TOS Review: How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids

Being a homeschooling parent isn't always easy.  You probably already know that.  We need help and inspiration if we are going to be successful in our homeschooling journey.  Apologia Press's new book, How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids by Rachael Carman is a great resource for any homeschooling parent and provided me with some much needed perspective and inspiration.

How well do you really know your kids?  What has God shown you about who they are and what they will become?  God has sent these children to your home at this time to fulfill His specific purpose.  You are on a wonderful adventure where you will see walls fall, seas parted, and giants slain.  Thankfully you don't need any special training, you just need to seek God and hold tight to His mighty hand!

This book contains:

Table of Contents:
 Introduction: The Heart of the Matter
Chapter 1: H-Have a Heart for the Things of God
Chapter 2: E-Enrich Your Marriage
Chapter 3: A-Accept Your Kids
Chapter 4: R-Release Them to God
Chapter 5: T-Teach Them the Truth
Epilogue: Heartfelt Encouragements
Acknowledgements

To see a sample chapter click here.

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids by Rachael Carman is a hard cover 205 page book that retails for $13.99.  At the end of each chapter you will find Heart Checkup questions. To order click here.

 To see the many other products Apologia offers visit their website at www.apologia.com.

What is the focus of your homeschool?  Is your priority to teach their minds, or to instruct their heart?  Or maybe you want to reach their hearts but do not know how.  In this book, Rachael Carmen tells of how she started out homeschooling, what her plans and goals were in the beginning, and how it all began to change.  She speaks candidly about her successes and failures and how she felt God leading her in a specific direction.  She talks about how to really get to know your children and how to instruct their hearts not just their minds. Most importantly, she uses God and His word as her foundation.   Her book is written in a conversational tone, like you are talking to a good friend.  It will inspire and direct you, but it also may step on your toes a bit.  I had a few "ouch" moments while reading this book, but I believe God uses those moments to show us what we really need  to know and where we are falling short.  I know that I often get caught up in the everyday and forget to focus on preparing my children not just for life, but for eternity.  This quote really spoke to me, "What if you knew God's ultimate destiny for each of your children?  How might you talk with them differently?  Would you spend more time with them?  Would you choose to talk about different things?  How would your activities change?  Would it change anything?"

This book brought many ideas to light for me that I never had thought of before. She emphasizes that God has given us our children and they are only on loan to us at this time for His glory..  We need to be aware that they are not ours.  Although we want out children to be happy and well educated, it is more important to give our children the joy of the Lord and release them to seek His plan for their lives. Things such as History, Math, Science, and Art are important, they should not come first.  We must, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33.)"


I would highly recommend How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids for homeschooling moms of all ages.  It will give you inspiration, direction, and perhaps a renewed purpose for homeschooling your children.  You and your family will come away blessed for having read it.

To read what other crew members had to say click here.

I received a complimentary copy of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T  For Your Kids by Rachael Carman for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.