We want a serene life with no problems or jarring moments. Ah, life is great. But jarring moments are times of growth. This is the same for parents as well as the kids.

I’m considered one who protects her kids. As a homeschooling parent, I’m with my kids almost all of the time. I also control what is being learned, the textbooks or other learning, and by who. I set the paradigm. So something out of the ordinary homeschool world, can be shocking.

First example. When my younger son was learning science in 7th grade, the teacher explained evolution and how some people believe it to be true. He knows that apples produce apples, dogs produce puppies, and people begat people. Anyhow, when he heard that some think we came from monkeys, he laughed so hard that he fell off his chair. He laughed for 5 minutes before I could understand what he was laughing about. The foundation was set.

Although I have sons and daughters, they cam play together. However, there comes a point where the boys do not compete against the girls in physical activities. Usually, we let the boys go on. Let them split the wood. We’ll gather kindling and inchers. Let them use their muscles and sweat. We look pretty.

Then I went to the local public school meet the players basketball night. My older teen daughter walked into the gym and saw junior high boys playing basketball against the girls. Our mouths dropped open. How unfortunate for all involved. As we found out seats, a female player was off to the side crying and holding her shoulder. A boy had hit her. This was not on the floor in front of everyone just for show. She was in pain. Girls do not have the strength of boys. Girls can tap each other for encouragement; they do not want to be tapped by a boy. Boys are sweaty. Girls do not want to rub against a sweaty boy. Everything here was wrong. OK, so boys were on one team playing against the girls on another. What did this prove?

My heart went out to the parent of these kids, those who could not homeschool for one reason or another, and their child is stuck in a situation like this. Peer pressure is strong. It’s hard to stand for what is right. God bless our kids.