Lesson Four: Patience

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

A Few Maxims For The Instruction Of The Over-Educated (1894)

 

 

 

    Teaching a toddler can test every skill you think you've earned and learned as a parent. Just when you think you've got the hang of it, they throw a curveball. The metaphorical wrench goes into the machine that you've worked so hard to keep well-oiled and running smoothly.

    

    {But with each wrench thrown, each curveball headed straight for your well thought out plans, you learn something too.}

 

     When I decided that homeschooling was what I really wanted to do with my sidekick, I had no idea what I was really getting us into. I thought I did. I had done my research, talked to plenty of people who started YEARS ago before all the "cool stuff" came out. Little did I know, that most of it (minus some good advice) wouldn't do either of us any good. Each day is new day for us to learn together and we learn differently than any other parent and child.

     I've learned what time of day works best for "school time", what he's ready for (and what he's not), what I'm ready for (and what I'm not), how to make every project seem like the MOST fun thing EVER (in the 10 minute timespan that I can get his full attention). Yeah, the list goes on. But the most important thing that I've learned these past weeks is something my little sidekick taught me. Patience. It's something that I've been hinting at in my past blogs but it really hit home this week.

     You don't have to get every thing done on its assigned day.

     You can spend all day at the park.

     You can spend the afternoon cuddling with your little watching his favorite movie...even though it's been on repeat for what feels like a month (or forever).
     You can do it however and whenever works best for you and your kid.

 

    It seems simple. But it's also simple to get caught up in the work. In the schedule. But the cure is, again, simple. Follow your little. Read into their moods, ask them what they want to do.
    I tried to really keep this in the front of my mind this week and it seemed to do us both some good. I'll keep practicing and learning with my sidekick. Just waiting for him to teach me something more as we continue to learn together.

 

     Here's to patience. Here's to learning with your sidekick. You are each others most important teacher. And you are doing great!