Daddy’s Help

In our academy I bear the majority of the educational responsibility. At least that’s what I thought, until today. Generally my husband provides emotional, discipline and of course financial support. He truly supports what we are doing and is in full agreement that this is the right educational choice for our son. I make the decisions regarding curricula,  lesson plans, educational philosophies, learning styles and the day in day out teaching of school.


Today I gave Jonathan only 3 assignments because I have a bad chest cold and just couldn’t get through an entire class day. Spelling, Math and piano practice. Spelling and math because I don’t want to get “behind”, and piano because he is preparing for a recital in a few weeks. My head started hurting while I was trying to help him with word problems in math. Not my best subject anyway. 5th grade math was making my head spin. So after 3 problems I told him I’d have daddy help him with the last two after dinner. For me that was a big step. 


After dinner Jonathan reminded me that daddy was going to help. They went to the dining room and started working. Ok it’s time for a confession. As I lay on the couch listening to their process, I really wantec to jump in and teach daddy the right way to teach. Hmmmm, Did I really think that? Yep, I shamefully did. Worse yet, I even did call out a few instructions. I even went to the kitchen to get a drink, when in fact I wanted to get closer to the action. Too many comments on my part made it clear that I was frustrating my dh. I finally walked away and yes you guessed it, they got through it just fine without me.


So I got to thinking, ‘How often do I interfere with “daddy help”? The truth is probably more often than I realize. In fact daddy is far more responsible for Jonathan’s education than I give him credit for. Michael is teaching him how to be a man. That isn’t something that I can do. He does it by example, he does it by bible study and prayer training, he does it through discipline and in the proper way to treat women. He does it by teaching him the life skills that men need, like changing tires or yard work. He does it by going to work every day and showing his son that providing for his family is important. He does it by serving in the Lord’s church in many different capacities. 


The reality is that we both are responible for our sons education. I must learn to let go of this idea that I bear the majority responsibility, because while I might be responsible for his reading, writing and arithmetic, Michael is responsible for training up the man that he will become.


Am I alone in these control issues or is this common amongst home-school mom’s? Comment and let me know your thoughts regarding this matter.