Here’s something I learned from my 14 yo son tonight. As background, he went on a mission trip with our church’s high school group to Juarez, Mexico, in early June. So it’s been almost 3 months ago, right? Well, tonight T and I were chatting about WWII (just because he’s really into it). Then he mentions talking about WWII with some kids on the mission trip and that at some point a lady on the bus comes and talks to him. Their conversation goes something like this:
Lady: So, you’re homeschooled?
T: Yes.
Lady: Have you studied History?
T: Yes.
Lady: What kind of History?
T: All kinds, all of it.
L: Have you learned about Native American history? (I think he said she asked about other history, too)
T: Well, yeah.
L: So do you know who invented the calendar we use today?
T: The Mayans
(She then asks him some question about the number of tribes somewhere, and he says he thinks it’s 3)
L: You’re right.
So I ask him who is this lady, he says the name and it’s not familiar to me (big church). Then he says, I think she’s a teacher at a local public middle school, teaches history, I think. Go figure.
Now I’m sitting here listening to this story, wondering how it will end. In my mind are a couple of thoughts, “Now I’m really ticked off that someone would single out a homeschooled kid for a quiz, I bet she didn’t go to all the kids with those questions” together with “Wow, I hope he got it right because I’d have no idea.” When he finishes, I just lean over, pat him on the knee and say with a smile, “Thanks for coming through, buddy.”
So maybe I record all this so I won’t forget on the hard days. We have never studied history formally. Ever. I tried a couple of times, but I just can’t get into teaching it (I just like learning the stuff I forgot in public school). All I did was teach him to read. He did the rest.