Who knew?!

Something really profound has started to unfold in our household. Seriously, prepare to be blown away.

Are home schooled kids really that different from school kids or is this just a lucky random phase my kids seem to be going through? I'm sure it would be generalizing, wrong, whatever, to assume it's home schooling but then I can't help but wonder with what we've been seeing in our home lately.

Cases in point:

7 yr old: "Mama, I can't wait to go with Daddy on shut in visits. Mrs. B (95 yrs old) is my best friend!"

same 7 yr old: "Mama, I love it when Mrs. D (wheel chair ridden neighbor in late 50's) comes outside to walk her dog, she's my best friend."

Me to husband "How did shut in visits go today?"

Husband "Great, at first the woman we saw was asking a lot of questions about why we home school and was very skeptical. She was even quizzing our son to see if he 'knew anything' and asked 'what we do all day'. But by the end she was singing his praises and was stunned as she watched him delight in playing with and taking care of her 18 month old granddaughter. She said, 'It's amazing, he's just SO sweet and nice to EVERYONE!'"

7 yr old, "Mama, that little girl was SO SWEET and CUTE! It was so fun making her laugh."

I could go on and on but suddenly the differences are really starting to stand out. A friend was recently complaining to me about her son who is an elementary student in a private school. She was bemoaning the fact that he has entered his teenage years early and is very sassy, rolling his eyes and withdrawing from his siblings and family...not in a depressed kind of way but just in a teenage way. But she supposed it was normal and he would eventually grow out of it. Another mom who was with us agreed that her daughter was going through the same thing, also in elementary.  I nodded sympathetically but did not add to the conversation because I couldn't!

My children are sinners. Duh. All you have to do is read previous posts to see how frustrating they can be. But my kids ADORE family. Their brothers are their best friends. My oldest has been amazing me more and more. If his baby brother cries he runs from across the house to care for him. He's quite a demanding 1 yr old and has taken to LOVING the website www.starfall.com. So my 7 yr old got on the abc's portion and did it with him to calm him down while I was cooking supper, without my even asking! Meanwhile I'll find my 4 yr old rubbing my 3 yr old's back when he trips and falls. Or I'll see him run for the bathroom when he see's the 3 yr old going in because he knows he can't reach the light switch.

Perhaps the real reason is my kids are so bored from "doing nothing" all day. ;) They have nothing better to do than help their brothers and hang out making each other happy.

My sister, mother of 10 kids, sends her kids to elementary at the public school then brings them home for middle and high. Her kids are amazing. They love being together as a family and recently my sister posted video on her blog of all the kids opening their Christmas presents. Well, as each one opened their gift the others were crowded around cheering for him or her and truly delighting in the happiness of their sibling. They are in public school but they exhibit the same love for family and one another that I'm seeing in my kids.

So I know it's not just the school factor, but hey, I just had to say that I'm so excited to see this completely different family evolving in front of me than I ever was a part of as a kid. My parents saw to it that I was in church every single Sunday and my Mom and Dad were parents of faith and tried to make it an active part of our home life...but my siblings and I were selfish and self absorbed and competitive beyond belief.

But God's Holy Spirit is working in my home, answering my prayers, and creating faith and service and joy in serving in children far younger than I ever expected to see it in! Thanks be to God!