Proud Mama

I was so proud of my daughter last night. She has a weekly church meeting for her age group and they take prayer requests. She asked them to pray for two girls who she doesn't even know, but she heard from me were having medical issues. I don't even know these girls either, but I have received e-mails about them via a homeschooling e-mail group I am on. One girl has cancer and the other girl was having a major dental procedure done today.

I was proud of her thoughtfulness and caring, and I realized that she is learning that from me. That may sound conceited or something, but it's not like that. I realized that while she is at home with me and I'm sharing things about others and showing my concern, she's learning about being concerned for others. That may sound basic but I think a lot of people do not really think about more than the immediate family that surrounds them. I think it takes selflessness and a conscious effort to care for others in a meaningful way.

Some days when I'm homeschooling I feel like a failure. I home school via a public charter and we are required to log attendance and mark progress, which is measured in percentages of overall completion for the year. Many days we don't make the kind of progress I would like. But I have to remember that I am not just teaching my daughter to read and write and add numbers. I am teaching her how to be a compassionate, caring individual who thinks about how she can help others and how she can reach her full potential.

When she came home and told me she had prayed for those girls she doesn't even know, I realized it was a good school day, regardless of anything else that did or did not happen. I felt successful. :)