The Chronicles of Homeschooling Part One: Time

 

Today, I was overwhelmed with the reality that I am entering into a final season of homeschooling after doing this for more than 17 years. My youngest has been sick this week, and I’ve been observing her resting and recovering while attempting to keep up with math, french, social science studies, art and piano. She is determined not to get behind, and caring for her while seeing her tenacity shine through has reminded me that one of the gifts of homeschooling is time.  

Over the years, each season has looked different. When I was in the thick of it with multiple kids at home learning, there was often a frantic feeling that there was not enough time in the day to finish everything. I felt like we were never getting enough done, and I would constantly compare myself to what I thought they should be doing or what other homeschool moms were doing.

Whenever my kids were sick, I would take the opportunity to use the time productively and get creative, helping them learn through audiobooks, movies and documentaries. My youngest and I are currently listening to two different novels with Audible, and they allow her to sit, relax, and listen while working on her art. Some find it easier to learn and absorb information when their hands are busy, and homeschooling has allowed us to have the flexibility to make these decisions and to adjust our learning to suit each child specifically.  This has not been easy, but our challenges only pushed us toward acknowledging our need for change, character development, and patience.

There were many unexpected surprises during those early homeschool years, and I had to remind myself often to give up control to God. I was ready to take on the world after graduating from Queens University with my bachelor of education. I enthusiastically taught in a school for a few years, and when I became pregnant with my first son, I took a break from teaching with the intention to go back eventually. But our second came fairly quickly after the first, and our third followed shortly after. By then, my oldest was going through preschool, JK and SK, and my world started to change. Homeschool gradually emerged as the answer that made the most sense for my family, and so, 17 years ago, a new chapter began.

Within a few months, this part of my life will come to a close, yet the lessons I learned will remain with me always. The homeschooling years taught me the value of time, how easily it can be wasted, and how to use it as efficiently as possible during the day.

If you’re about to embark on this amazing journey, take heart! It’s normal to feel scared, overwhelmed, unworthy. Trust that God has put this into your heart for a reason. There will be days when you feel school did not happen, the house remains a mess, you still have not showered, and the laundry is piling up. Yes, that will happen yet during those times I had to remind myself (and others in my life) it’s ok. Is life ever tied up in a perfect package? I had to choose to look at what had been accomplished, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem! That is where a list of gratitude becomes soul food. 

Many years ago, when all five were home and very young, I found it very hard to have a heart of gratitude. I remember how I felt tired and impatient. I don’t recall what prompted me, but because we had an assortment of sticky notes in our home and large windows in our dining room, I had the kids fill a jar with sticky notes and pens, and daily, they were supposed to take one out, write down something they were grateful for and stick on on the window. I wish I had a photo. I am sure I do somewhere in the archives, but we filled many spots with layers of sticky notes. When I would take a moment alone and read all the gratitude-soaked notes, I began to realize this was not about my kid as much as it was teaching me to fill my house with gratitude. Surely, I had time for that in my life! It was fun and also necessary for all of us. I wonder if they remember that time? 

Motherhood is messy.  Even if we can be grateful for just a few simple things, we quickly gain perspective in these moments. For me, sometimes, it was the choice to close the textbooks and take a walk, begin an art project, play a board game, make food for a neighbour, go to the library or make a last-minute visit with another family. Something simple led to a refreshed attitude! The days seem long when the kids are young, I know that feeling! I also am aware of the reality that they will one day be 18 and head off to college, university, work or travel. I had to learn to allow time to not be my enemy but a reminder as we read in Psalm 90 to number our days, each moment is a gift God gives.

What have you done with your kids when you need to change up the routine and refresh?

Maybe you need a moment to enjoy a worshipful song! Enjoy this from Jonathon Ogden