Weak Spots? Am I the Only One?

Have you ever had a situation while educating your child where your weak spots show? No? Well, you must be one of the few!  If you answered yes, please keep reading. This post is just for you!

I’d like to think of myself of an educated, intelligent person. And, I don’t think I’m in the minority! But there are times in my own child’s educational processes that I second guess myself. Or rather I should say, my child makes it blatantly obvious that my memory isn’t that good or have hit upon a very sore spot from my own schooling past.

Take for example English. I speak it every day. I use it every day. I’ve been told I’m a great communicator. So then, why is it a grammar worksheet can reduce me to appearing like a brand new English speaker? My children look at me like English is not my primary language. I come off telling them, “I know how to speak it but don’t know every little term for every tense, every minute part of speech, and which line goes where on sentence diagramming.” Can you relate?

Moving on to History. Oh my. Where was I my entire schooling career? I swear I didn’t learn any of this. Yeah, I knew about Columbus, that Ancient Egypt was Ancient History, our first president and all that jazz, but WOW! I am learning so much that even my children are amazed at my progress! Since homeschooling my kids, my chronological historical timeline has exploded exponentially! This stuff is great! Can I get an amen from any of the other moms out there?

And let’s not forget Math. I only made it to Geometry in high school before waving the white flag. Geometry was utterly and excruciatingly painful. So much so that I took it not once, but twice. I think my second Geometry teacher had pity on me and gave me a passing grade. So, how did I raise such math geniuses you ask? My firstborn was “Mr. Math.” He loved it, ate it, and could teach it. By the time child number 2 needed help, Mr. Math was right there. Mr. Math taught himself all the way up to Pre Calculus without even so much as a sneeze from me! Mr. Math also assisted child number 2 and 3 until he grew into an adult, spread his wings, and flew away. By this time, it is child number 3 who has met my nemesis, Geometry! After decades, I come head to head with my foe. I understand it a little bit more this time through, but it is still just as painful. They say “time heals all wounds”. But not this one! Anyone else with unresolved math issues?

There’s something quite rewarding in teaching our children from home. I’ve enjoyed not only seeing their intellect blossom but have also enjoyed the secondary fruit of learning all the things I swear I was never taught. Or at least, didn’t bother to remember.  But I’m wondering, am I the only one?