Reality Homeschooling

Day #31 A New Perspective

2012-10-31T12:53:19Z

Have you ever noticed how different things look from an airplane?

I remember one airplane trip I took to California by way of Utah. We crossed over the snow-capped Rocky mountains and I was certain nothing could surpass their beauty. But then we came to a large copper mine in Utah followed by the Great Salt Lakes, I was captivated by their beauty.

I’m sure all of those things would have been lovely if I was viewing them from the ground, but they wouldn’t have compared to the magnificence I saw from above. Glorious!

Trials are kind of like airplanes. They give us the ability to see things differently, from a perspective we probably never have before.

For example, it’s a lot different when you think about cancer from the bedside than it is when you’re the one in the bed receiving chemotherapy and throwing up head over heels.

If we let them, trials have a way of increasing our capacity to love and care for others. The trivial falls away and the true is seen.

When you encounter a crisis, embrace what it has to teach you. Allow it to open your eyes to what you’ve never seen or experienced before.

Let the trial change you–for the better!

View from an airplane window by Marufish on flickr

Day #30 What Made You Keep Homeschooling?

2012-10-30T13:04:11Z

Why did you continue homeschooling?

That’s the question I asked my friends who went through a major crisis.

These were their answers:

“The reason we homeschooled didn’t change with our circumstances.”

“I needed the kids’ help.”

“The absolute flexibility of homeschooling.”

“Sending them to school would create another set of problems.”

“It kept our family close together.”

“I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my kids.”

“God didn’t instruct us to change our path.”

Just because a crisis hits doesn’t mean it’s time to cart the kids off to school. This may the best family time you’ve ever had and the greatest learning experience your kids will ever encounter.

Dear Lord, if anyone reading this is going through a trial, I pray they will be encouraged and strengthened to carry on. May they ever lean into you for comfort, wisdom, guidance and love. May they remain faithful to you and, when it’s all said and done, may they rest in your faithfulness to them.

Image of homeschooling family by IowaPolitics.com on flickr

Day #29 How a Crisis Changes You

2012-10-29T14:06:55Z

It’s inevitable.

You will change.

Your family members will change.

Life will never quite be the same again.

That’s what a crisis does.

The good news is that all of those changes aren’t bad. Some may be really good.

A crisis can bring about any of these things and more:

-A greater dependency and trust in the Lord.

-A relinquishing of control to the Lord.

-A heartier prayer life.

-Spiritual strength.

-Mental fortitude.

-Courage you didn’t know you had.

-Empathy for others.

-Boldness

-A stronger focus on priorities

-Knowledge about what those priorities really are

-Better usage of time

-Gratefulness

-A greater capacity to live life to the fullest

Change will happen.

Change is good, even when it doesn’t feel like it at the time.

Autumn leaves image courtesy of INABA Tomoaki on flickr

Day #28 They Will Still Learn

2012-10-29T13:53:34Z

My friends who have gone through a major crisis while homeschooling, were shocked that their children still did well with schooling and testing.

One autumn we went through a particularly hectic time and all of the plans I had were demolished. After eight weeks of just trying to stay afloat, I was certain that my children were suffering academically.

I found Mary Hood’s Relaxed Record Keeping and decided to write down the things my kids had done, studied, and possibly learned during the eight weeks that life was in turmoil.

I was utterly shocked!

Those little people had been busy learning all sorts of things and being productive in ways I’d hardly noticed.

When I finally finished writing down all the things they had done or studied, I had about 8 handwritten pages!

Regardless of whether or not academics are addressed, kids still learn as long as they aren’t parked in front of a T.V. or computer all day. But they don’t just learn about academics. They learn about life—the really important stuff.

Image of kids studying by IowaPolitics.com on flickr

Day #27 Positive Influences

2012-10-29T13:54:12Z

A crisis is a tempting time to go on a swift downward emotional spiral. It’s easier than usual to get depressed or to turn negative.

That’s why it’s vitally important to make sure you are constantly exposed to positive influences.

Turn off the T.V. Turn off the radio. Ignore magazines. Stay clear of Facebook and Twitter. Throw away the newspaper. Don’t allow worldly, negative thinking or living to infiltrate your mind.

And this is not the time to hang out with people who always have the mully-grubs.

Hang with those who are hopeful, optimistic, full of joy, and full of faith.

Make sure your children do the same.

Thumbs up image courtesy of alobos Life on flickr

Day #26 Letting Yourself Process Emotions

2012-10-26T20:22:19Z

During a crisis you may feel a lot of different things:

-sad

-angry

-disappointed

-hurt

-confused

-overwhelmed

-depressed

-crazy

-like you want to scream

Don’t think you have to bottle it all up inside.

Find appropriate ways to release your emotions before you explode like a volcano on everyone that you love.

It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to feel ugly things. It doesn’t make you a bad person.

And it’s okay to release those emotions. In fact, you really need to do just that.

If you have to hit a punching bag, stomp your feet, or scream into a pillow, do it.

And don’t be surprised if you point your little finger right in the face of God and say, “I’m mad at you!”

Release those emotions, get them out, and then you will be free of that excess energy and can proceed forward.

Image of woman screaming courtesy of Snowflakesarewhite on flickr

Day #25 Coming Together as a Family

2012-10-25T13:56:49Z

A crisis can do one of two things to a family. It can rip a family apart or bring a family together even closer than they were before. It’s a choice.

Remember the friends I mentioned on Day 1 of this series, the ones who had been through a major crisis? They all said one thing about enduring the crisis: It brought their family closer together.

It was during the crisis that “I”, “me”, “my” and “mine” fell by the wayside and they became a family team. Everybody had to work together and do their part to survive.

During a crisis:

-Everyone needs to pitch in and help.

-Family members need to love on one another and be a source of encouragement and support for one another.

-The family will do well to pray together and keep the focus on God.

-And every person needs to know that the family unit will remain intact.

If you’re experiencing a major trial, don’t run from your family, run after them.

Family hugging image courtesy of wader on flickr

Day #24 Find What Works for You

2012-10-24T14:12:21Z

Over the last 24 days, I’ve given you lots of advice and, hopefully, some of it was useful. Maybe you gleaned a few nuggets that will help you now or in the future.

But the reality is that there isn’t one right way to homeschool through a crisis. As you proceed day by day, you’ll discover what works best in your circumstance.

When you find something that works, go with it!

It doesn’t matter how unconventional or downright silly it might seem, if it works then do it.

And this is a great time to release all those expectations you have of yourself and ward off the expectations of others.

This is your life and your crisis and you need to get through it in the way that works for your family.

Be free!

Smiley face courtesy of Candie_N (Will organize photostream eventually) on flickr

Day #23 Simple Meals

2012-10-24T14:11:04Z

For most of the month of September and part of the month of October, my kitchen was torn apart. If it couldn’t be cooked in a toaster, a microwave, or a crockpot, we didn’t eat it. So, we had to eat out a lot.

After weeks of this, even our favorite restaurants didn’t arouse our taste buds anymore. We just wanted simple things like scrambled eggs, baked chicken, or homemade cookies.

Not to mention, we gained weight, probably sent our cholesterols through the roof, and generally didn’t feel as good.

During times of crisis, whether great or small, whether quick or long-lasting, it’s imperative to get good nutrition, but it’s often the last thing on our minds.

Other than accepting help from those offering to prepare meals, the next best thing is to keep meals simple, doable.

Breakfast suggestions:
-cereal
-oatmeal packets
-frozen waffles or pancakes
-scrambled eggs
-premade muffins
-smoothies

Lunch suggestions:
-sandwiches
-canned soups
-frozen dinners
-premade salads

Supper suggestions:
-frozen or take-out pizza
-frozen dinners
-crockpot meals
-one dish meals

Snack suggestions:
-veggies and dip
-fruit
-nuts
-protein bars

Granted, all of these suggestions might not be super healthy, but most of them do have a fair amount of nutrition. The important thing is to have easy stuff on hand. If you happen to have enough time to cook a big, home-cooked meal, then great, but for those times that life is just too hectic, it’s better to have something than nothing.

Club sandwich image by duncan on flickr

Day #22 Be Flexible!

2012-10-20T14:22:09Z

Recently, I’ve been living a mini crisis. How fitting as I’m talking about “Homeschooling Through a Crisis!”

A water leak resulted in a torn up kitchen, new floors, the decision to go ahead and do some remodeling since everything was a disaster and weeks and weeks of chaos and stress for me! And I’m still in the middle of it!

Folks, I’d love to say I’ve handled it all with grace and ease, but I’ve had my share of meltdowns. Even as I type these words, the burden of the 20 or so cabinet doors stacked in my bedroom awaiting paint is pressing down on my shoulders—along with about 10 other major things that need to be done. And I’m typing in an office that looks like an episode of Hoarders!

For the months of September and October, I’ve had no schedule, no agenda, no routines, no healthy habits, no predictability, and precious little sanity.

But. . .

I’m learning to be flexible—to go with the flow, even when the flow isn’t of my choosing.

What I think is a priority on any given day usually has to yield to the true priority for that day.

A lot of “me” and “I” and “my” and “mine” has died in the process.

I’ve learned to not only pray, but to accept the words, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

It’s not until we’ve been put in a situation where flexibility is the only choice, that we realize just how stiff and set in our ways we’ve become.

The stretching is good for us. It’s like spiritual yoga.

Image of woman doing yoga on the beach by lululemon athletica on flickr