Question: I know that the Lifestyle of Learning approach to home education is what I need to implement in our family, but I don’t know how to start. My two oldest children are high schoolers, and they are wary of any of my “new ideas”. Where do I begin with high schoolers?
~ Beginning Lifestyle of Learning
Begin with Your Relationships
The most important thing to focus on when beginning a Lifestyle of Learning approach to home education is your relationships. Influencing your children toward delight-directed learning and Christlike character requires that you have a heart-level relationship with them. If you have your children’s hearts, they will willingly and eagerly follow your lead and your instruction and desire your direction. If you are experiencing conflict in your relationships with your children, or they don’t trust you because of their previous experience with you, then you have a lot to do to repair your relationship with them.
The process of reconciling relationships will always begin with you as the parent. You’ll need to press into the Lord in order to come to understand how your relationship with your children was damaged and seek Him for steps to take toward reconciliation and repentance. Begin to let go of schoolish expectations on them as you spend time learning to meet the needs of their soul. You’ll need to spend time learning about true biblical Education. You can start with reading Wisdom’s Way of Learning, The Two-Pronged Education Myth and Transformational Education.
Marilyn Howshall’s book The Cons”train”ing Ways of the Lord has an article in it about helping older children cooperate with you as you develop a lifestyle that supports true growth and learning.
I strongly recommend you keep in touch with Lifestyle of Learning in order to get involved in the soon coming Seven Seasons to LYFE on-line program. This program will help you walk through the processes you’ll need in order to Liberate Your Family’s Education toward implementing your own lifestyle of learning.
Blessings ~ Barbie Poling
This message is timely. I am understanding anew the importance of loving my children. I’m FINALLY beginning to understand how LOVE will draw them. That is the first step. When I have their hearts, they will be willing to learn.
Why is my heart so slow to learn? I’m thankful for God’s patience.