Let’s Learn About Kathy Lawson
I have always loved teaching. As a little girl, I sat my stuffed animals in a row and taught them to read using my favorite blackboard for lessons. I was faithful to those little critters. I took attendance and felt guilty when I hadn’t asked one of them a question in a while. One of my all time favorite gifts growing up was a real teacher’s gradebook. I spent hours filling it with names and lessons. Such good memories. My poor little sister had to endure my lessons as well. Bless her. But that girl could read before going to school.
It was simple to choose a degree. Early childhood education was the only option. I enjoyed my classes and loved learning about learning. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a classroom. I started teaching in public schools way back in the 1990s. I loved it and was so thankful for such a fulfilling job.
I knew I wanted to stay at home with my littles until they were ready for school. Teaching was my passion, but my own kids were my passion plus so much more. I thought being a mom would be a natural transition for me. I’ll have to admit, my first child gave me quite a time. I moved far from my family while pregnant. Husband’s job of course. Now I had a newborn with no friends or family around. He had colic and cried so much that I almost don’t even remember him ever sleeping for the first year. He was the cutest thing I had ever seen, but I did not know how to make this new role of momma work.
As he grew into toddler and the 2’s and 3’s I settled somewhat, but it was still tough. I thought I knew all about kids this age. I honestly would have told someone that I was ready to be a mom until I was. Don’t get me wrong. I loved every inch of my little boy. I just was in uncharted waters and had been prideful enough to think I’d have no trouble.
Moving to 4’s and I was making it but definitely looking forward to putting him in kindergarten. I had him in a two day a week mother’s day out program. After talking with his teacher, she recommended he wait a year for kindergarten. He needed some time to mature. My heart sank. I knew he was super smart and academically ready for kindergarten, but I agreed he would struggle socially.
So here I am, at home with a child I struggle with but love with all my heart. I wanted what was best for him, so I thought about adding structure by homeschooling him for kindergarten. I researched and gathered the best ideas I could and started down the road of educating him myself.
It was nothing short of a miracle. I can’t explain why, but we immediately bonded in a way that had never happened before. I tease him now that he finally decided I knew something and was willing to sit still enough to listen. He and I grew to understand and trust each other. And like I can’t remember him ever sleeping that first year, I do not remember any struggles the entire year of kindergarten. He loved learning and still does as an adult.
My daughter was born when David was nearly three years old. This child was more of what I was expecting from motherhood. Not quite the rosy picture I had painted before children, but this was a child that could be comforted eventually.
Anna went to a kindergarten class and did well. David had matured greatly and I thought he might be ready for school. So Anna went to first grade and David went to fourth grade. I thought all was well, but there were struggles I was not aware of. Anna’s little report cards always said sufficient. Not once did I see a below average grade, so I was surprised when at the end of the year, I was told she had failed first grade and would need to repeat. So, feeling like I let her down, I figured I couldn’t do worse than failing. I brought her home and homeschooled her. I also brought her brother home as he wanted to be homeschooled as well.
Anna thrived. I was fairly certain she had some sort of learning disability but with one on one instruction, we were able to find things that worked. David took off like a rocket and I honestly never had any trouble educating him at home. He never went back to public school, choosing to stay home until he went to college to earn a Master’s in something computery. Honestly, I don’t know the degree. Anna was educated at home until high school. By ninth grade, she really wanted to go to public school and we let her. She worked so hard to overcome her disability and is now a successful registered nurse in the emergency room.
I have always been teaching others’ children throughout this time. My kids were involved in homeschool co-ops and I always found opportunities to teach there part-time. I was particularly popular as a writing teacher. I eventually had ten classes of ten students coming to my home each week for lessons.
Eventually, when Anna decided to go back to school, I went to work in a Christian private school. I enjoyed teaching English and loved the opportunity to teach so many grades in such a small school. I got my certificate to teach English through twelfth grade and spent six years teaching 6th-12th grade English.
My own kids have grown and each has recently given me a grandchild. I am in heaven.
These little angels mean everything to me. At this moment, both of my children feel they might homeschool and I am all for it.
Husband? I have one of those. Michael has been a faithful partner in all my endeavors for over 30 years. He has put up with all of the shenanigans that come with being married to an educator. I somehow roped him into helping me paint my first classroom and he has been supportive of my teaching ever since. He has had to listen to all the stories about my “kids.” He knows of the heartbreaks and successes and has given endless counsel.
As I’ve told you all about my life, I can’t believe I haven’t introduced you to my sister, Melissa. I should mention we are twins and she is as much a teacher as I am. Her entire life has been dedicated to nurturing her own twins. (Yep! Her twin has twins.) She is also a lifetime educator and I can’t thank her enough for doing life with me.
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