The God Wink

Right now I should be sleeping… My family is sleeping and we are on vacation at my in-laws and I am even enjoying a great screen break. But when God speaks to you and gives you a God wink, sometimes you need to run with it even when it fails to make sense and requires cold toes getting out of bed.

So let’s talk blog status… As I write this, my second blog post, my website is under construction. And when I say under construction, I mean I have bought the domain name and need to learn how to build the whole thing. Many would say it’s non-existent, but I have faith for this blog and faith is all about believing what you cannot see. And I, my future friends, have faith that God is going to do something amazing with this blog. Evidence you ask? My God wink…

First, let’s talk about how this blog got its name. God placed this blog on my heart months ago, but it always felt like I was forcing a name or a logo. One thing I know is that following God shouldn’t feel forced. Yes, it may have its difficulties, but peace should reign. Well, it was one of the few days this year that I was on a roll with homeschooling. One of those days where everything seems to flow effortlessly. I had the kids all together to learn a math lesson and it felt so good to be living out what God has been calling me to do. It was just them and I, and for once I was completely present in the moment. That’s the way I want to parent. Present. Not distracted. Alive in the moment. Why is that so difficult? More on that later, but for tonight I want you to know that it was in that present moment that God whispered the name of this blog to me – The Curriculum Curator.

And then I let it stall out as the outside world clamored for my attention. But tonight, as I purposefully shut out the world, I picked up the book Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie. I read the first lines of the Forward by Christopher A. Perrin, and I knew I was experiencing a God wink moment. You see, the forward talked all about the definition of curriculum. It verbalized the purpose of this blog that has been bouncing around in my heart. Reading the words made this blog feel so tangible, I had to get my computer out and type. I know God has been asking me to step away from other commitments and I couldn’t reason why, but rather follow obediently (which does not always come easy for me). But follow I will, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

CP writes, “In Latin, curriculum means ‘a running’ or a ‘racecourse.’ “If curriculum is not just merely the resources we use, but our journey and the very process itself…what are we running towards?” What is the prize we are focusing on at the end of the race? Is not homeschooling our children more than just being able to take their picture at the end of the year holding a book and announcing they have finished all 100 reading lessons? Is not teaching more than opening up a workbook and checking off math for the day? In all my years of teaching, I have never been one to follow a textbook or prescribed curricular resource. I’ve always been eclectic and have strived to create as many of my resources as possible. It is when you create content or at least make it yours that you are able to own the lesson as a teacher and make it come alive. But creating everything yourself as a homeschool mom is impossible. Teaching in a classroom doesn’t require you to keep up with laundry and a screaming baby needing to be nursed. It is hard and you don’t have a free minute, but you have more headspace as a public educator, even if it is only the drive home. As a homeschool mom, silence means staying up after midnight and becoming exhausted or sneaking in a shower to actually wash your hair. Not to mention we can’t be an expert in all content areas. Curricular resources are certainly necessary, but not letting them own you is key. You are still the guide for your child, and they are supports, not the end all be all we make them out to be. Let’s put them in their place and put us on the driver seat as God has anointed us to be.

Until next time,

Annie

The Curriculum Curator