content with my role as a mother

Motherhood and homeschooling motherhood.  As a mom to a one and three year old, I don’t quite know what I’m doing yet.  Will I ever?  Of course I have mounds and mounds of ideas for curriculum and activities, but I am still a very un-seasoned homeschooling mom.  What is essential to being successful as a mom and as a teacher to my children?

I was going to start this week’s Blog Hop: Homeschooling Essentials from the Schoolhouse Review Crew with a long list of Essential Preschool Materials for Kids {and that post will come later this week}.  But the more and more I’ve thought about it, and after reading Michelle at Delightful Learning’s post on each of her children’s homeschooling essentials and reading her youngest son’s amazing answer, I began to wonder….

First and foremost, what matters at the end of each day?

• That my children know that Jesus loves them and saved them.
• They feel loved and secure.
• They learn self-control and kind manners.
• They learn to help one another.
• They seek to stand up for what’s right.

And how do I teach these things to my child?

By being with them.  This doesn’t mean to do every activity we see on Pinterest or any of the wonderful blogs I love to read in my down-time.  It means (for both me and my loves) consistency and discipline and understanding and tenderness and love and patience and kindness and goodness and self-control.

How do I know if my days are a success?

♥  We talked about Jesus and his love for us no matter what we do.

♥  If I have read to each of my children individually (and hopefully together) for at least 20 minutes each day.

♥  And if I have played with each of them individually (and always together) for at least 20 minutes each day.

Love and security

Because showing my children that I love them and that their environment is constant and secure is the greatest gift I can bring to them in these early years.  Our days may lead into fun with tot school or sensory activities or crafts and practical life in the kitchen — and I absolutely love all of those things — as you know! But Jesus and reading and playing — showing them that it is only you that matters to me in this world, but for these short moments — is all I need to do to be the best mom I can to my two precious miracles.  That is the mom I want to be.

My word for this year is content.

Check out other posts on Homeschooling Essentials:  Michelle @ Delightful Learning, Mary @ Winecup Christian Homeschool, Jenni @ Conversaving, Meghan @ Quiet in the Chaos, Karen @ Tots and Me, Beth @ Weavings, Tawnee @ Adventures in Homeschooling, Karen @ My Harbor Lights, Kristi @ The Potter’s Hand Academy, Tara @ This Sweet Life