Let’s talk about leaving a legacy. This is something I have been thinking about quite a bit lately. Mostly because I have been quite busy creating a new business, writing, blogging, and teaching three kids in the midst of raising a toddler. I am busy. I am stressed. I am exhausted. I remember a mom who relished teaching her children. I remember a mom who would take an hour to put her kids to bed because she enjoyed reading book after book while we laughed and played. I remember a mom who would spend the afternoon playing board games. I thought of these things because of the contrast of who I was and who I am today and how this will affect my children.
The mom I became was stressed by having to earn an income on top of homeschooling, being involved in ministry and starting her own business. The mom I am now works on the computer and drinks coffee to the point I wonder if my younger children would recognize me without a coffee cup in one hand and a computer mouse in the other. My TV is on for two hours solely for me to get work done. I still handled my daily duties but joy was missing, organization was a foreign concept, and full hands did not even cover it. Then one day I looked up from my computer, from writing unit studies, from networking, from doing laundry, from grading papers and thought, “what kind of legacy am I leaving my kids!”
Yes, everything I did was to benefit my family. Yet that was not enough. Could they see my efforts were for them? Could they recognize that my focus was on providing for them in the middle of my typing and planning?
This change did not happen overnight. I did not go from the care free mom to the overburdened mom in a day. The progression was slow but the impact is great. I finally decided to prioritize my day. I had to remember why I was home and what goals I had for my children. I purposely stayed home to educate my children and my goal was to raise critically thinking, creative, independent, lifelong learners who honor Christ. It was from that point that everything else would have to fall under, conform to, fit in or it would just have to go! I had to streamline my obligations and responsibilities outside of homeschooling. Homeschooling is the season of my life I am in right now. I have a child who will be 13 and my youngest is 2. I know all too well how fast time flies. It brings tears to my eyes thinking that in only 5 years my oldest will enter college. That’s it! I have five years to impact her life one way or the other. My goal for my oldest to leave my home knowing she was the greatest joy of my life and educating her was my greatest accomplishment. I should not have to tell her. I should not have to explain it to her. She should feel it and know it.
Goodbye overburdened mom and hello mom who educates with purpose and priority. I encourage you all to keep your eyes on your goals and resist over extending yourself. Make sure your children feel like your greatest joy and not another paper to grade in between building a business, making dinner, and responding to another email.