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Second half of the school year. Yep, I said "second half". And we're behind. Ack! Choking sensation...(gasp)...heart racing...cold sweat...nightmares of incomplete workbooks and unopened test packets...(strangled cry)...visions of my children, white-haired and hunched in a wheelchair, still trying to learn to read.... HELP!
But wait. It's not really that bad. With God's help, we can do this! Just pick up where we left off, buckle down, and get 'er done. Right? Right! (Right?)
I know, I know. Most of you homeschool mothers are organized to a fault. You're not behind even a teensy-weensy bit. Your 5-year-old is teaching your 1-year-old calculus while your 8-year-old is zipping through online college courses. Your home is spotless and you serve gourmet meals. Three times a day.
That's great and we who are struggling salute you...honest! We'd love to be like you! So, could you do us a favor? Pray for us! That's the most important thing. Then, give us some helpful hints and share your secrets with us. Encourage us. Support us. And keep being an example to us!
At times like these it's important to stop and remind myself why I'm doing what I'm doing. I'm not homeschooling my children so they can be little Einsteins and show off at competitions around the country. (Although that might be nice.) I don't do this so that I can bask in the accolades of those who admire what I do. (Even though it's nice to be admired.) I'm doing this because it's what God has called me to do. Because I feel that it's best for my children. Because I'm blessed to be able to have them here, at home, where I can love on 'em and use the daily happenings and even the setbacks of our lives as teaching opportunities.
Life happens. (Oh, does it ever!) Things go wrong. Time flies by so fast that we feel like we're in a wind tunnel. We get behind sometimes. That's not an excuse to throw up our hands and quit, it's an opportunity to start over and do better; to rest in God's grace and in His promise to give us strength.
So, if you're in "January Panic Mode", don't despair! You're not alone! Encourage yourself in the Lord, seek encouragement and advice from fellow homeschool moms, go kiss those kiddos, stop panicking, and relax. It's almost never as bad as you think it is. Trust me on this.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to pass out the Ensure and help my children with their dentures before we work on that alphabet.
I have to say, I was just thinking this as we finished up school this morning. So many unplanned interruptions! I think we homeschoolers put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. Why do we HAVE to finish by May 1 (I know I won't!)? Why do we HAVE to spend x number of hours or x number of days doing school. We often forget what regular school was like!
ReplyDeleteYou know what? My daughter's been sick with a high temperature for the last three days. I wouldn't have been able to send her to school...but she felt fine enough to keep going. For every educational ideal we don't meet, we have an opposite positive we can do. Why do we pressure ourselves so much? :)
You're so right! I've found that the most pressure sometimes comes from fellow homeschoolers, even though they may not mean to pressure us at all!
DeleteWe won't be finished by May 1st. We may have to do some schooling through the summer. But, you know what? That's okay! I think it actually helps in the long run because there isn't that huge gap between school sessions, so they don't forget quite everything.
Glad to know someone else feels as I do. :)
I hope you're daughter is well now!
~Jessica