I’ll admit it. I didn’t want to change the calendar to August.
I’m not ready for summer to be over.
My girls are changing. I spent last week with just our 13-year-old daughter while our 11-year-old was at camp. I’m continually surprised at the moments of maturity and responsibility from my young teenager; they overtake me in the face of the messy room with clothes piled on the bed and shoes strewn all over the floor.
Then on Friday afternoon, I got to hear all about our 11-year-old’s week at camp as she shared all about the activities, the food, her friends, and a precious spiritual decision she had made.
Change, it is a comin’ again. After three years of homeschooling both girls, we’ve decided to put our older daughter back in school this year. I’ll still be homeschooling our younger daughter, but we’ll be back to hustling out the door to school in the morning, packing lunches, and “real” homework. But she’s excited and I’m excited for her. I look forward to seeing what this year of 8th grade holds for her. Meanwhile, I’ll be having lots of one-on-one time with our younger daughter, and I think it’s going to be really good for us.
It’s so neat to see our girls starting to become the people that they’ll be as adults. But I’ve noticed that I”m changing, too. I long to be a good example for them, which means evaluating my actions and attitudes in light of Scripture and making corrections where needed. I’m trying to listen more and talk less. I’m trying to make assigned tasks (and their current – the second of the summer – pet sitting job) their responsibility and truly release them to taking charge of the process and accepting the outcome.
We’re enjoying the same things at times – like watching Emma together (thanks for the recommendation, Jessica!) and giving ourselves pedicures. I keep reminding myself to enjoy each part of this maturing process as I walk through these days with our daughters. More changes, I’m sure, will be ahead, but I’m grateful that God graciously guides us through each of them and is using every one to refine us to be what He wants us to be.
Praying for you all as you make this change. God uses motherhood to grow and change us in ways we never imagined.
Yes, he does!!!
Change does come, whether or not we are ready. The changing of the seasons always reminds me of that! As your Mother said to me recently, you're going to be fine, it's just going from here to there! Love and prayers! Chris
We were away at the beach last week, so I'm just now starting to get caught up with my blog reading. And something else happened that I'm not sure I'm going to post on my blog.
Change does come, doesn't it? Whether or not we want it. I hope that these changes come about as easily as possible for you.
I'm with you – excited to see how God will work in our lives…but still not thrilled to let go of summer & all this together time in exchange for the school schedule. 🙂
Change scares me, but I've learned that it's a necessary part of life! Enjoy the last moments of summer and looking forward to reading how this school year goes for all of you!
Having the children grow up so quickly scares me… There are so many changes ahead over the next few years… I'm thankful to read of your journey – your children being only a little older than mine… It helps me to read how things are changing for you. Thank you for writing about this.