  My co-workers told me differently. Gosh, I was a mess. I imagined everything possible.  What if?  Why do I feel that way?  Let’s face it, having another human being take up residence inside your body is one of the strangest sensations ever known. Can you say miracle?

I gained lot of weight, couldn’t wear my rings at 4 months.  I looked as though I was carrying twins.  AND, many people made it their business to let me know that observation.  “Are you carrying twins?  You are huge.” By far my favorite was “Haven’t you had that baby yet?”  OBVIOUSLY NOT!!  Would I be looking like this if I had?  Really???

Suffice it to say, I had plenty of “womb room”.  Austin came into this world at 9 pound 1 ounce.  He was my buddy.  He slept through the night at 3 weeks, loved to go and was a wonderful, peaceful child.  I left my job, knowing that I would NEVER teach again…..remember that NEVER SAY NEVER statement.  DON’T MAKE THAT STATEMENT!! But, I had plans for my life.

So our desire was to maybe have another child when Austin was at least 3 years old.  We did not want two babies at once.  You know where this is going don’t you?  I had Taylor when Austin was exactly 2.5 years of age.  Don’t you love that God has a sense of humor? A toddler and a new born and little sleep.

Taylor decided to teach me some lessons, for many years and in many ways.  Of course no pregnancy is the same, so I was sure I was having a little girl.  I gained more weight than should ever be allowed by any human being.  Being asked if I was carrying twins was so common place that I didn’t even flinch when I was asked.  I had a number of health issues and scares, but each time all was well.  And, having the “womb room” as I mentioned before, Taylor came in 2 weeks late at 9 pound and 11 ounces.  Just a glimpse of the strong will competitor that this little boy was to become.  I remember at one point he had stopped moving and I had to be rushed to the hospital.  The doctor mentioned to me once he knew all was well…”This little boy is a stubborn little one…look out!”  A prophetic word to be sure. 

He was a hand full.  He never slept over 4 hours at any given time.  He transitioned into toddler hood with a vengeance.  He taught me so much.  But that is another entire blog.  “Strong Willed Children, How Not To Break Their Spirit.”  

As you can see from the picture posted, both boys turned out just fine. Both have qualities that make them incredible young men.  Later blog entries will show you that as we parented and homeschooled, I was even worried about that…but I digress yet again.

The point of this story?  We walk this thing called life out day by day.  We do not know that plans that the Lord has for us.  We can think we are “planning” it out, but we are not.  I learned long ago to “Never say Never” because inevitably, you will be wrong.

But the one thing that I do know with certainty ….

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

These scriptures were prefaced by verse 4 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon”

I believe that those scriptures can be taken out of context so often. Plans is “machashabah” and means thought, device, plan, purpose, invention.  Prosper doesn’t mean to be rich.. in the Hebrew the word is “shaw-lome'” and can be translated into completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, friendship (with God especially in covenant relationship).

So His “plans” were always pregnant with grace, and still are!  No matter what our plans are in this world…HIS ultimate plan is that He wants us to spend eternity with Him.  HE has a plan to rescue us.  We just have to accept His grace, and the fact that He is our Savior.  No matter what we go through in life, how our plans turn out….we must remember HIS ultimate plan.  We cannot lose sight of that in the midst of our circumstances and swirling world.

Blessings dear ones!

Isaiah 55:8-9