We spend so much time and energy planning what to teach our kids.
And while this is certainly valuable and essential to our homeschooling, it’s easy to neglect what WE are interested in learning.
And this is such a shame.
Because as adults and parents, OUR continued learning and growing are important too! Our interests and curiosities are worth pursuing as well!
I’m going to pose a question and I’d like for you to really think about your answer.
What do YOU want to learn this year?
Notice I didn’t say what do you think you SHOULD learn this year or what do you want to MASTER this year.
Nope.
I’m asking about something you WANT to learn. Something that piques your interest. Causes you to lean in a little and open your eyes a bit wider. Something you’re curious about.
What is the first thing that comes to mind for you?
When we contemplate learning a new skill or pursuing a new hobby, it’s easy to jump to the big and lofty activities. Completing a marathon. Learning a new language. Taking up tennis.
And if any of these examples excite you; by all means, go for it!
But if you find yourself feeling the weight of self-imposed ideas about what you feel you should learn or pursue, I am here to grant you permission to let this burden go.
Seriously, release it!
Instead, allow yourself to consider topics or hobbies that stir a little excitement for you. If these happen to be things that feel a little smaller, that is absolutely OK!
I’m going to encourage you to sit with these possibilities for a moment. Because the idea here is to consider things that feel interesting to you, not to add another item or goal to your to-do list
Now if you’re feeling stuck, I promise, you’re not alone. This just means that it’s time for some brainstorming.
First, let’s consider some examples together.
How about any of the following?
- Searching for a super-moist chocolate cake recipe, (ah, the ever-elusive moist chocolate cake!)
- Learning a couple of different ways to braid hair.
- Reading up on a specific country that has always interested you.
- Exploring ways to start an herb garden.
- Practicing the basics of sewing.
- Trying a few yoga poses.
- Gathering markers and doing different styles of hand lettering.
- Taking a self-defense class.
- Joining a book club.
- Borrowing a telescope from your library and studying the night sky.
See! Lots of ideas to help spark some possibilities.
Time to get started!
Use Pinterest to search for ideas based on your interests as they arise. Check YouTube for related instructional videos. These two resources alone will provide countless opportunities to learn about any topic of interest.
And of course, I must also mention the local library. Be sure to check out what current offerings are available.
If you have the time and money to attend an in-person class, I encourage you to let your instructor know that your goals are to learn and have fun. Don’t be afraid to express any insecurities you might be having. Low stress and realistic expectations are the way to go!
And don’t forget how inspirational books, music, and podcasts can be! You might end up discovering a topic of interest through one (or more) of these channels.
Tips to help you along the way:
- Embrace your mistakes. This is how we learn, after all.
- Remind yourself that achieving mastery is not your goal. Learning and fun are!
Benefits:
- Pursuing your own learning is a fantastic way to practice self-care. It keeps you interested, engaged, and inspired.
- Modeling a lifelong pursuit of knowledge demonstrates its importance to your children. Learning isn’t something that stops once your schooling days are over. It continues throughout one’s life.
And remember…
It’s OK to make mistakes. In fact, it’s encouraged!
This isn’t something you need to stick with. It’s OK to change your mind and choose a different activity. You’re allowed to switch course, abandon ship, learn something different!
The point is to learn and have fun. If you’re not having fun, explore something else.
So let me know, what do YOU want to learn this year?
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