Homeschool flunkie? Nah…
It’s the first day of school. 11:06. I’m still in my pajamas. I finally sent my children off for recess. I don’t have a regular plan for recess. But this year seems to be anything but normal. I only started school today because my children were begging. I am so unprepared. We started the day by cleaning out last years school boxes and organizing last year’s binders. Then I put them all aside to be stored. We filled up this year’s school boxes with this year’s school supplies. (Usually they’re laid out neatly at each child’s place to greet them when they first come down to school. This year they were strewn about the school room still in Walmart bags.)
When we finally sat down to do school, we started with Character/Bible. And a memory verse. A good way to start the day! I sent them off to do math, while I created divider tabs for this years notebooks. Then handwriting. Shoot… my 5 year old finished her handwriting book. I have to order a new one. Then grammar/phonics. As of 45 minutes ago, I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish Illuminations Year 2 or just move on to Illuminations Year 3 and get a fresh start on the year. I looked at all the literature we’d be skipping and decided to finish ILM2. So much for everything lining up in a nice, neat fashion.
So it turns out that really, I sent them off for recess so I could figure out what to do next. Now that I know we’re going to finish ILM2, we can do history next. I ordered the next read-aloud.
Today, it would be easy to feel like a homeschool flunkie, but God offers me so much grace; it’s time to offer some to myself. So far today, my children have been constructive, they’ve learned about loyalty, they’ve worked on a memory verse, they’ve learned, and now they’re building a fort. Together. Those are some of the biggest reasons that I homeschool. That is homeschool success. Just because the day doesn’t LOOK like I think it should doesn’t make me a failure. I do hope I can sneak my shower in, though…
Comments (5)
Oh thank God for grace! I have had many days where I wanted to give up and put them in traditional school but remember that God didn’t give up on me. He gives me grace and gently guides me back to where I am supposed to be.
We have not started school officially yet but have beenetting everything ready. I will pray for your first week back…pray for mine next week.
If it makes you feel any better, it’s 1pm and I am still in my pjs. ;D
BUT, my 13yo dd is working on her own – with a smile and not all stressed out like she was last week, and my 11wo ds is down for a nap. And His grace is so very sufficient for me!
2 Cor 2:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I AM WEAK!
Say it loud, say it proud! lol!
Thanks for sharing! It is so encouraging to know I’m not walking this road alone.
Oh yes!! Grace is amazing.
We tried to start last week when ps started but my older girls did not start college until this week so it was pointless to try. We spent last week shopping for a car and textbooks for them.
Now the girls are off and I have a peaceful house with my 13 year old “only” child.
We are spending this week reading aloud great boy stories we love- Hatchet, Just David and Hans Brinker. We will make sure we get a swim in each afternoon. In addition to organizing the school room and bed room. We did several Mad Libs this morning and got us laughing hysterically.
Hers to a stress free year for us all!
I love His Grace!!!
I also appreciate other HS moms who share their “realness” and humanity with the rest of us. 🙂 It sounds like you have it all under reasonable control! Good work! (and in her jammies, no less!) I was in my PJ’s at 4pm last week when we were still finishing history (MOHIII) because my kids love it so much we had to do ALL the activities that day! Go figure.
Today I felt my head spinning because I was reading about Cristobal Colon, and suddenly my 13 and 14yo boys began to make up their own “spy” alphabet complete with phonetics and lightning bolt letters….they were listening, just “busy.” I stopped to take a deep breath, and heard the Lord say “This is why you homeschool – they are cabaple of listening, creating and learning all at the same time.”
Did I say I love His Grace?!??
Praying for you during your first week!
L O V E it. Thanks for sharing your real story.
I’ve been homeschooling for 16 years!!! and His GRACE is sufficient. I even teach a “How to Plan Your School Year” Workshop, but I am totally behind on following all my own advice.
I definitely relate to Melissa and LOVE the Lord’s graciousness in my life. I love having ideals, but also being able to relax in a little confusion, wait on the Lord’s direction and move forward from there.