Seasons of Homeschool

As I end our 23rd year of homeschooling, I am struggling with what homeschooling looks like in our home now. I confess it does not match my ideal! But, I know that our homeschool has had different seasons and this is just one of them. Although, I suspect it might be the season that brings us through to the end. 

I have always maintained, and still do to some extent, that to have a successful homeschool, you have to be home. My ideal has always been to be home for 4 out of the 5 school days of the week. I have settled for 3 out of 5 many years. But those days are gone, and I am struggling with that. 

My three boys have knocked me out of my comfort zone and taken our homeschool on the road.  


Smee, A.K.A. James, has been bitten by the theater bug. He participates in a fairly low key program, but that is one day a week gone driving to and from theater. Sometimes one of the older boys comes with me to work on school, or I can sit in the car and conference call school with them. 

(By the way- James had a blast playing "Smee" in Peter Pan. The performance landed on his 12th birthday, so it was a very special day!) 


Paul on the right.  

                             

Uncle Paul 

Paul started all of this last year. He decided that he would like to attend a Friday school program for a few classes. 

And then, he decided, just days before the paperwork deadline (just pointing that out because it was CRAZY getting everything done to get him in) that he would like to play volleyball for a local high school program. 

And that program requires that he meet with a teacher once a week and turn in work from 3 of his academic classes. 

Plus, as low key as volleyball sounds, it is totally not! Practice every day beginning the first week of February through to regular season in March. Then it is games or practice every single day through most of May. Throw in one or two weekend tournaments too.  




And then there is this guy standing next to "his cannon". 
 I think they call him the "powder monkey".  In addition to running us ragged getting him back and forth to Civil War reenactment battles all Memorial Day weekend, Mark has decided to follow in his brother's footsteps. 

Only, he is playing football! Yup. Every single day this summer, there is a practice. Some days he arrives as early as noon and is not done until 5. That is a long day for my former homebody. 

He is also signed up to take classes at the Friday school, and he will have to meet weekly with a teacher at the school he plays football for to turn in his work. 

As we wind down this year, I ponder how next year will go. How will the next 6 years go as my boys move through and graduate from high school? Every part of me rebels and wants to say no- stay home!! 

But this is the season that we are in and I am fairly convinced that we are suppose to be here. I will keep praying and trust God to lead us through. 

Before I began this homeschool journey, I would never have imagined that we would be led to bring our children home to school, so I have that to look back on see how grateful that I am that we were and to trust this next season to Him too.  
                         

Of course, there is still just regular life going on here as well- 




We've still had time for some serious hugs- 
this little girl is always full of them. 



Comments

  1. UnknownJune 17, 2015 at 3:19 AM

    Same here! For my OWN sanity, I try to have 3 days at home...or at least with no scheduled outside activities...but it doesn't seem to work that way. 5 days a week I am running to and fro as least 1 time, but usually more. It's a busy life for sure! Perhaps next year will be different? ;)

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  2. PattyJune 17, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    You have a large family and with that size comes many different angles that effect homeschooling. My theory is if it isn't broke, don't fix it. If your day to day homeschool is working for you right now, let it be. I have come to realize on year 12 that it is not going to be the same for all the kids. You are an amazing mama, grandma, wife, and teacher. I don't know how you do it all!

    ReplyDelete

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