Glowing + Growing

Big Brother, Best Teacher

There are some days in parenting that feel like a little glimpse of heaven, and today was one of them.

This summer, we discovered something unexpected and wonderful: Anderson loves teaching Lucy her homeschool lessons. And perhaps even more heartwarming—Lucy absolutely loves being taught by him.

It started simply enough. I was nearby, as always, ready to ensure the teaching was on track and to check Lucy’s work afterward. But before I knew it, I was witnessing something so special unfold: Lucy beaming with joy, soaking in each lesson, and Anderson showing an incredible level of patience, encouragement, and pride in her progress.

It’s a win-win. Lucy gets another positive voice reinforcing her learning, and Anderson is getting an excellent review of foundational math and language arts concepts. Even more valuable? He’s building confidence, patience, and leadership—skills that no textbook can quite teach the same way.

While waiting for Lucy to finish a question today, Anderson picked up one of her past writing assignments and said, “I just read her story about the Candy Land. It’s really good!” And just a few minutes later, Lucy called out from the table, “Almost done, Momma! Anderson is really good at being my teacher!”

Cue the heart explosion.

This turned out to be one of my favorite days of summer. My heart is full. My kids are smiling. And I’m reminded once again that some of the best lessons are taught in love.

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