She is forced to deal bravely with the daily chores of teaching her children and keeping her house. No one sets her schedule, no one chooses her path, so she must be disciplined. Her work is most definitely stressful and can be, depending on her adventurous spirit, dangerous! But it is her heart that keeps it all running smoothly... a heart devoted to her Master.
"To understand the Doberman, or any dog, one must understand certain deeply ingrained instincts. One of these core instincts is the Pack Mentality. Dogs run in packs. This is necessary for their survival. In nature, dogs and wolves live in highly organized communities usually consisting of family members. This community we call a pack." I love this quote for it sums up a home school mom's need for other home school moms very well. It is necessary for our survival!
At some point every parent asks themselves, "Am I the only one going through this?" The answer is always a loud "NO!" but it usually feels like a sobbing "yes". Add to this that home school moms are very often alone with just their immediate family and you multiply this feeling. So like birds of a feather we congregate together... for survival.
We reach out to one another and find relationships. We find friendships for ourselves and for our children. We find other mothers who have "been there and done that". We find comfort for our doubts and hope for our failures. We find God in others and we are comforted!
"We have encountered many false notions concerning the Doberman’s temperament. Two of the most destructive are “the Doberman is just like any other dog” and “Dobermans are stubborn and can be vicious.”
It is true, any dog not properly cared for can become dangerous and all dogs need to be respected. The Doberman is unique in that it owns an extremely powerful set of tools that it should not be held responsible for. The Doberman owner must harness these tools reliably under all conditions, with thorough training. One must understand that viciousness is a behavior, and all behavior is a result of instinct and conditioning. Viciousness in a dog is a reaction to a situation where it feels threatened." The home school mom is this to a tee. She is often, if not frequently, misunderstood and she must be properly trained.
How many times has the HS mom heard slurs about home education while waiting in line at Wally World or had to endure what should have bee a relaxing visit with the family only to be berated with "well meaning" comments on how much "better off" they all would be if they were in the government system. The world looks at what they believe to be truth and then wrongly judges those who stand in a different place. Many believe home school parents MUST be religious zealots or that they just think they are better than everyone else. What ever the misconception it comes down to them against us, thus forcing the HS parent into a corner... not a good place to confront either a Doberman or a HS mom!
So how does the HS mom handle these situations? With proper training. Training only found at the feet of Jesus! Daily must she go to her heavenly Father and seek His guidance. And most importantly, like all well trained dogs, when out in public the HS mom must always be aware of her Lord and constantly be casting her eyes upon Him. Asking "What? Where? How?" Looking to Him for our path.
"Dobermans are bred to have sure confident temperaments, so they do not often feel a threat unwarranted, and are in fact less likely to over react with viciousness or biting." Here is a wonderful thing about HS MOMS. They are confident! Not so much in the how but in the why of what they have taken on. This confidence is not placed in their ability to accomplish some great goal of raising NASA scientists but in the great task of raising Christians. Children that know God. Not the god of the school teacher but their God. This confidence is placed in His work and His power. It adds beauty to the HS moms countenance but makes leading her a bit like leading a Doberman, intimidating.
The pack is capable of amazing cooperation. As is the home school co-op as long as the leader is not easily intimidated... or at least doesn't look like she is!The Doberman tends to treat the children of the home as he would puppies. Puppies are valuable in the dog's mind. The Doberman can also sense the children's vulnerability and their importance to the family. Because of this, the Doberman is highly protective of the children. Highly protective is putting it mildly when talking about HS moms. Just attend a HS meeting and watch the faces as soon as a man enters the room! Moms go on high alert. Locating their own in the mass of playing children within seconds and then watching the man to see if he is greeted by anyone. Once his family has been identified and he has been welcomed into the pack (a hugs as good as a sniff!) then all goes back to normal, poor guy. But as in the dog world new comers, especially those who may pose a threat, need to be put into place before harmony can be established.
For the most part HS moms are like any other mom. They have a need to be welcomed, a need for security and a need for guidance but the HS mom rarely finds these needs nearby. Thus forcing her to go in search of her pack.
May God lead us each to the place we can best serve Him.
