Comments on: Once I Was a Homeschool Influencer

By: Cheryl

Cheryl

I homeschooled in the 80’s. Parenting/motherhood/homeschooling can’t be done perfectly. We’re imperfect. I loved those days, though. One of my daughters homeschooled for a season. Her daughter is having trouble in school and has transferred to more of an unschool. She’s ecstatic at the thought of no more busywork. She heard about sewing at school, came home and asked her mom to teach her. Mom got her started and she made a pillow! Learning can be a lifelong joy. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t get each thing correct. Even the child who was rebellious actually was listening to what I said and has good sense as a grownup

By: Jill

Jill

In reply to Patrice Fagnant MacArthur. I was following along on the homeschooling journey with you, and remember getting your blog in my email, and forwarding it to friends! LOL Sometimes I think I failed because my 20 year old just works at Walmart. But then I remember how hard life is for him due to autism and OCD, and I thank God he's doing so well. I'm so proud of my son. And I'm so grateful for all the time we had together and the friendship he has with his younger brother too.

By: Jamie C. Martin

Jamie C. Martin

In reply to Kathleen M.

I want to make sure you know that if your son didn’t learn to read on schedule, it was not your fault and had nothing to do with your decision to homeschool. If you had sent your son to public school and I was teaching him, he wouldn’t have learned either!

This means so much, Kathleen. Thank you!

By: Kathleen M

Kathleen M

This is my first time reading your blog and this post really resonated with me. I also experienced failure in teaching kids to read…for 6 years! However, I was not a homeschooling mom, but a Special Ed. teacher working in the public schools. At first I blamed myself and my inexperience. Then I blamed my students. (I cringe to think about it even now.) The good news is that I was wrong on both counts. The problem was that I was using the wrong approach. Since then, I have been trained in two structured literacy approaches, (Wilson and Orton-Gillingham). Only after I began implementing them, did my students learn to read. Structured literacy was my “Pearl of Great Price.” Once I discovered it, I left my Special Ed. job and now tutor kids online using the Orton-Gillingham approach. I want to make sure you know that if your son didn’t learn to read on schedule, it was not your fault and had nothing to do with your decision to homeschool. If you had sent your son to public school and I was teaching him, he wouldn’t have learned either! Sad but true! One thing I have learned is that it is NEVER too late for a child to learn to read. Wilson reading was invented for the purpose of teaching adults to read. Keep fighting the good fight! Wishing you and your son many blessings!

By: Jamie C. Martin

Jamie C. Martin

In reply to Kerry F. Yes, beautiful words, Kerry!

By: Kerry F

Kerry F

As a mom of six with 2 autistic kids it helps to be teminded that how we determine success is variable. I remember 15 years ago when my first kid was disgnised a fellow Mom told me to think about it as accepting the fact that perhaps my kid was destined not to go to Paris and live a dazzling life but go to Holland and live a quiet one. Both journeys are okay just different. On hard days I remind myself that my goal is that they can have successful relationships and someday end up in heaven.

By: Rachael

Rachael

In reply to Jamie C. Martin. This is such a great post. I want to follow the faithfulness and simplicity of this, but I’m not feeling very good at it right now. Admitting this is a good place to begin.

By: Sharon

Sharon

I agree with above-maybe one of your best and most authentic posts. I have blogged throughout the years and try to let people know that we write the good and the beautiful. The struggles we try to manage and protect our children from the world seeing. We have a family full of struggles. Archaeologically, humans have only been reading and writing for a short period of time. I remind my family of this often. We all thrive in our own way. As parents, we help our kids find the ways in which the thrive. You definitely embrace your children for who they are are and where they are in their journey. We are both nearing the end of the homeschooling journey with our own families. I am pretty sure all of our children will bring light into the world.

By: Jamie C. Martin

Jamie C. Martin

In reply to Holly. I'm so glad it was a gift to you, Holly. xo

By: Jamie C. Martin

Jamie C. Martin

In reply to G. And to you, too, G! Thanks for being a faithful reader all those years - may you be able to rejoice in the good work you have done for your kiddos as they graduate!