I didn’t want to leave our Enneagram + Homeschool discussion without chiming in with a few of my own thoughts. This summer I started considering how my personality impacted my homeschool style–and thus the idea for the series was born. In three previous posts, nine wonderful homeschool mamas graciously joined the conversation–some with three kids, some with six, one with two years of experience, and one with sixteen years under her belt. You can find their stories here:
You might be familiar a lot or a little with the Enneagram personality profiles. You might be a traditional homeschool mama or simply a mama who teaches her kids in the midst of daily living (#everymom). Whatever the case, I hope the series and this post gives you courage. No matter your personality type: you are the mom for the job. (I learned this last year from Jess Connolly–highly recommend her book!)
I identify as a Type 1 / wing 2 on the Enneagram. This means I am a moral perfectionist with a healthy side of supportive advisor (see more information on the types). My perfectionism tendencies provide structure and a drive for excellence in our homeschool, yet can also overtake and overwhelm in an unhealthy way if I’m not careful. My supportive and caring side gives good attention to my children but can become burdensome and draining if I’m not careful. There’s often a push and pull to our personality traits, used for good and also used for evil.
Sometimes simply the act of learning more about ourselves can lead to greater health. I will always tend to homeschool like an Enneagram Type 1–I just can’t help it. Learning more about my tendency toward perfectionism over the past year has helped me as a homeschool mama. I better know my strengths and also my weaknesses. Further, it is helpful to learn from my friends who school differently–learn to be more flexible, more free, more joyful in the moment. We are not stagnant people. Praise God–He is always willing to grow and to mature us as we seek Him and His glory in our families.
My main goal with the Enneagram + Homeschool series was to “prove” in a small way that any personality type can homeschool. Sure, my style of homeschool may seem more “traditional”–structured, researched, thoroughly planned. But the free-spirited Type 7 and the peaceful Type 9 school their children in such beautiful ways–so different from me but just as good and profitable. Every personality type inspires me in their own way. Truly, any and every kind of mama can homeschool her children well!
[God’s] divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3 CSB
