A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION 
(a special letter from Noel Adams, Brett's wife)
December 2002
The holidays are upon us again, that time of year when
home school moms breathe a collective sigh of relief. Ahhh… no algebra,
no grammar, no salt dough maps that don't turn out, no paint from your
1st grader's project in your toddler's hair. We can focus on baking cookies,
wrapping gifts, spending time with the kids.
The kids?!? Maybe spending time with the kids is not
what you had in mind. After all, you've been spending lots of time with
kids since August. They are complaining about school. They're arguing
with you. They're frustrated and you are frustrated. If this is true of
your home, then I suggest you make a New Year's Resolution; not the stale
ones like eating better or promoting world peace, but a fresh, new resolution.
Resolve to get to know your kids this year. Resolve to understand what
makes them tick, what excites them; what frustrates them, what they like
and what they don't.
Getting to know your children means understanding
their learning styles. Perhaps your fourth grader is frustrated not with
his math facts but with having to sit still for an hour. Perhaps your
high-schooler is arguing not because she's rebellious but because that
history assignment you gave her is too wide open and she finds security
in boundaries and precision.
Getting to know your children means understanding their
love languages. What says, "I love you" to your child most? A hug? Personal
time with you? Rewards? An act of service? A word of encouragement? Each
of your children will respond to one of these acts of kindness more than
the others. Do you know which one?
In our home, we take these weeks off at Christmas
and no school is allowed. That's a perfect time to read a book like The
Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias or The Five Love Languages
by Gary Chapman.
Resolve to know your children and understand them.
Your schooling will flow better; your home will have more harmony; and
you will have the joy of discovering the image of our Maker in each of
your precious charges.
Noel Adams
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