The foundation of love laid in the early years affects the child's ability to learn and largely determines when he/she is able to grasp new information. Many children go to school ill-prepared to learn because they are not emotionally ready to learn. Children need to reach appropriate emotional levels of maturity before they are able to learn effectively at their age level. Simply sending a child to a better school or changing teachers is not the answer. We must make sure our children are emotionally ready to learn. (See Chapter 9 for more on the relationship between love and learning).
Wow. This really hit me in profound way. I believe this is why HOD has been such a blessing for me and for my sons this year. It allows you the freedom to help your child mature EMOTIONALLY first, as well as academically. My oldest is less mature emotionally (in my opinion) than he could be, thus he learns a bit slower than some other children. Whether this is due to something I did wrong when he was younger, I am not fully sure. It might be a part of it, yet I am sure that it is a bigger picture than that. Yet, this year I am seeing a good progress in his emotional level, thus his learning is slowly coming along better as well. Carrie MUST have understood this truth when she created HOD. Either that, or the Lord just totally anointed her with His wisdom without her even being aware! Either way, it is awesome.
So, I hope this helps someone out there. It sure helped me. The more emotionally stable and mature our children are, the easier they can learn and love the process of learning. The more UNconditional love they receive in the home, the more secure and stable they will be as they grow and mature. This is a very positive opportunity we have as homeschool mothers, to be even more IN TUNE with our children's emotional needs and love languages (not that non-homeschooling mothers can't do this, but it might be a little harder). As homeschool mothers, it is SO important for us to understand this and receive it. I know I needed to (I was riding a bike at the Y and reading this and began CRYING!
Thankfully, hardly anyone was there to see me!) Get this book! I got mine from the library, but it is so refreshing and just what I needed to read at this time. Our Father is like that. His Spirit brings us JUST what we NEED, when we NEED it.
An excellent book - and likewise the The Five Love Languages book for understanding our dear husbands is pretty spot-on too. 
