For the past 14 years I have been involved with a group of friends on the Internet who also had large families and were homeschooling. When we first met online most of us had a couple of kids. As the years went by the size of our families changed and we went from parenting adolescents to parenting teens to parenting adults to grandparenting. Our roles changed, our friendships grew and at some magical point we became family, although many of us have never met in real life.
When my father died I got flowers and cards, prayers and well wishes from this group. When my mother moved in during the last six months of her life I was given a place to let off steam and frustration, where I knew I would not be judged harshly. When I needed to know how to deal with a particularly difficult discipline issue I knew where to ask.
For the past couple of months I have been transitioning into single parent mode. It is difficult at best and while I am not the only one of our group to have moved in this direction, I am happy to tell you that I am one of a very small percentage that has experienced divorce in our midst. While in my real world various people have various opinions my online friends have been supportive to the point of paying my heating bill last month when I was out of funds. Not many of them would tell you that they are in favor of divorce – I, myself abhor it. However they do love me and in their love they have both prayed and allowed me to walk through one of the most difficult times of my life with a support system that I haven’t found anywhere else. Somehow this group has learned how to love each other irrevocably. The motto might as well be “I don’ t always agree with you but I will defend your right to screw up your life with a passion!”
I don’t know if you have found a parenting support group online or in real life. I do know that I would not be the parent I am today, nor the woman I am today (umm… in a good way) without the help and support of these dear friends. While some may scoff at online relationships I have to say that in this day of cyber-living, the Internet can be a real support group.
If you are looking for online parenting support or homeschooling support you might just google key words like: parenting, moms, big families, homeschooling, etc. Check out a few chatboards. CafeMom is one that comes to mind.
Be yourself, be honest and allow yourself to be real. Develop some type of support group whether on or offline, or both. Life is much easier when you have people willing to share it with you.
image: SXC
Post from: Blisstree