That first kiddo gets the brunt of all our pre-parenting wisdom.
You know that wisdom? The firm prescriptions of parenting that we’ve gleaned from all the right parenting books, parenting seminars, and parenting advice BEFORE we’ve had children.
And not intend it as we might, our firstborn children usually act as guinea pigs for our unintentional parenting experiments.
We try every parenting technique from every parenting book we read with them.
So how is homeschooling a stubborn child, you ask?
Sometimes, we zoom back and forth between being too disciplinary and then too permissive. We treat them as equals when they engage maturely, then we pull the carpet out from under them and demand submission when they don’t.
There’s a reason to have more than one child: humility and parenting practice.
More than one child usually teaches us that they are very, very different and that they require different approaches, and this, in turn, enables us to view ourselves as more self-assured and balanced parents.
Perhaps it’s just my firstborn, but my oldest daughter happens to be assertive, confident, and, well, headstrong.
Chicken and egg, you ask?
So, am I making that kiddo stubborn by inflicting all my parental wish-washy parenting practices on her? Probably.
However, I also believe her personality is also pre-determined. Because no one asked me what my child should be like, how they frame the world, how they see me, how they engage their siblings, what interests they have, and how they like to learn.
Her assertive, confident, headstrong traits have taught me a thing or two as well.
No question, my eldest has a maternal (& bossy-pants) tendency, which comes in handy when there are other kiddos involved, occupying them for hours.
Though sometimes perplexed with my eldest as I sometimes have been, it has been idyllic to have her with me day-to-day…
1. By twelve, she wants to be online for any reason, and will eagerly help me do online shopping. One less task for me. She’s ordered Halloween costumes and homeschool book orders. She’s photocopied, typed, and become my go-to technology person.
2. She’s a reliable babysitter, a legal, homemade, often less-expensive babysitter.
3. She makes grocery shopping easier. Weekly grocery visits are super simple with my eldest alone. Provide the youngest kiddos with a play cart while my eldest daughter has the main cart and stuff gets done quickly. Give her a list and she’s good to go.
4. She’s a natural-born mentor. Her siblings watch her get corrected. (And learn obviously what lines not to cross, because as an enneagram type 8, she tends to cross a lot of them). Of course, I’m not saying this is a foolproof parenting technique for the rest of them, just a wee bit of natural mentoring.
5. You don’t have to be the only one bossing the others around when you have an oldest child. Hahahahahaha. The very thing that can drive me up the wall is also another built-in safety mechanism: an older sibling that is responsible and even an interpersonal counselor. (ps I was the oldest child too!)
6. She engages and occupies her siblings. At twelve years old, she’ll have pillow fights, she’ll read stories, play Legos, participate in homemade plays, and sing Karaoke together: big sisterly nurture sessions.
7. She’s a travel assistant. She keeps her eyes on her siblings while our family moves through airport security. She helps to pack up for the youngest kids on a two-week trip away. (And since we give her so much practice packing, she is really good at it.)
The eldest is blazing the trail for the younger kids. And she’s blazing a trail for me–teaching me what I need to learn every step of this parenting journey, and she always will.
“While we try to teach our children all about life, it’s our children that teach us what life is all about”.
A Daily Homeschool Mama Journal for You!
Introducing the Daily Homeschool Mama Journal, your perfect companion to build time for yourself! With daily journal questions, weekly planner, and self-care activities, enhance your self-awareness and explore your identity while taking care of yourself. Start practicing self-awareness today!
People also ask:
- A Homeschool Mom’s Confession on the Downsides (& Upsides) of Homeschool
- Introducing the Homeschool Mama Retreat: How to Show Up Better in Your Homeschool
- The one Homeschool Challenge I’d rather live without: Sibling Fighting
- homeschool mama, how do you know if you should give up on homeschooling?
- Do you offer one-on-one coaching? Why, yes I do!
I totally appriciate this post. My oldest is only 5 but its so true. Plus I am the oldest of my siblings.
I love this post!
“There’s a reason to have more than one child: so you know that you’re not a flailing, bipolar parent.” – Oh my goodness, LOL! So true.
My daughter is 13 and is so many of the helpful things you say your daughter is. 😀 Love it!