Children Are Like Snowflakes

Children are like snowflakes.
As I’m snuggled up with my youngest son, under mountains of blankets and pillows, I can’t help but cherish this moment.
While the wind and snow are swirling around outside my window, we’re warm and cozy, talking, giggling, and drinking hot cocoa.
We start talking about snowflakes and he makes a simple statement:

“No two snowflakes are exactly the same, but they are all beautiful just the same.”

Of course, a simple statement like that sets my brain into high gear:

Children are like snowflakes.

This simple statement also reflects our homeschooling and/or parenting journey.
Children are like snowflakes.

Winter is a great season for slowing down and appreciating the journey you are on. Not the journey you WISH you were on, but the journey you are actually on.

Every journey has bumps and bruises, hills and valleys, snares, and snarls.
However, these are not what define us or what our children will remember.

Each child is unique. No two children are the same, but each is beautiful.
It is important to really get to know your child’s heart so that you can reach it.

Each child is unique.

I have a math mind and always have. I assumed everyone did.
As my oldest daughter approached her elementary years, it became apparent that she did NOT have a math mind. She didn’t see everything in numbers as I do.
I had to change my approach; challenge myself in ways I’d never imagined.
She has a literary mind.

Allowing that to shine through, we explored books together. We read together, listened to recorded books, and watched movies that were based on books. Then we built dioramas of fictional settings that we’d read about. After that, we found recipes in books we read and headed to the kitchen to give them a try. We dressed up as characters from various books and acted out the stories.

The journeys we took are cherished memories.
Instead of stressing over what I thought we should be doing each day, I learned to relax and just go with the flow.
She is now a college graduate with a degree in Theater Arts.
Nothing I ever would have considered for her when we were pretending we were Laura Ingalls and family living through the long, never-ending winter.

She is unique.

My oldest son had similar interests to my daughter. He loved reading with us and listening to books and stories with us. For him, I needed to add in more workshop-type experiences. He loved tools–cutting, sawing, designing everything we read about.
I figured I had this homeschooling adventure down pat. What a breeze!

Time to spice things up.

Then my second son was born.
Interestingly, he shares my math mind.
Although he would listen to stories and read with us at times, it was not something he enjoyed or wanted to do.
Wow, did that ever throw me for a loop.
However, as our journey progressed, I was able to see his talents and understand his mind.
I was able to tailor his education to fit his personality.
My journey with him would be different than with my daughter and my other son.
Then I had my third son and let’s just say, his style is completely different than any of the rest of us and has forced me to re-think everything I thought I knew. I have had to restructure our entire learning journey so that I could provide him with the atmosphere he needs to thrive.

Each of my sons is unique.

We all learn differently.

Each of my children learns differently. Each excels in different scenarios.
Children are all like snowflakes. No two are the same, but each is beautiful.
I’ve learned to adapt, relax and change expectations, and enjoy the journey with each one of them.