An Open Letter to my Homeschooled Tweens

My Dearest Tween,

I know this is a weird time in life where you aren’t really my little baby anymore, but you aren’t really an adult either. You have the experience of childhood in your review mirror, but yet the privileges of teenage years still seem so far off. The in-between and awkwardness of your age is only compounded by your unique status as a homeschooler. You don’t fit with the adults; you don’t fit with the little kids; you don’t even fit with your peers because they are all on a bus or sitting in school when you are sitting at our kitchen table.

Yes, you are different – God made you unique by design. From the moment I knew of your existence, I knew that God was making something amazing. And from the moment you were born, I began to see the quirks and specialties that make you exactly who you are. Even in your youngest of years, I saw glimmers of this young person that stands before me because God had already begun to shape you into the person He wants you to be. The things that make you special are not to make you weird or stand out, but God gave you these unique gifts, talents, and personality traits because the world would not be complete without you exactly as you are.

Yes, you are different – that’s not a bad thing. Being like everyone else is overrated. I know it doesn’t feel like that now and it feels like you stick out like a sore thumb. But in reality, you being unlike everyone else is a part of why you are homeschooled. The rest of the world quickly forgets or disregards our Savior. I want better for you than the latest trends and idiotic catch phrases that will be plastered across social media today and soon forgotten. Your time of learning at home is designated to protect you from the mind-numbing sameness that infiltrates most kids your age. I’m not trying to shelter you, but rather I want our home to be a greenhouse for you – a place where you can be protected until you are stable enough to be outside of my protection. The ways that you are different mean you are not lost in the pack, but ought to be celebrated because of who you are.

Yes, you are different – I love that about you. Not only does the world need exactly what you have to offer, my world would be incomplete without you in it. I know I’m just your parent, but I like how God made you. I love that I get to discover the world again through your eyes. I appreciate that you are not a copy of anyone, but you are uniquely you. Our family needs what only you can contribute.

I know this time isn’t easy for you, and I’m really sorry about that. I wish I could take on the hardship and the awkwardness for you to spare you from the difficulty you face. But I know that this is what it looks like to grow up. And this is the way that the Lord grows us into spiritual maturity as well.

So while I struggle to let you figure out who you are while also trying to keep you in my arms as long as possible, I wanted to just encourage you that I will walk this journey with you. I will always be here to help you in any way I can. Even on days when we disagree and butt heads, even on days when school is a struggle, even on days when you want nothing to do with me, I will be here to celebrate what God is doing in you and cheer on the person you are becoming.

Yes, my dear sweet child, you are different. Not only is that okay, but I celebrate your uniqueness and the way God has made you to be just you. Even if it’s hard for you to celebrate this right now, know that I will always be here to cheer you on to be the best version of yourself.

My dear, God made you special. Bask in the ways that He signed His work of art when He made you. I will always be here to celebrate you being you.

With all my love and affection,

Your Weird Parent