Ceding Control

The most difficult thing for me to do as a mom and teacher (and probably as a person) is to cede control. Connor decided the other day that he wanted to write a book. Actually, I wanted to focus on expository writing, but he convinced me that he should write a book instead. I recently converted our Peters family trip blog into a gorgeous photo book, and Connor was impressed. Consequently, we decided Connor could write a blog, and then we could convert it into a book at the end of the year. So, my planned essay writing went completely out the window. After Connor blogged for a few days, I, of course had to try to regain control. Connor bounced downstairs yesterday eager to write his blog, when I suggested,since the blog was about "surviving" homeschooling, shouldn't he begin by brainstorming a list of the challenges to overcome.

"Never mind. I don't want to blog now."

Well, wasn't that a kick in my pants. Here he was all enthusiastic to write, and then I had to put in my two cents. It was obvious that Connor immediately lost the feeling of ownership over his writing. I backed off and let him go back upstairs to read. Thankfully, later that night, he was back to blogging. Last night Connor told me that he shared his blog with his Chinese tutor yesterday, and she asked him if I helped him with it. Happily, he could respond no. He said that sometimes I point out his punctuation/grammar errors, but,
"I told her that my mom thinks I have great ideas, so she lets me write what I want."
Whew! In all my zest for Connor's education I have to work hard to let it be HIS education. And you can see from his blog today that he recognizes the need to study subjects not of his choosing; he just needs to keep control of his own thoughts. Connor's blog is http://homeschooling-akidssurvivalguide.blogspot.com/