The following post was written by contributing writer Stef Layton.
If you live anywhere in the south you know that Tim Tebow is not like most football players. Besides his great college football career and Heisman trophy - the boy .. man, sorry Mr. Tebow – was raised in a Christ centered homeschooling family!
I’ve shared before that it was my husband who suggested homeschooling for our family. While I was a social butterfly in school I could not comprehend why we’d do that to our son. After much discussion, considering hub’s travel schedule, and accepting our son’s personality type to follow and pander to popular opinion – we decided to give homeschooling a shot.
Also, we didn’t want our son to be stamped out by a generic cookie cutter. We liked the idea of teaching him toward his natural bent and focusing on those interests. This isn’t to say we cut out the basic core of reading, writing, arithmetic – but the boy can learn about zoology in depth for an entire year of science rather than touch lightly on many different things. In the south we call this an inch deep and a mile wide. Not to mention my heart to teach him according to his learning style (visual & tactile) and raise a successful learner.
By the time my boy started homeschool lessons Florida’s boy was bringing the Gators (woot) some serious glory – and me bragging rights. And the next few years the freedom my family enjoyed homeschooling turned a bit sour as I put Tim Tebow - the superhero – on a pedestal and assigned him a shiny silver cookie cutter to stamp out my children into clones. Tim Tebow clones.
We no longer wanted to know what would Jesus do – I wanted to know, what would Tim Tebow do?! How could a homeschool mom go wrong with this poster boy? Faithful, smart, athletic, generous, Floridian, sensitive, healthy, GATOR sharing God’s Word on the football field … did I mention homeschooled?! SOLD – I want one – pound me out two!!
Most recently a desperate phone call to a friend in search of support brought truth. Suz spoke in her comforting soft melody about herself, “I’m supposed to be his advocate”. ADVOCATE – just how the bible shares Christ is my advocate! Rather than bend and bruise up a child and mold him into being something God did not create him to be - I’m supposed to polish the masterpiece God already created and help the boy realize his potential. I’m supposed to be his advocate.
So – Florida / Denver can have Tim Tebow I’ve pulled out the push pins and have taken down your poster. I have to put God back in the center of things. I should be raising my son to be more like Jesus – anything else (as great as it might be) – will only be failure.
Stef is the wife of Thad and mom to two energetic superheroes in Florida! Stef is the author of Educating Layton and co-founder of The Homeschool Village.
About Stef
You are so right, Stef. I have four boys and to keep them focused on Christ can be a bit daunting at times, trying to raise them up in God’s image. Have a wonderful homeschooling year!
Thanks Regina! Have a fantastic Christ focused year !!
Tim Tebow is a great example of humility and a man who put God first in his life. I believe he has tried to live his life in a way that always gives credit to God for whatever “glory” he receives. He does NOT want to be put on a pedestal – sure we all teased with the “superman” t-shirts. However, I can say this – your son could have a lot worse role models to look up to than Tim Tebow – not only is he a good Christian boy (ah, excuse me, man), he is a man who works hard and doesn’t expect things to just be handed to him. He wins people’s respect with honesty and that hard work. Yes, mom. you do need to be your son’s advocate – but don’t take that poster of Tim down – use it to show your son what he can be with hard work, diligence, honesty, and, most importantly, the love of Christ in his heart.
Thanks Carol – I have no problem with my boys looking up to Tim Tebow. He has done amazing things in the public eye to shine the light of Jesus! I have a problem with *me* changing my boys, driving my boys, and pushing my boys to duplicate their lives after him. To be consumed with, homeschool = Tim Tebow and if we want to be successful we gotta do it the way his family did it. I hope that makes sense.
To raise my sons to be imitators of Christ not worship someone else.
You are wise beyond your years, missy! I didnt quite learn this lesson. Homeschooling my boys was a blessing and a benefit but there was SO much more we could have done if I had listened to that still small voice and to my boys themselves. While i did cater to their interests and learning styles, I was afraid to take it too far away from the cookie cutter. (Using the cookie cutter and then trying to make them unique with icing, if you will)
Thank you Sylvia – oh that icing. It is tempting! Its safe.
OK, I am loving this post! We are newbie homeschool parents to 3 of our 4 boys (K, 3rd, 6th grades,) this year. In fact the curriculum just arrived today & I’m starting to get nervous. Thanks for such an affirming post to put God in the center.
hooray Kristen – how exciting ! Don’t be nervous – enjoy every second and opportunity!!
This is an awesome post.
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your heart like that. I really appreciate women who are paving the way for generations! Thank you, thank you, & thank you!
I just have to say… Go GATORS! One of the reasons Renown is so amazing is because there’s only one of him, and he doesn’t mind that. Good luck raising yours under the same principles but without a mold to try and fill.
Silly auto correct… Renown = Tebow.