This year feels different

Somehow homeschooling feels like a whole other kettle of fish so far this year than last. Of course, we're really only one week in and still settling into a rhythm, so that could be it. But somehow this year seems harder.

Not harder bad, necessarily. More challenging. More focused. More intentional. Like there's more on the line.

And our days just seem longer. Which could be doing a four-day curriculum instead of a five-day curriculum. (Though we did a five-day curriculum in four days last year.) But we're starting together at 9 and not ending together until 4. Of course, there's an hour for lunch in there. And an hour of quiet time. And an hour of time for each girl to work on her own while I do math with the other.

The good thing is that the days don't feel rushed. And I have to say I'd prefer longer and some open space and time, than shorter and rushed. 

I don't like being rushed. 

The girls don't like it either. It's a sure way to a bad attitude and whatever their current version of a meltdown happens to be at the moment. Mine too for that matter.

Anyway, this year feels different. And I think I'm okay with that. Choosing to watch and see how it shakes out, how it settles, how it pans out as we adjust to the rhythm and see things fall into texture of our family life.

I'm reminding myself that it takes time for things to settle.

Comments

[Kate Stoker]

I hope your new routine feels comfortable to you all soon.

[Shelley]

Our homeschool feels different this year too. Of course, mine are K and 2nd grade...this is only our second year. I feel like I don't have to be so "in control" this year. I have learned to relax a bit more and take things as they come. My oldest is able to be a bit more independent...which is REALLY nice!
I am also finding that we can "low tide" a bit more and still accomplish a lot because we don't get the attitudes since I'm not rushing through cracking the whip and fighting for every second.
I feel like I have been able to persue more of a "lifestyle of learning" throughout our day as opposed to only a set school time at the table.
Isn't it wonderful when you start to get comfortable in your own skin and you can watch God work instead of trying to keep up with whomever and spend all day trying to fit God into your school??
I hope your new routine begins to feel comfortable very soon!!!!
In HIS Mighty Grip
~

[Tiffany]

Just stumbled onto your blog while I was looking for Girl Scout cake ideas, and it is like you are reading my mind. Homeschooling is very different this year than last year. I hope thing smooth out soon.

[Joanne Heim]

Re: [The Simple Wife] Tiffany submitted a comment to This year feels different

Dear Tiffany,
Nice to meet you! Thanks for saying hello.
Joanne

[Leah Mick]

My sister has been doing something different while homeschooling her daughter this year. Instead of looking at her daughter's curriculum as a set of subjects scheduled for each day, she has made a rotation of subjects, so say that the rotation is (making this up) Bible, History, Science, Math, reading...since math and reading were at the end of the rotation and they didn't get to them because they wanted to really focus on the subjects that came before in the rotation, they just pick up where they left off in the subject rotation, so her daughter can really learn the material even if it means doing more work in one subject per day...wow, did I make any sense?