I have always been one to make my own decisions, not follow the crowd, and be a leader! So, why since having children it is so easy to buckle at the knees and conform? This was the question I pondered at 5:00 AM as I showered (in peace I might add)! The answer I came up with was this; it is one thing to be a leader for ourselves and stand out but we don’t want our children to stand out or be different. Or then again do we?
School is well underway and my oldest daughter recently started 3 year old preschool. She is at a great school with wonderful teachers and a great curriculum. However, there appears to be a missing link. I always thought I would homeschool my children. I begged in Highschool for my Mom to homeschool me ( I didn’t even know what it was…but, I begged anyways!). This random request then led to a 10 year long research project. I have read books, made lesson plans, and stayed up for hours dreaming of what “a perfect school” would be like for my children. {A special note I thought of homeschooling long before there were kids in the picture!}
Jump forward; now there are kids in the picture and I sent them to school?! What??!! I buckled at the knees you could say. I did what everyone else was doing in fear that my child might lag behind? I sent my baby girl to school! Some would say “Great job, she has to get used to it at some point!” while others would say “Awe, why did you send her the best place for her is at home with you – she’s only 3!”.
My thoughts are this she is chugging along in school just fine (well, once she is in the door that is). The morning battles, crocodile tears, and the “I don’t want to go to school” is really what rips my heart out. Why do we force our children to conform at such a young age?
My Mom mission continues; I promise to my children I will not “buckle any longer” to the ways of the rest of the world.
What example would we be setting to our children to be independent thinkers if we became followers ourselves?