By Lisa Larson
Several years ago I attended a Time Out for Women event in Orlando. Mercy River was one of the performers and they shared many stories and sang lots of great songs. During one of their presentations, Whitney shared a story about learning how she was the perfect mom for her kids.
As she was talking, my eyes immediately opened and I discovered that I was trying to be someone that I was not when it comes to homeschooling my children and that I needed to change and accept it. Not only accept it, but embrace it. Because Heavenly Father gave me the children I have because He knew that I was the right mom for them. I was a business and accounting major in college. I like numbers and order. I am not an artsy-craftsy kind of mom and I needed to stop buying curriculum that had lots of hands on projects because I hate doing those kinds of things. Too often I would become frustrated or overwhelmed, and that was not good for me or my children.
It also took a bit of time learning that I am also not a homeschool co-op mom and that’s okay too. I really don’t enjoy teaching and I suffer from anxiety when I have too much on my plate at one time. The co-op that we were involved was a great co-op, but it really wasn’t a good fit for me. And my kids have not suffered because of that decision. In actuality, they are getting a better mom because of it. I now have more time for them and I’m not stressing out all the time trying to plan classes for someone else’s children.
Fast forward a few years from when I first had that experience and I think I have finally come to terms with the mom that I am and that I really am the best mother for my kids. Heavenly Father gave them to me. He didn’t give them to an artsy-craftsy mom or a make-a-mess-in-the-kitchen mom or a field trip mom. He gave them to me. My kids don’t need any other kind of mom. They’re my kids because they need what I have to offer them. Heavenly Father gave them to me because He needs me to do “me” things with them. And if that’s teaching them about math and money and order, then that’s what I should do.
I’m now in my seventh year of homeschooling and two of my children are in high school. And they are turning into amazing young women who are ready to take on the world. And that is what my goal was when I started to homeschool – to prepare my children to be ready for life. And in the process we’ve learned some amazing things together and have had some incredible experiences.
I know I’ll never be perfect for my kids, but I know that I am their perfect mother! And I couldn’t ask for anything more!
