My family joined a homeschool community 18 months ago. It has been the absolute best decision we made for our homeschool experience because we needed new friends, a pace setter, and some fresh ideas to keep things going for us. But we all hated Latin. I toyed around with being one of the moms that ignored the Latin component because my children needed time in their week for studying other subjects. We faked our way through the first year.
Now, halfway through the next year, I am finding myself enjoying the subject matter much more. I have enjoyed making connections to modern day vocabulary, finding Latin words hidden in smart literature and poetry, and the understanding which comes with staring at something long enough. I am glad we stuck with it. I am glad I didn’t give up.
The course of my relationship with Latin has obviously had ups and downs. It has been one of quiet research, YouTube video searching, texting friends, and time. I came close to throwing in the towel so many times, yet my intrigue as to why so many families choose to include this in their curriculum held me together. I just went with it and tried not to stress. Now that I have a very rudimentary understanding of declensions and conjugations, I am beginning to see a little hint of beauty in places I used to only see frustration.
For me, Latin is no longer about translations or homework assignments. Latin stands for that which is difficult yet not impossible. Latin stands for sticking with things even when they are tough. Latin stands for trusting the course and those that have walked this path before me. Latin stands as a reminder that I might just need not know all there is to know in life quite yet. Latin stands for getting over falling into a homeschool stereotype even though I loathe stereotypes. Latin stands for modeling to my kids that I am learning right alongside them and that life is entirely about continual learning.
I am sure this isn’t my last subject that will require more of me than I am prepared to give. Over the course of my homeschool career, there will be other challenging subjects or topics that I will need to figure out and Latin has shown me that I am able to learn and teach as I go.
Have there been parts of schooling which asked more of you than you expected? What have you done to help yourself over the hump of super tough subjects?
Lindsay Banton is a caffeinated mother to three great kids. She never expected to homeschool, but has found that it is a wonderful addition to their lifestyle and wouldn’t change it for the world. In addition to homeschooling, Lindsay works alongside her husband in campus ministry at a large university in Connecticut. She grew up in Virginia but has settled into life in New England, learning to love the long winters, cool springs, green summers and gorgeous autumns- and has built a boot collection to meet all the demands. She is currently blogging at www.lindsaybanton.com.
