Not living close to either set of grandparents right now has touched a sentimental chord in me.
Reflecting on how grandparents can inspire your homeschool journey, I am grateful that I have had my parent’s influence on my sons.
Adding grandparents into our homeschool journey has been such a precious tool that I didn’t even realize in the beginning of my homeschool journey what I had.
{My parents took the day to have over all the grandsons to tell them about their “roots”. You can see an old family portrait of us on the table.}
Too, with the view this world takes sometimes that grandparents are out of touch, I have always known that my parents have been the very foundation of my family.
In times past, older ones use to be honored and rightly so because of their experience, age and wisdom.
What I am saying is that if you live anywhere near your parents, include them in your homeschool.
Even if they doubt your ability to homeschool, including them in your journey forges the bond between your child and grandparent.
Too, grandparents get a glimpse of what one-to-one tutoring looks like.
Look at this list of how to include grandparents in your homeschooling.
- When in good health, my parents were part of the audience at the end of the year wrap up. They don’t mind a bit listening to all the things your children have learned.
- My parents went to most of the music recitals and boosted my sons’ confidence and fed their love of music.
- My mother was a source of huge encouragement to me when I had one of those days where the little yellow school bus was looking real good.
- My father has spent time with the boys when I needed a break from them.
- Does your mom have a craft or skill she enjoys that she can pass on to your girls or boys?
- My mother steered me toward good books for read alouds and even purchased books I might not have purchased.
- My dad was the best “gopher” for that one itty bitty thing I needed for a science experiment and couldn’t get because I had one or two kids sick at home. Dad to the rescue to gather the rest of my supplies.
- Did I mention my dad’s garage housed enough implements to keep my boys busy for days trying to figure them all out? Does that count as hands-on science?
- Though my mother was not in good health, she came on field trips with us and attended our homeschool co-ops when possible. At our field trips, I even noticed other grandparents there helping with the little ones so that mom could spend with the older kids on the field trip.
- At our 50’s co-op, my mom taught a few of the kids how to jitterbug. Priceless!
- Thank goodness my mother loves gardening because gardening doesn’t particularly get my adrenaline pumping. She was able to share some of her expertise with my boys.
{My parents even attended informal ceremonies when the boys received an award for finishing a co-op about learning Spanish.}
Though my parents have always been supportive of homeschooling, the boys’ paternal grandmother wasn’t so confident.
It’s important to remember that grandparents went to public school and public school looked different back then. When grandparents went to school, it seems there was still a focus on a well-rounded out education.
Nowadays, with more and more public schools deleting enrichment programs, it is important to utilize one of the best and most precious homeschooling tools – grandparents.
Have you included grandparents in your journey?
What are some ways you include them?
Hugs and love ya,
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