All It Takes Is Grace

I am impatient.

I am bossy, stubborn, and a perfectionist.

I need grace.

My preschooler sometimes shows these same qualities.

He needs grace.

Some days I’m not sure who needs grace more: he or I.

When people ask me how I can homeschool…that I must be SO patient…I want to laugh.  They say I must be organized {well, I am that}, and that they could never do it.  They aren’t patient enough. I want to say

“It isn’t patience that makes homeschooling work for us.  It’s grace.”

We extend it to each other.  We get it from God.  We give it to ourselves.

In fact, grace is what every mom needs whether she homeschools or not.  Even if your children aren’t with you all day you need grace.  Kids fight.  Kids don’t pick up.  Kids sometimes just seem to be out to drive us crazy.

They need grace.

Then there are days where they touch our shoulder on a day where we have been shorter than necessary.  Or messy.  Or even more imperfect than usual.  Our uneasiness melts away.  Our doubt and fussiness and insecurities are gone in that moment.

That touch is our child’s way of extending us grace.

If patience was what it took to homeschool or parent there would be far less people doing it.  Instead it takes something more powerful and beautiful than patience.

It takes grace.