As we get ready to start our new year, I invite you to get clear on the things that matter most to you. Take a sheet of paper and write down the top three reasons you homeschool. Does your schedule focus on your most important “why” for homeschooling? What is the most important thing you can start doing right now? What is the most important thing you can stop doing? I have found profound power in asking these questions consistently.
In his book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg Mckeown says, “Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” When I read this quote, I wonder what my wisest possible investment is to my family. I think about my mission, talents, and gifts and my highest point of contribution to my children.
My top three reasons for homeschooling are first, to teach and testify to my children the power that comes from making and keeping covenants with Jesus Christ, second, to be able to have the Spirit as a constant influence so they may desire beauty and discern truth and filter it out from deception, and third, to know HOW to critically think and learn. As I ponder whether or not these values align with our schedule, I can see some room for improvement as well as some things that we are succeeding at.
I see that I need to regularly ask more thoughtful deep questions and take the time to really listen. I often tell my children why I think the way I do, and tell them the answers to why I think they should think the same, but as the children in my home are older now, I can see that I need to move from telling them what the truth is, to creating experiences for them to have their own witness of truth and figure things out for themselves. I think this can come from giving them more opportunities to teach and serve. I think this can come from me being more intentionally quiet as we discuss books, articles, and scriptures and asking more open-ended thought-provoking questions. I am taking the time to write these thoughts on a sticky note where we meet together so that I can be continually reminded.
One of the ways that we are succeeding, that I am choosing to celebrate in this moment is that we consistently come together for prayer and scripture study, and I testify to them regularly of the atonement of Jesus Christ. While we are not perfect at this, and the time together is often less than ideal, we are consistent, and I believe that is making a difference in the filter through which they see the world. My children know that I look to Jesus as my Savior and that I trust Him, and know He loves me and each of them.
When we focus on our highest point of contribution in our homeschool, we simplify our lives and find great fulfillment because we are spending time on the things that matter the most to us. What is one small change you can make in your homeschool right now that will allow you to focus this homeschool year on what matters most? I challenge you to write it down and look back a year from now and see how this tiny consistent change has had an impact on your family culture.
