Fear of the Unknown

As Mothers Day approaches I've been thinking about my strengths and weaknesses and what kind of a mother I am.  I've tried really hard not to compare myself with others but focus on natural talents from Heavenly Father and the talents He expects me to work on improving.  One of those talents is teaching.  I love teaching, it may not be the thing I'm best at and I've no formal training but I love it and that counts for a lot.  Incidentally I've provided myself with quite an opportunity to improve on this particular talent.  After long hours of thought and prayer, with the Spirit behind us, influencing us and teaching us, Brent and I have decided to become homeschooling parents next fall. Well, mostly I will be doing the teaching but Brent will have his fair share as well.  I say that because Emma and I don't see eye to eye on Math; when it comes to Math she and I become mortal enemies!  

I'm a little reticent to admit this but I'm scared to death about this whole teaching business.  Am I even qualified to be teaching my daughter these subjects?  Am I going to screw her up in so many ways that no one will be able to unscrew her? Will my daughter hate being with me so much of the time and come to resent that we are together so often?  Will I lose my temper with my daughter when things don't go well and come to resent her?  Will I fail as a teacher and parent with my only child?  Will my decisions lead her to hate school even more than ever and will she spiral slowly downward into a dark and dangerous path?  Will my husband resent me because I couldn't teach our daughter the things she needs to become a well educated and well rounded woman.

Obviously these questions have come to mind at least once and obviously I'm being a little sarcastic.  Some still sit on my shoulder like the little red devil they are!  Others I have almost laughed aloud at knowing that was Satan's pathetic attempt to persuade me differently.  The fear is real but it is mostly of the unknown.  I'm not afraid to fail because in failing we learn.  I'm not afraid to teach because I know how (tooting my own horn here) awesome I am.  It's almost an oxymoron this thing with fear.  My fear of the unknown will cease as soon as I start so why should I have fear until I go to start because it will just stop when I start!!! I've had so much support in getting to these thoughts and feelings and I'm really looking forward to starting this process even though I scared to death as well.  It helps knowing where we are going, how to get there, and who's coming along for the ride.  Oh and of course what we will find in the end!