Our Priorities Have Changed

I used to be caught up in the rat race. I followed the cultural norms of academic tradition. But when I finally paused long enough to really listen to the natural instincts that come with being a mother, but are often silenced by the loudness of the pressure that is put on us to conform to social conventions, I knew very clearly that I was not on the right path for my family. It took zooming out and looking at the big picture for me to see that I didn't like the direction my kids were headed, and something major needed to change.

So we pulled our kids out of school and started homeschooling. It's a complete 180 from where I used to be. Actually, I'm finding out that MANY homeschooling mothers are former public school teachers (which is an interesting fact). It feels liberating: like freedom for my kids to grow up with space to breathe and a chance to hold on to what childhood is meant to be. We prioritize:

• slow mornings to read quietly

• creative, unstructured play

• time to explore in the sun

• the chance to simply be kids

• intrinsically motivated, self-directed learning

• the gift of boredom

• learning through real life

In her book The Call of the Wild + Free, Ainsley Arment says, "Let's stop striving to be good moms by other people's standards and start becoming the mother our children need." To me, life is too short, and we love our children too much, to do anything else.

It took me a while to understand that giving my children “the best” wasn’t about keeping them in the rat race. It was about nurturing their imaginations, teaching them to prioritize their peace, and giving them the security of home and family. Arment says, "The time we spend together as a family will root them deeply in values that matter and dreams that inspire."

I am by no means advocating for anyone to make the same choices I've made. I think we all have our own paths to travel. But if you are feeling the pressure of the rat race, and it grinds against what your instincts are telling you, then please know that you always have the opportunity to be the leader of your own life, and you can choose to slow down, say no, and step off the hamster wheel. At the end of the day, our children need us to trust ourselves enough to create a life that makes room for joy, peace, and connection. And that is a gift far greater than anything the world tells us we “should” be chasing.