Undue pressure

"Don't fret or worry (be anxious for nothing). Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. (The peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.) It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Phil 4: 4,7 (Message; NKJV)

"Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
(1 Pet 5: 6,7)

I have been struggling so much over the past few weeks with feelings of anxiety and inadequacy regarding my children's education. Even though they are so young I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself to "get it all right", do all the right activities with them to build the necessary skills, and provide exactly the kind of stimulation they need at exactly the right time. Basically it's been rooted in a feeling that because we've chosen not to send them to nursery school (whereas all but one of my friends' kids are at nursery school) I have to prove that I'm doing the right thing and providing the same kind of stimulation that they'd get in that kind of environment.

On Friday I listened to a talk on CD by Ivana Reis, the author of Love2Learn, and she hit the nail on the head: many people feel this pressure when they start homeschooling - they feel that their kids need to be "perfect" in behaviour and academic performance, to prove to the world that homeschooling is a good choice. This is exactly the kind of pressure I've been putting on myself and my children. This has resulted in me not enjoying my kids, because of being frustrated with them when they don't meet my expectations. And hey, they're only THREE!!!

It's taken a few emails and a couple of hour long phone conversations with a dear friend who is also homeschooling, for me to realise this and start untangling feelings from truth.

It also struck me that my children are learning so much every day, just in living everyday life. They talk nonstop (like most three year olds!), commenting on everything that's going on around them. My life is a conversation with them, and in talking with them I can hear that they're unravelling the mystery of the world around them, translating everything they see and experience into something meaningful to them. They're also adding to their skills every day, and are so proud of their accomplishments. Dressing themselves, pouring their own juice, brushing their teeth, "helping" me in the kitchen - "Look Mom, I'm such a big girl!" They've learnt so much in their short lives - and all of this has happened without any formal instruction! It's happened just by living together, talking and listening, reading stories, going for walks, visiting friends, going to the shops, drawing and finger painting, cutting and pasting, eating meals together and most of all, playing.

All this brings to mind Deuteronomy 6:7, which speaks of how we should teach our children the commands and promises of God:
"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart [you can't teach your kids what isn't real to you]; you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

This is such a beautiful model of parents educating their children. It's echoed so powerfully in the model Jesus gave us of discipleship.

Lord, forgive me for relying on myself to achieve goals which you've never called me to in the first place. As of today I want to be found at the foot of the cross, relying on Your incredible grace, Your unconditional love, Your voice to tell me "This is the way, go in it." Please help me to see my children from Your perspective, and forgive me for trying to use them as a measure for my own sense of self worth. Thank You for your abundant blessings.

Hannah's Rules

Craig & I attended a presentation last week by Graeme Codrington called "Hannah's Rules", about a new generation of ethical consumers who are interested in more than just buying a product. They want to know what impact their purchase is going to make on the environment, how they can contribute to a "greener" world, living sustainably, how companies whose products they are buying treat their employees etc.

Some things he mentioned that families can do to start making a difference:
* Start a family boycott list, of companies whose products you as a family will boycott because they do not meet your "earth or people friendly" standards
* Start a list of companies you will support because of their ethics and values (earth and people orientated)

And something I want to start, is a list of things we are doing and need to do as a family to respect the earth:
* sign up with www.resolutionrecycling.co.za
* stop using plastic packets when shopping
* use natural products for cleaning the house and ourselves!
* grow some of our own vegetables

Websites to check out:
www.nick2015.com
www.treehugger.com

We love the zoo!

Over the past three years we've spend uncountable hours at the Johannesburg Zoo. It's just ten minutes away from home and there's always a lot to see and do. Plus all the walking guarantees that the girls will have a great nap afterwards - essential when I want to curl up with a good book!!