Discipline, “the practice of training,” is nowhere more necessary than in the application of education. Whether we are schooling from an all-in-one boxed curriculum, an eclectic mix of sources, or choosing a life-schooling or unschooling option, the practice of training our family in a disciplined education is crucial. So, what does it mean to treat this lifestyle of educating our children as a discipline? We exercise discipline to train ourselves to moderate our weaknesses and train our children to behave appropriately. Since we are educating our children, it makes sense that we would utilize and teach this valuable life skill within our homeschool world.
Whatever homeschooling looks like in your family, the fact that you have decided to take charge of your children’s education means choosing to apply a particular discipline to your family life. One aspect of this is that we sometimes push forward with education even when it’s challenging. It’s a simple fact of life that there will be hard days. The world is full of difficult tasks that need to be done, and it takes a well-trained mind to set itself to push through on a challenging day. Your kids are watching and living the life that you create, on the difficult days and the easy ones. They need to know how to respond. Our fortitude in the face of adversity is key to the patterns they are building in their thought processes. Our kids need to see us do hard things so that they know they can persevere through difficulties.
As adults, we exercise self-discipline to get ourselves to work, appointments, and events even when we would rather do something else. By pushing through a homeschool day even when you need a break, you prepare your children to face tough days with levelheaded persistence.
You won’t always have the option to take a day off. While that may be a reason to take it while you can, it is also an excellent reason to push through and help your children feel the accomplishment of having done something hard. When we exercise the necessary discipline to work through a tough spot, we illustrate how to work hard to earn future freedoms. Frequent rewards without responsibility and discipline lose their value and impact, and can create a sense of entitlement and ease.
Ultimately, it is crucial to have a disciplined structure to rely on, allowing you to pursue your educational goals even when emotions run high. Assuming that you’re parenting and schooling humans, you’re going to run into some very emotional times in your academic life. Parents and children will experience emotional responses to each other and the challenges that learning can bring. All emotions are powerful tools for learning about your child and yourself, and they are valuable for developing maturity and empathy. But they can also be detrimental to progress when they are allowed to be in charge of a situation. With time, understanding, and practice, you can learn to manage your emotional expression and respond appropriately to your children’s emotional outbursts. Children are human and often experience stronger emotions than they know how to manage. Through your example and guidance, your children learn that they can manage their big feelings, more importantly, that they are safe with you to feel and experience big emotions.
You will earn rich rewards for your days, and your children will reap a lifetime of benefits from choosing to instill a disciplined view of education into your life. You can learn even when it’s hard, even when you’d like a day off, even when everyone is emotional. Push through. Cheer for yourselves. And don’t forget to take that day off soon!
