I just wanted to say thank you for the work that you do with this curriculum. We have eight children, and there is a 6 year gap between the oldest and the second. Just as my oldest was really needing a beefy education, the babies kept coming, and I felt like I was drowning. We switched to HOD in 4th grade with my oldest. We did Preparing over 2 years, and we've never looked back. This year he finished the WH guide, and I'm so amazed at how much he's learned. Truthfully, I've really failed, in that I have been handing him the guides and books for years, without doing much teaching at all. I was being pulled in so many directions with babies, toddlers, and high-risk pregnancies, that I really just had to let him sink or swim. Let me tell you, he has done so well. I can see that I needed to do more direct instruction in writing and math, but he has absolutely devoured every book that the WG and WH guides have suggested. I'm pleased with his education, the way that his subjects are interconnected and all point towards God. I definitely experienced a proud homeschool mom moment when I wrote up his high school book list, and realized how much reading he has done. He couldn't stop talking about The Scarlet Pimpernell, Les Miserables, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Of course, he made me read Animal Farm so we could discuss communism and the current political climate. That was a real treat.
He will be doing dual enrollment with a private Christian school next year, and I'm sad to not be ordering the new American History guide. I know that he will miss the wonderful books that Carrie chooses, of course, I may just have to supplement his college professor's syllabus.
Thank you again for everything. Even though I haven't been as diligent and involved with him as I should have, I know that I never could have succeeded in homeschooling him without HOD all of these years. I look forward to using it over the years with all of my other children.
Your words remind me that it is going to be ok. That I just can't be perfect or do it all exactly right, but that at least when I am homeschooling, I am spending time in God's Word with my kiddos - spending time with my kiddos - reading/discussing/etc. with my kiddos - even if it is not perfect every time and even if it is sometimes rushed, it is always time well spent. It may just add up to 'enough' after all, right? I read your post and thought, 'now that is a good mom who is getting it right.' Not perfect, but right. I like that thought because I find it attainable too. Thank you for sharing what you have seen with your son - I find it very encouraging, and I am so very thankful. I will also share this thread with Carrie - I think she will be encouraged as well. And also with Mike - for we all need to be encouraged - and we all especially need it in these parenting years where it seems every decision is a big one. Thanks!!!