Today was one of the days when I was peeking over to the non-homeschooling side of the fence and thinking that the grass just had to be greener. Thankfully the Lord has given my husband the personality and patience to live with 6 women. So when I said/yelled, “Don’t you see I’m ruining everyone’s life!” He absorbed my shocking over-statement with a long deep breath, thought for a while, and reminded me to take it one step at a time. Just start with math. Ok, I can do that…
Recomposed we start math. But Kate is climbing on the table and Lucy has “dragon boogers” as Maggie calls them, and everyone keeps writing the number 4 backwards. AHHH!!!!
Now I remember the book I’m reading in the evenings, “A Praying Life” by Paul Miller. I had just read a part about anxiety being an opportunity to pray. “Anxiety wants to be God, but lacks God’s wisdom, power, or knowledge.” It is only when I am poor in spirit that I will pray continuously and find rest for my soul. So I pray. Then I notice that my kids are no different than I am (a conclusion I reach daily). They are frustrated with themselves and with the surroundings and they want to control it. So I pray with them and teach them what I’ve recently learned about prayer. Nothing has really changed around us, except we are all now resting in Jesus in the midst our mini-chaos. We finish our addition sentences, practice 4’s a little more, and have lunch.
I am graciously reminded that the grass is very lush in our backyard. I get to teach my kids to pray while the tears are still fresh in their eyes. I get to see them grow to trust in the goodness and control of their Lord moment by moment. What a privilege!
Talking Wall 
This is so key-
“Nothing has really changed around us, except we are all now resting in Jesus…”
So many give up on prayer because they define answered prayer as God changing circumstances. Most often God changes us using our circumstances.
Just to encourage you and your family I taught our 3 sons at home. Their ages were 13, 4 and 2 when we started and the first year was excruciating because I couldn’t gauge how they were all doing. I had prayed, my husband and I were in agreement, and Isurely felt called to homeschool so I trusted God he would bring about what he had called us to do. My husband encouraged me and we began to get our rhythm. Our oldest, who was in 8th grade, tested at the end of the year 10th grade 9th month. My two little ones were recognizing colors, letters and numbers. We were on track, ahead of the game, and we were having fun and enjoying our family. Through all the confusion Jesus was right there walking with us and guiding us. We ended up homeschooling for 17 years. Don’t give up or get discouraged for the Lord your God is with you where ever you go.