Back to School
It’s that time of year at our house; our oldest starts first grade tomorrow. She is enrolled in one of the public “virtual” schools, so going back to school has different connotations around here. I’ll leave it to Kerri to say more about that.
I am, however, inspired to ramble on a bit about grown ups going back to school. No… not necessarily the “going back to school full-time for a degree” kinda stuff, though I suppose that might fit. I’m thinking about the stuff that fits into the “just because you’re a grown up doesn’t mean that you stop growing and learning and changing” category.
What I mean is this: Do you encourage your spouse to continue developing and growing as a person? For example, Kerri has developed (get it?) an interest in photography over the last few years. So, turning my question upon myself, am I encouraging her to explore this interest? Do we create time in the schedule for her to… oh, let’s say… take a lighting class? Or do we work toward saving for a camera?
If you’ve been a bit negative (there’s another one!) regarding your spouse’s personal development, start with the very simplest thing: Take an interest in your spouse’s hobby? Those who love us LOVE to share their interests with us, and they want us to be excited with and for them.
Sharing those new discoveries and that growing process is what it’s all about. After all the essence of encouragement is putting courage into another. When your spouse is stepping into new waters, they need your encouragement more than anyone else’s.
images: classroom | chalkboard | camera
POSTED IN: Encouragement
4 opinions for Back to School
Hsien Lei
Aug 28, 2007 at 3:01 am
I can’t say my spouse takes an active interest in my projects but he has given me the security I needed to try lots of new ventures over the years. The two of us might be a little strange in that we don’t really know what the other does for work, but we are proud of each other’s accomplishments and make it possible for each of us to do what we do. :)
Kerri
Aug 31, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hsien: I mostly know what Bald Man does, but I always tell him, “You start saying the word ‘fiduciary’ and I’m outta here!” :P It’s good to know you have the support, though, to try new things. It means the world, doesn’t it?
downwiththekids.net » Blog Archive » Carnival of family life is in Australia!
Sep 2, 2007 at 7:32 am
[…] presents Back to School posted at […]
The Balancing Act
Sep 13, 2007 at 12:31 am
[…] will be getting back out here more soon, really. As Bald Man mentioned, schooling has started up again, and for us that is full-day homeschooling, or some semblance of […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: