What is one distraction/trap homeschooling moms should be aware of?
This is such a great question!
I believe that comparing ourselves to others is one of the greatest and most damaging distractions we face as homeschooling moms. Although we can certainly learn from other families and their ways of doing things, we must find our direction from the Lord for our particular families.
One great thing to remember is that God’s principles remain the same for all of us, but the methods or ways we live those out can look different from each other. So we search God’s Word, pray for wisdom, and live out those convictions in the sustainable ways that He leads because conviction gives us courage and confidence.
“We must find our direction from the Lord for our particular families.”
We live in a world that moves very quickly which can be very distracting and cause us to fall into the comparison trap. There are typically multiple forms of media (television, radio, phones, laptops, iPads, etc.) potentially streaming into our homes. If we can see these as tools that we use intentionally only for the benefit of our families and use them accordingly, only then will they also be helpful. Scrolling mindlessly through social media doesn’t typically put our minds to rest, our hearts at peace, or make us content with how God has directed us. Instead, it has the powerful potential to take time away from the good work that God has given us at home with our children.
We need to be vigilant gatekeepers, protecting ourselves and our kids from unnecessary distractions and comparisons. We need to set the tone in our homes to reflect the convictions that God has laid on our hearts so that instead of looking back with regret at opportunities missed while our children were home, we look back with joy and thankfulness that we were found faithful to be fully present.
“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
—Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV)
