Beyond the physical and the online books that we provide our kids to learn, they watch our every step every day, they look for sincerity and authenticity as we model character to them as it happens organically at home since we’re always with them. As parents we become the curriculum for teaching character building to our kids. And this is what will stick with them for life. And since none of us is perfect, always allow room for mistakes and erasures. These too are integral part of their learning and once they’re older and wiser by God’s grace, they get to appreciate the entire journey with lots of sweet and precious memories to look back to. So, hold lightly. Have the grace to laugh at our own mistakes. I’d like to paraphrase Proverbs 31:25 which assures us that the woman who is clothed with strength and dignity can LAUGH without fear of the future.
Through 17 years of homeschooling, one more valuable lesson I’ve learned with my kids is the joy of homeschooling like no other. While we are created for relationships and we thrive in healthy connections, it is also very crucial to maintain and celebrate our uniqueness as a family as we engage with other beloved fellow homeschoolers. No two homeschoolers are exactly alike. So as we walk alongside each other, learn from each other, care for one another, it is important that we remain authentic as a homeschool unit especially for a family like us who has the opportunity to live abroad as expats. I found this very crucial in helping them embrace their own identities as true-blooded Filipinos. This has spared them from identity confusion, a very common dilemma that is experienced by young people who migrate to a different country. Because of their awareness and appreciation for our ethnicity they can confidently communicate and interact with people of different ages and nationalities.
Psalm 127:4 alludes our children to arrows in the hands of a warrior. As parents, we are privileged to be called by the Lord to raise His arrows to where He is leading them. The trajectory of our arrows are determined by the Lord Himself. Hopefully, our arrows will hit the mark set before them. We are the Lord’s stewards to the Lord’s next generation of mighty warriors. We are to guide them every step of the way. “Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.” Psalm 127:3-5 The Message
