We make choices all day – we choose to sit at the computer, we choose to read our Bible, we choose to exercise, we choose to do the housework – or not! When we make a choice to do one thing we are automatically making a choice not to do something else (or vice versa) – we cannot do both options – this is the nature of choice.

We teach our children to see the consequences of their choices – these consequences maybe positive (rewards/blessings) or they maybe negative (cost/penalty) depending on whether the choice was a good choice or not.

But there is another fall-out to our choices – the fact that we can’t choose two things at once! The truth is we can’t do it all. If I have two good choices, and I choose one then it automatically means I can’t do the other. This is a hard truth to deal with. There is so much good stuff out there to do – but making choices is a reality we have to be aware of.

I make choices as a homeschool mum – I choose to take on this study, I choose to read this book, I choose to spend this amount of time doing this particular thing, in this particular way with my children. My choices need to be well informed, and consistent with my belief system. I need to be aware of the consequences, the repercussions of my choices, and I need to be okay with that. I need to remember the very nature of making a choice is that I can’t do everything – I need to make a choice.

• If my child is sick I choose to look after her – I cannot also choose to do the science experiment or excursion I had planned.

• If my child needs extra help in their math today – I cannot also do the extra writing assignment I had planned.

• If our family is enjoying this read aloud – we cannot be reading this other fantastic book.

• If our family has a passion for a particular field of study – we cannot also dig deep into the field of study that another family is digging deep into.

• If our family has this goal – we cannot take on the dreams of another goal.
  

When we say yes to one thing, we are saying no to another (and that second option needn’t be a bad option – just not the option we are choosing right now.).

Key thoughts:

1. Making a choice for something means making a choice against something else
2. Making a choice will have its repercussions

When we understand these two facts, we can move on and stop second guessing ourselves. We need to make wise, informed choices – understanding that there are consequences (good or bad) and then we need to find a contentment in the choices we made (knowing that we can’t do it all – we had to make a choice). Finding this contentment in our choices will

• stop us from comparing ourselves with others (who have made different choices)
• stop us from trying to squeeze in one more activity, commitment, idea or homeschool method – we cannot do it all

Be aware of the choices you are making today – be aware of the choice that you say yes to and the choice you say no to. Be thankful that we have the ability and freedom to make those choices for our family!