(Borrowed from the "Training Young People for Success" newsletter.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The life of a homeschool mom who has chosen to raise a large family is not the
same as the life of the mom who sits next to you on the church pew. When that
mom's sprint to the high school finish line is over and she's off on a cruise
to Cancun, you will still be in the middle of the marathon with T-ball and 4-H
that may run clear into those golden years of retirement.

I know. I've homeschooled for 15 years and my baby is 3.

I've come along way, Baby. But look how far I have to go.

A homeschool mom doesn't just spend time with her children; she invests her
life in theirs.

And sometimes the job flat wears me out.

When it does, I find myself falling back on workbooks and mindless exercises
instead of inspiring my young entrepreneurs to dream and explore.

The answer I've found is to develop a Lifestyle of Learning in which the
children develop godly habits and eventually take responsibility for their own
educations. That means finding what works for each child, making education
applicable to real life, and being flexible in an environment that stimulates
creativity.

(It helps if you turn off the TV.)

And don't forget that a real education includes functional knowledge of the
three basic elements of life - food, clothing and shelter.and now computers. So
don't forget to record those days you spent baking Christmas cookies as 'Home
Ec: Baking' and the weekend you built the dog house as 'Carpentry: New
Construction.'

When I was in college, Coach Mel Rosen taught my Track class several lessons
about training for a marathon. Here are the few key points my small brain
remembers.

1. Get a vision for the long run.
2. Focus on your goal.
3. Don't look at the other runners or distractions along the track.
4. Exercise to build your endurance.
5. Practice perfectly.
6. Control your diet.
7. Don't run tired.
8. Go to church and eat chicken on Sunday.

To produce exceptionally successful young people, I, Mom, must keep the vision
God has given me and not allow anything or anyone to steal it from me. I must
learn to encourage and pace myself if I am going to cross the finish line with
all my cookies. No one else will.

To do that, the Lord often uses local friends for support. He also uses authors
who can feed me daily the mindset of Christ, not drain me with the mindset of
the world.

And they never have a bad day!

One of my favorite 'friends' is Marilyn Howshall. When I attended her seminar
in Memphis in 1996, I learned from the notebooks her children had produced that
the purpose of education is to become a Producer and not just to memorize
content.

'Content,' she said, 'no matter how biblical, has little power to produce an
education. Rather, education lies in the quality of the process the student
experiences.

'A biblical natural learning process is goal-oriented and delight-directed.
The formal and informal methods that are used allow for the peculiar
personality traits, unique interests, ability levels, and growth timetables of
each child. The plan is facilitated within a structure that allows the freedom
necessary to focus on these ideals. At the same time it provides the needed
order and framework in which to meet goals.'

My goal in educating my children is to work myself out of the job.

Dorothy Sayers, an English writer, said, 'For the sole true end of education is
simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction
fails to do this is effort spent in vain.'

Marilyn's book Wisdom's Way of Learning enlarged my perspective of education as
she challenged me to see from God's perspective. This four-book revision of her
original book is much easier to understand and apply and contains the wisdom of
her philosophy.

Her booklet The Lifestyle of Learning Approach - an Introduction gives a brief
synopsis of this approach to learning and is one of those books to read once
every year. It's great for the mom new to the idea of the Lifestyle of Learning.

Every year, I also attend at least one homeschool convention to learn something
new at workshops. I buy at least one new book on philosophy or lifestyle that
will encourage me because I have found I am my own worst enemy.

As a homeschool mom thinketh, so is she.

The best thing I can do to educate my children to be truly successful is to
guard my perceptions, vision, goals, environment and methods.

If you could use some encouragement, two catalogs will introduce you to some
mentors worth knowing. Both have been written by veteran homeschool families
you would love to have spend a week in your home.

Since there are so many new books available now, I've learned to look for
authors I can trust instead of trying to remember titles.

Here are just a few of my favorites: Marilyn Howshall, Karen Andreola, Dr. Ruth
Beechick, Charlotte Mason, Cindy Rushton, Sally Clarkson, Susan Schaeffer
Macaulay, Dr. Mary Hood, Vickie Goodchild, Diana Waring, Cathy Duffy, Catherine
Levison, Reb and Beverly Bradley, David Quine, John Taylor Gatto, Rick Boyer,
and Raymond and Dorothy Moore.

Lifetime Books and Gifts' has a section of Education Helps from pages 62-100 in
their ALWAYS Incomplete Catalog that introduces you to many Older Women who
have gone before us on this journey, along with a Few Good Men. Many of the
authors listed have become my Best Friends. I've even met a few of them. (This
inch-thick book costs $5 but is worth every penny. It is THE Homeschool
Catalog to Have. Ask for it at 1-800-377-0390.)

If you find yourself struggling with your philosophy, everything in The Elijah
Company's catalog will challenge you to follow God and pursue the best route
for your children. It will help you find 'the ancient paths and the good way.'
If you don' have a copy, order one today at 1-888-2-elijah.

This week, take some time to meet a new friend who will stretch your vision.

You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your family.

And your family will thank you. Especially your boys.

So many books, so little time.

Rhea!
who wants to be a good little homeschool mom when she grows up

P.S. If you would like to join an email discussion group to learn more about
implementing a Lifestyle of Learning and using real books, join Living Books by
sending a blank email to

Livingbooks-subscribe@yahoogroups.com