Put the Phone Down {and Homeschool Your Children}

Today, six friends and I are writing a series called Put the Phone Down! Our hope and prayer is to draw to your attention the importance of one-on-one relationships with those around you, without the distraction of a phone and/or computer.

In closing, you will find a list of lovely ladies and their individual “Put the Phone Down” topics. 

My topic is “teacher”, because I am a homeschooling mama (teacher!).  And because homeschooling mamas get distracted.  Easily.  By phones and computers and just about everything else. 

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Last year, I really struggled with homeschooling.  I already told you about that.  I did the best I felt I could with a (sickly) newborn, sleep deprivation, a move, and a bunch of other distractions.

I earned an “E” for effort, but it was far from satisfactory.

This year, I was determined things would change.  I would change.  And I did change.  And things changed.  This past semester of homeschooling has probably been the most rewarding one we’ve had so far in our  homeschooling journey.

I did just two things differently this year than I’ve ever done before:

I changed my attitude, and I got rid of distractions.

I am a woman with a one-track mind.  Whatever I’m doing at the moment tends to consume me.  This can be both a good thing (I really focus on whatever I am doing) and a bad thing (I do not handle distractions well, thus the need to eliminate them as much as possible).

Life is always full of the unexpected; interruptions, distractions, delays.  Those should be taken in stride and with a generous dose of flexibility.

However, many distractions are self-inflicted.  Such as texting Susie Q during phonics, or writing a “quick email” during a math lesson.

(Ahem.)

If I knew my children were being "educated" somewhere by someone who was yakking on her phone, texting, surfing the web, or reading her Nook during class room hours, I would be angry.  Don't my children deserve your undivided attention during school hours?  How are you supposed to teach my children if YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION?!

Well I am my children's teacher.  And, yes, they deserve my undivided attention during our school time.

For me, that means I shift gears at ten o'clock on week day mornings.  I become Mrs. Mama Teacher Lady who sits at the head of our dining room table, looking my bright-eyed children in the eyes, and give them my best.

This doesn't mean that I never fold a pile of laundry, or stir something on the stove, or change my littlest one's diaper while we homeschool.  It does mean that, during our "school" time in the mornings, I:

• do not answer my phone (unless my husband calls)
• do not check email, blog, or do anything else on the computer
• do not start or work on personal or household projects

Obviously, there is a time for children to work independently.  To show initiative.  To not be "mothered" while they complete their homeschool assignments.

I have not reached that season yet.  My children are learning to read, learning to add, learning to sit still.  At their young ages, undivided attention (from me) means that we will have a successful homeschool day, instead of chaos and frustration.

I do not hover over my children, hold their hands, or play lady-in-waiting while they do their school work.  But neither do I expect them to sit at our table and work like little angels, while I holler from the other room (while typing on my laptop), "I SAID, did you finish your math yet?"

I have (tried to) homeschool with one eye ball on my children, and one eye ball on something else (figuratively speaking, of course).  It is a sure recipe for frustration.  And, might I venture to add, even failure.

My basic rule for homeschooling at this season of life is turn everything else off and just homeschool.  I get more results from two or three hours of purposeful homeschooling than I do from a full day's worth of scatter-brained, half-hearted effort.

If you're a frustrated homeschooling mama, I challenge you to evaluate your priorities.  Would you say you're giving your children your whole hearted effort during school time?  What would they say?

Homeschooling is a time consuming calling.  During some seasons, it is an all consuming calling.  If we are going to do it "right"- and enjoy the process- we are going to have to put our hearts into it.

So, put your phone down, mama. 

Shut off the computer.

Shelve the books and magazines.

Turn on the crock pot, then sit down beside your little people... and be a teacher.

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Please join the following ladies as they share their heart with you!

Put the Phone Down...

· And be a Wife (Raising Mighty Arrows)
· And be a Mother (Growing Home)
· And be a Homemaker (Jill's Home Remedies)
· And be a Listener (An Original Belle)
. And be a Friend (For Journey's Sake)
. And be a Witness (Becoming Lydia)