This February, I’m featuring several homeschooling mamas as they share their “heart of homeschooling.” I’m starting off the series with this blog post. Make sure to check back once in a while during the whole month for more. I hope this glimpse of our hearts inspires you to at least look into the beauty of homeschooling.

“I don’t like that book!” said my daughter about “Owl Moon.”

“Really? Why?” I said it calmly, but really my mind was racing, thinking of how I could motivate my 5-year-old to sit with me and enjoy our book.

“Because I don’t like poems. That book is full of poems.”

“A-ha! But did you know that poems make good songs?” Then I started to sing.

With a gasp, Little T scooted up to me, then said, “I know! I’ll get my dulcimer!” (A dulcimer is a string instrument that my children like to pretend to be a guitar.)

Jackpot. We finished the book that way, singing, talking, and playing together.

Going After My Children’s Hearts

That little incident is just one of many that reveal the heart of our homeschooling, and essentially mine. Knowing my children and being able to respond to them in such a personal and empowering way is what keeps my homeschool heart beating steadily.

We all know the proverb “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” You can say that I am after my children’s hearts and the way to get there is to know them – their own interests and quirks – and to celebrate who they are.

I See You

We have a favorite Kindermusik song called “I See You.” (Click here to listen.) It’s all about what all children want: to be seen, to be known, to be celebrated.

I see my daughter. She loves to sing, dance, and pretend. She responds so well when we incorporate those three into our day. Noting her glassy eyes one time as I tried to talk to her about self-control in Kevin Henkes’ Lilly’s Purple, Plastic Purse, I invited her to “make it a play” and be Lilly. Oh how her eyes lit up!

I see my son. He loves to move, thank you very much! We provide him as much freedom as our hearts can take. Chairs, stairs, windows – I’m sure those of you who have boy toddlers know this! With him, I make the extra effort to be more physical, to be exaggerated in my voice and movement, to be more active in engaging him.

I see my children with my heart and theirs.

The Heart of Our Homeschooling

More than the educational benefits that people talk about, the heart of the matter, of homeschooling for us, is the opportunity to get to know our children and respond to them as individuals. Making that knowledge work in all aspects of our lives, including their education, is just icing on our already delicious cake.

A poem that becomes a song, a story that becomes a two-character play, a chair that becomes a tree – all these are opportunities for me to go after my children’s hearts and minds. I see them.