Living Without School: What would you do?

Sunday, April 13, 2008

What would you do?

Kumon-wise, that is. Work-wise.

My part time job/business keeps on growing. It's a bit like Topsy!

Last week, I won an award at Kumon, for excellence in my Kumon centre ($500! Woohoo!).

I have also been invited to go to Japan for a Kumon Conference ( 5o years of Kumon ) in December. Around the Feast of St Nicholas - December 6. For a few days or a week...

But I am totally unsure about leaving the family for such a thing. I mean, my main life is my vocation as a mother and wife, then all my other stuff.

Should I stay or should I go ( as the Clash sing).

Kumon has also asked me to consider opening another centre. Nearby, soon-ish. This means I would start a new Centre from scratch and hopefully build up student numbers, helping children with maths and English and what we call life skills - commitment, independence, perseverance, time management, study skills...

So, I would run two Kumon centres. Eventually more money - good for our old age, for dh and I at retirement. But is the cost of time worth it?

I am a pretty high energy person, I guess, and, quite frankly, at the moment neither dh or I feel that all the extra things I do, my work and all my volunteer stuff, detract from my main vocation.

Dh is pretty happy, he says, with me in my role as wife ( isn't he sweet?).

And he feels that the family and the unschooling work well too, that everyone ( mostly) benefits from all my finger-in-many-pies stuff.

Except when he is grumpy, or we rush too much, then his opinion changes! lol!

Basically dh says the decision of whether or not to go to Japan,whether or not to open another centre, is up to me.

He says that he is unwilling to tell me what to do. Wah! As much as I am a Christian Feminist, I have to be honest and say that sometimes I wish a decision was made for me.

I am bad at choices. People ask me to do things for them and nine times out of ten, I will do it. This may be my nature, I think I tend to be more yes than no.

Being a yes girl has sure got me into trouble in the past. lol! So, I am trying to discern the right thing to do now.Yes, I am praying, but I suck at discernment...

Not only should I stay or should I go but should I work more? How would this be, logistically speaking?

What would you do? :-)

P.S. Edited to add ~ just found this quote on Cindy's blog. Maybe it will help me discern..."True happiness lies in giving ourselves in love to our brothers and sisters. "~ Pope John Paul II

14 comments:

Anonymous said...: Oh, that's a tough one, Leonie!
As for Japan--I would totally GO! What fun! And it's only a week.The kids and dh will survive without you that long.
As for the second job, that is a bit more difficult, isn't it?
I know what you mean about sometimes wanting someone to just TELL you what to do. Having a crystal ball would be nice, too, wouldn't it?LOL!; 1:44 am
molly said...: WOW, Japan for 1 week, I say go for it. Your boys are getting big, and this is a great opportunity!!!!!

As for more work, I don;t know, I promise to pray for you. When I was reading your post, I was thinking of Proverbs 31, her work brought honor to her husband, Sounds like yours does as well.
Good for you Leonie, and congrats on the award, what fun thing are you going to do with the 500.00????; 2:36 am
Leonie said...: Thanks for thoughts and prayers. Molly, I am keeping you in my morning pprayers.

Yep, Theresa, I want a crystal ball! lol!

And, sadly :-), the $500 will go towards medical bills - I'm having surgery in May and I have to pay $8000!! So the money really comes in handy...; 8:25 am
Jacqlyn said...: I tend to agree with the other ladies regarding the Japan part! Your children are older and one week isn't a long time to be away considering the amazing experience that it will offer you.
I have just had my ninth baby and been hit with terrible post natal depression topped off with panic attacks and anxiety.....anyway, my psych told me that a lot of the build up to this was the fact that I don't take enough time for me. I always thought that was being selfish!! but he said no, it is "self nurturing" and that is very important. I now realise that you can give to others around you much better when you yourself are nurtured! I was giving out of an empty vessel and I broke down :-(
Anyway, in the bottom of your heart you probably already know the answer to the extra work part! Listen to the still small voice of God...
God Bless, Jacqui L; 1:01 pm
Greg said...: Oh, Jaqui, hugs! Hope you are taking time for yourself - and thanks for taking time to post here.....; 1:39 pm
Leonie said...: Oops - signed in fom a son's account - AGAIN!; 1:41 pm
Anonymous said...: YES on the Japan trip - how exciting! Totally with you ladies on the crystal ball thing, wouldn't that be lovely? So very useful...; 1:44 am
Leonie said...: That is funny - Japan is one I am least sure of!!; 7:16 am
Lisa said...: Hey Leonie

Go for it, I say...good on you for getting invited to go to Japan.

One week away won't hurt anyone, and I'm sure on your return your family will appreciate you and all that you do more than ever.

I know that my family do if I've been away.

Bless ya

Lisa; 12:05 pm
Leonie said...: :-) Lisa!; 9:41 pm
Marianne Elizabeth said...: Praying for you, Leonie! You are so amazing and God has given you so many talents how wonderful whether you go to Japan or not, whether you open up another Kumon center or not, that you are so capable is such a blessing. So when the timing is right now or later, whatever decision you make, we are praying for you. BTW, my husband is a fan of yours and also BTW, I like The Clash reference...I think many can relate to it. I will keep you in my daily intentions and please keep my family in yours!
Blessings,
marianne; 10:32 am
Leonie said...: Definitely praying for your family - glad you like the Clash too!; 10:47 pm
Hopewell said...: AWESOME! I'll be praying for you. How can you turn down going to Japan!! lol....and a job that you can take your kids too certainly beats the other kind of job. Will be praying and praying!; 2:09 am
Minimalista Wannabe said...: Good on ya Leonie....Not sure if u remember me. I'm an instructor (supervisor-as u call it there) from Malaysia. Japan is a must I would say because it's a celebration for us!!! can u imagine 5 yrs on...looking back knowing u were not there at Tokyo Dome to celebrate our 50th year anniversary?
On the second centre....think deeply. Remember how u started yr existing centre. and see if the main priority is to make money...then go for it. If family time and time for yourself....reconsider...

See you in Japan Leonie!!!; 4:19 am

Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.