Keep Calm and Homeschool On

Keep Calm and Homeschool OnMy annual spring homeschool mom meltdown happened.

I’ve come to expect it, so this year I didn’t allow it to catch me off guard. I knew as winter began to wind down that it would hit me. Exhaustion. Grumpy Momma Syndrome.

homeschoolmommeltdown

 The boys would have cabin fever, even though winter wasn’t bad this year at all. It just happens.

Every. Single. Year.

I even started a very frustrated post in Evernote. It was really just a rant, a complaint session, between me and my keyboard.school

Of course, I didn’t publish it. I sat there, staring at my fingers on the keys, knowing that I feel like this every year. I allowed myself to feel it. I picked myself up the next morning and did school with my kids. I felt frustrated and tired for a couple of weeks. I accepted it.

I reviewed some of my old posts on why we homeschool. I had some good talks with my Dad and my husband, not about my struggles or anything in particular, just about our homeschooling in general. How the kids are doing, where they are in need and where they are excelling.

I was reminded that this is a long-term commitment. It’s sort of like marriage. Homeschooling is not always fun, but the work pays dividends.

And the good parts are not to be missed, for anything.

Our school year is winding down, and for once, I don’t feel like it is fizzling out or like it crashed with a THUD. We had standardized testing this week, and I think they did fine for two kids who have never seen a standardized test or any test formatted like that before. (We used the Stanford 10 Online through Seton Testing Services, in case you’re wondering.)

This was our last week of co-op and next week is our last week of homeschool band. We have just two weeks beyond that of just writing and math and then we’re done. Oh, except D1’s band was asked to do the music for the Washington Homeschool Organization’s commencement ceremony this year. He has a couple extra band practices for that.

More good news: I found a happy medium for next year.

They will attend a parent partnership program, just part-time– not full-time— so we will maintain our homeschool status. I get to outsource what I do not wish to teach and will have someone else to hold my kids accountable for some of their studies.

I get to keep what I enjoy teaching and continue to use the curriculum that works for us. D1 will have a 504-Accommodations plan in place to assist him in his classes at the school.  For us, this is the best of both worlds. I will also have a couple of days a week to myself. Imagine that!

Homeschooling isn’t for wimps. It’s not for quitters. One bad day, or week, or even year doesn’t necessarily mean you should quit.

Let yourself feel it, understand where it comes from, look at your family realistically, and keep moving forward. Your kids will thank you!

More homeschool encouragement for you: