Abundant Childhood–Abundant Homeschool
Last night Ray and I participated in a Facebook party with members of Homeschoolers of Maine (HOME). Ray and I are scheduled to speak at their convention in Rockport, March 19-21. History curriculum writers seemed like a logical choice to keynote this year, since Maine is celebrating its 200th anniversary. Ray and I think it is pretty special that our beloved Gainesboro, Tennessee, is also 200 years old this year.
One of my topics during the convention is “The Abundant Homeschool Checklist.” My responsibility in the Facebook party last night was to define what I mean by the abundant homeschool. As I prepared for the party, I thought about what made my own childhood abundant.
An abundant childhood goes hand in hand with an abundant homeschool. No abundant homeschool is possible without that abundant childhood. As I have shared with you before, the life you live with your children today is what will make up their memories when they are the ones sharing their own “When I was a kid . . .” stories. You have daily opportunities to make those stories precious.
I remember Mother at Mama Sue’s pink kitchen table . . .
Our trip to the zoo, . . .
Exploring caves and others of God’s wonders . . .
Celebrating Christmas and other holidays at my grandparents’ house . . .
And at ours, . . .
Sledding with Mother, . . .
Playing on playgrounds with Daddy, . . .
Being silly in the Smoky Mountains, . . .
Riding the ferris wheel with my little brother Steve,
Playing with our cousins and my aunt Emily (who is kissing Steve), . . .
And the very special camping adventures in our Volkswagen bus (turned camper by Mother and Daddy; if you look closely, you can see the curtains Mother attached inside the windows).
Teach your children all the academics they will need, but don’t forget to give them an abundant childhood with memories to last all their lives.
I came that they may have life,
and have it abundantly.
John 10:10