I am just writing to ask for some encouragement and prayer. In our state, standardized testing is required. My son has taken the test twice and excelled. He'll take it again this year, and I have no worries about him. He is advanced, an avid reader, and does well with everything. I assumed my daughter would be the same....this is where you all smile because you know no two children are alike! My daughter turned 8 in July, so she is a very young third grader or a second grader. I am not sure where to place her, she is not advanced. I placed her as a second grader with the school district, just to have some leeway in case she doesn't do well with testing. By age, she could definitely be 3rd. Anyway, she will take an 'end of 2nd grde' test on the 28th. I am just getting anxious, and I know I shouldn't, because I know it really doesn't mean much at all in the longrun. In all honesty, I want her to do well for my own pride. We all want to see our children succeed. Of course, this isn't my primary goal in life, her spiritual development and character are of primary importance. She is a special little girl! But anyway, I am driving myself a bit nuts preparing her for the test. We are doing a test prep book, and will have it completed by the test date. I am finding a lot of things in there that she does not know well. I guess in some ways I feel like I have short-changed her. The first child got so much focus and attention, so much instruction. The second child has gotten a lot less from me (when she began homeschool K, my third child was just born, so I feel the last 3 years, all her years of education, have been foggy with the third child in the mix).
I am trying to prepare her by using the test prep book, so she knows what to expect, understands the way they ask questions, how to fill in bubbles, and how to navigate questions that she doesn't understand. I just am feeling anxious over the whole thing. Feeling like, what have I been doing the last 3 years for her? Feeling like I haven't given her enough attention with schooling. Concerned that she won't do as well as her brother. Etcetera. I could just use some hugs and pats on the back.
I know from now on, I am going to borrow the What Your 3rd Grader Should Know book from the library and spend a half hour each week going through it with her. I just don't enjoy feeling behind. I never before thought I cared what the public schools were teaching, but I now wish I had cared. I am having a hard time explaining it, but I guess I just don't want huge gaps in her education and think I have maybe not taken it seriously enough.
By the way, this is NOT a reflection of HOD, as I haven't used HOD with her a whole lot. I am just talking here because I know you all will understand.
And encourage me. 
Thank you!
. Sometimes it helps me to remember that homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint.
I am thankful that my dc did well on their first testing last year, but I realize it's possible this won't always be the case. I pray that God will keep my heart and yours strong and our eyes focused toward Him. I prayed Shelly's beautiful prayer too. Be encouraged! 