I was reading Billy Coffey's Internet Validation post and I started tearing up. A new fad, it seems, is that girls are posting videos of themselves asking if they are pretty. The comments, in typical YouTube fashion, are brutal, mean, insipid, less-than-helpful, or kinda creepy if encouraging. [NB: Please heed the content warning on xkcd's site if you decide to browse more comics.]
Maybe it's the fact that I have sisters. Or maybe it's all the kids who hang out with me and Brittany. Or the girls in our Sunday School class. Whatever it is, how young ladies feel about themselves is important to me, so this struck a raw nerve.
And I was reminded of one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling: Confidence.
There will be plenty of time in life to "learn your place," and realize that "you're not all that," and to get an unhealthy dose of "reality" in the years to come. For now, while your children are figuring out who they are, I say the more confidence, the better! Squeeze your kids today and remind them that they work hard, are beautiful, important, and can do great things for God and men!
And if you haven't read Kate Fridkis' post I used to be the prettiest girl in the world, you should. And if you have read it, it's well worth reading again.
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester
P.S. Have you seen what's new in 2012? I'm pretty excited about the latest updates to Sonlight. Check 'em out!
P.P.S. Happy Leap Day!
[...] people to listen to their comment before it is posted. I mentioned this last year when discussing seeking validation on the internet. This came to mind today when, after a decade of being the Star Wars Kid, the Star Wars Kid has now [...]
[...] I was reminded, yet again, of one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling: confidence. That's not to say that homeschoolers never have eating disorders. I'm sure some do. But you pick [...]
Thanks, Melody. May you have wisdom as you consider your options and weigh the pros and cons of both.
~Luke
This is such a good point, and a timely reminder for me--thank you. Two of my kiddos are in a private Christian school this year for the first time (6th & 7th grades) and this has been the biggest issue. They both love the academic portions, but trying to stand strong against the onslaught of criticism takes quite a lot of work--work that can be done [with much less damage] later on in life. As I start thinking about next school year, this is something I've been thinking about quite a bit.