
Jena Meyerpeter, Sailing on Faith for The Anchor Journal
Jena Meyerpeter, Sailing on Faith for The Anchor Journal
In Jena’s passion for God’s work, she uses storytelling to share His faithfulness with others. In her double digit moves around the US and Canada Jena has learned to trust God in the midst of uncertainty and change. She and her husband, Josh, recently celebrated 20 years of marriage. For the past three years they’ve loved calling Gig Harbor, WA home, and enjoy exploring the PNW with their three adventure-loving daughters.
https://theanchorgathering.com/anchor-moment-jena-meyerpeter/
We’ve been at this a few weeks now. Based on stories I’m hearing and reading, we’re all slowly but surely feeling a bit more peace with learning at home. I have two kids who homeschool and one in public school, and I assure you both educational circumstances have changed tremendously. For one, we have a full-time Director of Procurement working in our building (bedroom) and popping into our school day unannounced (it’s a good thing we’re crazy about him). Our local public school is not offering formal instruction due to inequality of available online learning options (teachers, we love and miss you!). If you’re working full time and educating your kids from home I toast to you because that, friends, is tough stuff. If you or your spouse are working on the front lines of healthcare right now, thank you for your sacrifice and ongoing servant leadership.
Our family has faced times of high transition due to our double-digit moves around the US and Canada. My childhood was knit together in crisis and trauma. Here’s what I know about what kids crave and most need during those times: healthy leadership. Being their teacher is great (I loooove teaching!) but right now I’m more focused on leading them through a history-making pandemic well. The need for healthy, strong leaders is never more evident than in times of change and crisis. The same is true as parents leading in our homes, so here are a few starting points to consider:
First, be emotionally and physically approachable and understanding. If you’ve ever walked into a boss’s office and been emotionally shut out you’ll know exactly what I mean. If you’ve ever been physically dismissed by a superior, you’ll likely not forget the feeling. Let’s foster high-trust, open relationships with our kids right now (always, but especially now).
Second, lead them well by influencing (not controlling) their learning options and environment. In general, kids learn best in a low pressure, mixed sensory spaces where they’re allowed to explore and interact with new material and concepts. Kids rarely tell us they’re feeling stress, they show us. If your home learner is acting stressed, see where you can influence their learning environment for the better. I could write a whole separate post on ideas for this, but in summary, just be gracefully unapologetic in doing what’s best for your kids.
Third, intentionally share your perspective with your kids on age-appropriate pandemic topics. If they’re Zooming, FaceTiming, or HousePartying with friends or other groups you can be sure they’re getting someone’s perspective there, so make sure your voice is healthy and relevant to their age/stage of life. Your kids likely hear and see more than you realize, so make it a new habit to ask good questions on and be prepared to talk them through any misconceptions or fears. Our family’s faith in God grounds our perspective, and right now it’s even more evident because when everything feels shaken and uncertain, we believe God and what he says is true is resolute.
Lastly, on a side but important note, I just want to remind us all (myself included) that too much news and media leaves our kids feeling unsafe. Let’s just keep that in mind as we live out upcoming weeks altogether in our homes. Again, kids won’t tell you in so many words but eventually, you’ll see fear and stress play out in one form or another in their (and our) behaviors. Read books, turn on music, watch good movies, and play games together to lighten or alter these sometimes long days. We can do this, parents. Let’s be the strong, healthy leaders in our homes we so desperately need and want at our corporate, state, and national levels.
If you’re waking up to the reality of your kids’ education laying fully or partially in your lap you’re in great company. We’ve public, private, online, and homeschooled. I claim only to be an experienced failure when it comes to teaching my kids, but goodness we have some fun along the way. If this is helpful to you, please use and share it as you see fit. If nothing else, just keep in mind: we’re making the memories today we want told tomorrow. Happy learning!
p.s. if you have any questions or want scheduling ideas I’m happy to help however I can. Feel free to hop in messages!
Click below to listen to Jena’s story and interview on the Holy Ordinary Podcast.
Uncharted Freedom is featured on Heather Lobe’s Freedom Stories this month. Check it out!
“I knew from reading the Bible that God often sent his people adrift for reasons he didn’t always reveal right away, but they consistently led to a greater understanding of his holiness and purposeful plans…” {click over to read the whole story featured in Freedom Stories by Heather Lobe HERE}
Pizza, pasta, tacos, soup…repeat. It’s easy to get stuck in a meal rut when it comes to feeding multiple people with various likes and dislikes. Kindred Mom sets out to encourage moms as they gather their people around the table with this FREE e-book, Life Around the Table. You’ll find my name and recipes in the mix, and a bit about how our laid-back approach to meals works for us. It’s full of photos, stories, and recipes from real moms and I think you’ll love it. It’s free when you subscribe to their site (which has tons of other great free material)!
It’s not about a guilt trip. It’s not about overhauling our wardrobe. It’s about understanding the supply-chain relationships we enter every time we make a purchase.
Have you stopped to consider how the clothing you purchase impacts the people stitching them together?
I was recently invited to share perspective on Never-Static about why I care about supporting slow fashion practices. It’s no surprise that my “why” boiled down to relationships both in my home and on the other side of the world…
“It could be because most employees in the garment industry are women, and I’m raising three daughters of my own.”
Jump over to Never-Static read more and discover easy shopping solutions to fast fashion problems.
Tomorrow’s reflections are today’s decisions, so live with all the wisdom, humor, and grace of which good memories are made.