Oh, the wonderful members of the M.O.B. Society that have connected already! And the surprises that are to come!!! What a blessing! If you missed what the M.O.B. Society is all about, check out our introductory post for more details!
Today we are so blessed to have Stef from Layton Family Joy sharing with us! And in addition to a fabulous guest post, she is doing a giveaway just for you boy moms over on her blog today! Scoot yourself on over there now!
ADD LOVE TO THE CURRICULUM
by Stef Layton, Layton Family Joy
We have enjoyed homeschooling for two years now, yet I’m always plagued with the question, “Am I doing this right?”
In my effort to raise a well-rounded young man – I wonder what more could I add into my son’s day so he is getting the best out of being home schooled. I can add subjects, chapter books, audio books, educational magazines, online games, worksheets, crafts, physical education, more socialization, another field trip, piano practice, and foreign language flash cards … there are amazing resources waiting to be bought up!
But homeschooling can quickly sound more like boot camp – and there is no love at boot camp.
It is my desire for my son to be strong, bold, and brave! But even though he is a boy, he still needs love. If I do not hug more, laugh more, pray more, forgive more, and spend more quality time with him … if I do not love him, then he is just a kid who was able to stay home and memorize more facts than the average kid. Yes, I want to raise smart men! But when they look back on their lives what will be more important? I think strong self-esteem in knowing how significant they are to God and greatly loved by their parents ranks higher than naming all the presidents in chronological order.
If Christ’s gospel is love, then let’s add love to the curriculum!
I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
Awesome post, very important for moms and dads. Sometimes I think parents don’t think their boy needs the hugs and kisses because maybe they weren’t raised that way. One minute my boy is having a sword fight and the next he is telling me he loves me and I give him a big hub. Thank you for this post!
Great post, Stef! I just taught on Discovering Your Child’s Love Language for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo! (www.tinyurl.com/UltimateHSExpo) It is so important that love is the constant core subject and the foundation!
Blessings!
Tara
This is such a wonderful post — I love it, Stef!
One of the major things we work on is matters of the heart, character, and time with God. It has been amazing to watch the transformation in my son since we began homeschooling.
It is truly a gift and a blessing!
Thanks Robyn, Tara, and Karen! It took me a few years to realize that raising a boy didn’t mean I had to raise him in a tough way. I was very hard on my (now) 7yr old when he was 5&6 – sadly reminding him he had to “grow up” when he just wanted to hug and cuddle. His love language is quality time and touch – mine is words of affirmation. When I thought telling him “good job, you’re awesome” was enough he just wanted a hug instead. I was so paranoid I was going to raise a “feminine” boy.
Thankfully – God showed me this tender hearted boy needed something more I wasn’t giving him!
Wonderful reminder Stef. Sometimes I get so caught up in just getting everything done that I miss opportunities to sow love into their hearts. And love is one of the main reasons I want to homeschool.
Very good reminder! I catch myself being too hard on my almost 7 yo as well…especially since he’s the oldest and my next one is a girl. I have to stop and remind myself that he’s still little and needs to be shown love and affection just like anyone else! They grow up so fast that I don’t want to miss an opportunity to let him know how much he means to me. Thanks for sharing this.
Wonderful reminder Stef! Thank you so much!
Sometimes I have to stop, bite my tongue and remember “he’s only 4”.
They grow up way too fast and I just dont’ like it 🙂
Thank you for sharing this and I too will RT and share it!
Meghan
Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes the little guy can be so intense that I feel like I am just wrangling him and protecting those around him! 🙂 He needs just as much love as my daughter. I need to remember that.
Awesome reminder!!! I want my little guy to show love to his wife/kids one day. That starts with him recognizing my love for him now!! Thanks, Stef!
I’m a mom of girls, but it was a great post for all moms! Thanks Stef!
great post!! this MOB society is going to be so interesting for me b/c my boy is only 15.5 months old. i look forward to learning from all of you ladies who have gone through it all!!
I’m in that learning stage as well and my oldest will be 4 tomorrow! Love learning together!
I have two boys ages 9 and 6. My 9 year old went through a brief period of not wanting hugs in public, but I’m so glad he got beyond that because I love hugging on him!! I certainly didn’t want to embarrass him, and I did double up at home. Thanks for reminding us to love on them. I keep telling my boys that is one thing I don’t want to ever change about our relationship.
I love these comment! The next generation of men are going to surely be powerful because they know they are loved! It’s okay to show love, give love, and receive it!
Amen!
This reminds me of a passage from Sally Clarkson’s The Mission of Motherhood:
“We must constantly keep in mind that, in God’s eyes, the issues of intellectual prowess, social success, and financial development are peripheral at best. The most important goal of parenting, as Jeremiah 9 clearly indicates, is not to raise smart children, socially gracious children, or financially savvy children.”
Here’s the verse in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”
Oooh! I love that quote Jessica! I need to pick up that book! Thanks for sharing that!
Great post and so true. My little man is so smart for his age, but above all he is sweet, affectionate, loving…. that’s what makes me proudest 🙂
What a GREAT post! I have never thought of “adding love to our curriculum,” but you are dead-on! Thanks for making me think about it… I’ll start being intentional in that aspect of our homeschooling today. Hmmm… Love 101. 😉
This is wonderful! Even if you don’t homeschool or if your kids are too young or old for school, love is essential to their lives. Boys especially, too often people think that boys don’t need kisses and hugs because they are supposed to be macho and boy-ish. So untrue; my favorite daily memories are kissing my sons and seeing them be affectionate toward one another.
Ouch, I admit I have been way hard on my two along the way. But then lax in others. I shall heed your post. (Of course, they are teens now, so my approach will be way dif.)
BTW: I now have the button, will put up, tweet, and have joined theblogfrog… woot.
You go girl!!!
What a great post!
It is so easy to get caught up in the curriculum and slowly slide into boot camp mode… This post is an awesome reminder to put more of the focus back onto the reasons why we homeschool (to spend time with our children and build relationships with them – which can only be done with love).
Blessings
Honey
Thanks “SomeGirl” – that’s funny LOVE 101!
I found MOB from Twitter (somehow-can’t remember how!) and I am so glad I did. We “only” do preschool at home now but it is great to see such a great post about boys and their need for learning about love…I can’t wait to be apart of MOB!