DIY Homeschooler

One of the first lessons I learned about parenthood was that my words were not as effective as my actions. My children would live what I modeled for them. I needed to parent with purpose.

In my “younger years” it was a well-known fact that I loathed broccoli, or any other type of green veggie for that matter. So imagine my friends’ surprise when I started serving pasta dishes with stir-fried veggies — lots of them — mostly green! My internal parenting book suggested that as:

• (a) I knew my children would need to eat those veggies to grow healthy and strong, and
• (b) they were more likely to eat them if it was an accepted practice in our home to do so, then
• (c) I would have to set the example.

The extrapolations were obvious:

• If I want them to eat their veggies, I’d better be chewing mouthfuls of broccoli!
• Telling them a shot won’t hurt is very ineffective — particularly if they just saw my husband get his.
• If I ask them to keep their rooms clean, mine should be without clutter.
• If I expect them to pick things up when they see them out of place, I should grab hold of that errant sandal before I trip over it.
• If I want them to make time each day to pray and read God’s Word, they should see me with my Bible open and in prayer.

Oh, as a model, I regularly fail. But on those all-too-frequent occasions my children can hopefully watch me model honesty, repentance, and seeking forgiveness.

I know I cannot be the parent I would hope to be on my own. I know I cannot model what I want my children to live in my own strength.

Striving to walk in the Spirit, I hope that I never have to see my children suffer through the ramifications of “do what I say, not what I do.” I seek God’s wisdom and rest in His grace as little eyes are watching.

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Additional Resources

On Being a Model
Being a model by living what we profess.

Mentoring
A few thoughts on the subject.