What My Daughter is Teaching Me

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My daughter finished pre-K two weeks ago and since I homeschool my older son year-round, I pushed her right into Kindergarten at home. I knew this would be a new adventure for the whole family.

My daughter has an energy that is unmatched by the majority of her relatives and friends. This energy, I pray, will lead her to being a world-changer and great evangelist for her generation. Right now, however, that energy keeps mommy and daddy on their knees praying that through our discipline her spirit will be harnessed and kindled for good and not broken.

These first few days of homeschooling my kindergartener have proven to be more of a learning experience for me. I’m not sure what she’s learning yet. I think that is okay at this stage. The first few weeks of any school year is review from the last school year. So we are spending most of our educational time exploring and getting our feet wet: what is going to work and what isn’t.

This is where it’s challenging more for the teacher than the student. Teaching my son has been “by the book.” I can set a worksheet in front of him, give him directions and he is good to go. I can write out his work for the day and leave him for a couple of hours to complete it all. I appreciate this learning style even more now that my daughter is depending on me for her education. My daughter is a hands-on learner. The more she touches, the more she stays engaged. The more she moves, the more she’s willing to participate.

This is “out of the box” for me.

With my son, stillness has been my best friend. My daughter needs to get down on the floor, play with manipulatives, draw in the sand, and have art projects that do not have rules that go along with them. That last one is what she did today. She asked me for a long sheet of paper, scraps of paper, glue and scissors. I embraced the moment and off she went: cutting, gluing and singing as she worked.

When she was done, I asked her to name her artwork.

She called it: Mommy.

I was taken aback. I am structured, organized and run by the clock most days. This picture doesn’t show that at all. It shows multicolored shapes and textures that portray a more random lifestyle.

I am beginning to see this is only a matter of perception. I know my daughter’s love for me is pure and deep. Her mind is basically un-chartered territory that I have the amazing opportunity to explore and get to know. I’m also chartered with the task of training that mind and bringing it into the admonition of the Word of God.

Knowing her learning style and what inspires her is just the first benchmark of such a journey. My instinct is to fasten my seat belt for the ride ahead. However, what I’m learning says to unbuckle and start getting my hands dirty right beside her. So if you will excuse me, I have some letters to trace in the sand.

Hope Wingate. My name is Hope Wingate. I live in Hoschton, GA with my brilliant husband, Jonathan and two incredible children: Aaron who is 7 and Adaira who is 4. I am a very enthusiastic stay-at-home mom and homeschooler. My heart beats for encouraging young mothers and I enjoy lead teaching classes for my local homeschool co-op. In my spare time I enjoy: sewing, rubber stamping, reading and watching BBC shows on Netflix.

About Kellie Renfroe

Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 28 years and have four children ranging in age from 12 to 23. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005 with two friends. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading and studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.

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