I came downstairs this morning, and Ansley had gotten the Baby up. That's not so unusual, as it happens sometimes if I'm still showering or getting ready and she wakes up earlier than usual. However, Ansley had also made Avery scrambled eggs, and was feeding her while making her own grits and helping Christian pour his cereal.
And my first thought was "THIS is nine??"
Awesome.
I have no idea if this is typical of nine year olds, because, well, Ansley is the only nine year old I have so I have nothing to compare it to. But I just want to document how extremely, massively helpful nine year old Ansley is. I am really blessed by her willingness to serve, and I hope to cultivate that passion in her. We met some new neighbors who have a two and a half year old and a one year old. Ansley was with me, of course, when we met them. The conversation turned to schooling, and the mom asked me where Ansley went to school. I said we homeschool, knowing this is usually the part in the conversation where things get weird and people have to go. ("Look at the time!" they'll say, and I know that's code for whoa, freak alert!) She was genuinely interested in it, and was not familiar with it at all. I talked about it briefly, and then she said something that just encouraged the mess out of me. Most days, I feel so overwhelmed and scattered, like I can't keep up or catch up or do all the things I want to do as a Mama. But then this complete stranger that I had known for all of five minutes said "Well, if THIS (pointing to Ansley) is the result of homeschooling, I can see exactly why you do it."
I can't even tell you how much that blessed me. Oftentimes, we homeschoolers get a bad rap as having freaky, overly sheltered non socialized kids, but this woman saw something in Ansley that wasn't freakish. She saw a nine year old girl who was quick with conversation, eager to help her out with her two children, and won over this stranger in a matter of minutes. I am not bragging about Ansley at all (ok, maybe just a little) as much as I am just so thankful that the fruits of our labor are starting to show. Homeschooling is HARD WORK, and as much as I am blessed by it, I am also challenged and stretched in new ways every day. I know God is teaching me so much through it that I never would have learned if my kids were in school. But oftentimes it is very thankless work. My kids don't give me hugs at the end of every day and say "Thanks for teaching us, Mom! We are so thankful for your sacrifice!"
So a new neighbor's comments at the end of the day just really cemented for me why I am called to this season, and why I'm okay with not getting thank you's at the end of every day, and even why I'm okay with the comments and looks we get from other peple, because the bigger picture is far greater than I could imagine.
So I delight in my daughter making eggs for my youngest, and my oldest getting a compliment that made me smile for days.
These days can be hard, but the rewards are SO SWEET.
I encourage you, homeschooling Mama, to keep at it. Keep pressing into the God who loves you and delights to encourage you. The rewards will come.
"In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28