It happens. Usually when you least expect it.
The day it all falls apart.
Homeschooling has hard days. Some times multiple hard days. Some times it can turn into weeks… I know, I’ve been there many times.
There is a method to the madness of homeschooling on the hard days though.
It can be done. But there a few tricks to making it happen.
First, you just have to understand that there will be hard days. Examples what a hard day looks like around my house:
- Grumpy kids
- Grumpy mama
- Sickness
- Stress
- Marriage issues
- Family visiting
- Curriculum isn’t working
- Bordem
- Animal issues
This is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.
There are countless reasons why there are hard days when it comes to homeschooling.
Since your house and life are different you will experience different hard days, but they will be hard days no less.
Second, when things start to spiral out of control, you must take a step back to examine what the potential issue could be.
If any thing (including your emotions) are off, you might want to call recess for a short time. Let yourself breath, let the kids breath, pray, then regroup.
Try again.
If meltdowns ensue (this again includes you mama), it might just be better to let the school day end right there.
One lost day will not ruin all of the good days. I promise.
Once you have reached the point of quitting for the day but you would still like to feel like some thing was accomplished, turn the rest of the day into a park or field trip day. The kids will be thrilled and you can count it as school on the road.
I read this quote a while back, “One bad day does not make bad mamas.” I firmly believe that this can be applied to homeschooling too.
The onslaught of other people’s opinions make homeschooling rather tedious and hard. Maybe you have noticed…I sure have.
Because of this, I find it the best policy to eliminate the potential for interrupts during school time. It doesn’t always work, as emergencies do arise, but it helps.
- Turn the house phone off or mute it.
- Silence your cell phone, or for that matter, leave it in the other room on silent.
- Stay off of the computer…Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest are time killers and huge distractions, for you and the kids.
- Require electronics to be put away until school work is completed, unless they are required for school.
Lastly, if it gets to the point where you think that the kids would be better off at the public school down the road, just STOP. For the day. Walk away. Do not even let those thoughts continue.
It is perfectly normal to have hard days.
It is perfectly normal to feel like a complete and utter failure as a homeschooler.
It is perfectly normal to lock yourself in the bathroom and cry your eyes out.
It is perfectly normal to doubt your abilities.
It is perfectly normal to ask if this is ever going to get better.
You are perfectly normal mama.
So, now that you are at this point, go clear your head, apologize for losing it and screaming your head off, make some popcorn, turn on a good movie, and snuggle on the couch with your little (or big) people.
Because one bad homeschool day is not worth the heartache that it can sometimes cause.
Because one bad homeschool day does not define you.
Because one bad homeschool day does not mean you cannot teach.
Because one bad homeschool day does not mean your kids are not learning.
Because we serve a much stronger, higher, mightier, grace-giving, merciful God.
A God that sees our hearts as we wade through days that we wish we could erase. He wants us to do our best, even on the hard days.
Because in our weakness He is made Strong.
In our inabilities His Grace shines through.
In our lack He is Sufficient.
In our darkness He creates Light.
This is How I manage on the really hard, dark, weary days that creep up in our homeschool. They are inevitable, but they are manageable and when I am overwhelmed, I run to the Rock that is Higher than I (Psalm 61:2).
Stay Strong Mama.
*** Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
*** I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
*** For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And his truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:5
*** And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in the house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lies down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7
In His Grace.
Callie
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