It was in October. Only October (you know it's gonna be bad when you're ready to pack it in in October) when I learned a very important homeschooling lesson. One that would change the course of our homeschooling forever!
We had begun our school year that August and were plugging away at the curriculum I had so painstakingly put together. At the time I was schooling four kids, along with a very active toddler and a baby who didn't want to be put down. To say it was a challenge already was putting it mildly.
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How it all began
Since the beginning, our homeschooling was very workbook heavy. Workbooks were easy to implement and my first born, the guinea pig of the group, really seemed to like them.
Things went well for a number of years until my second child got into the thick of the workbooks and we both began to realize that she just didn't do well with them.
It wasn't just her, though. The next two in line didn't seem to be liking them that much, either. Deep down I was beginning to see that something had to change.
Why This Was Hard for Me
Funny thing is, I even wanted them to change. The problem was that I am a rule-follower and because of that, I tend to stick to decisions I've made and have a hard time giving up on them.
You could also say I'm pretty stubborn.
I had spent a lot of time, not to mention a lot of money, putting that year's curriculum together. You better believe I was having a hard time chucking it all out the door.
I felt so defeated at this point. All that time and all that money wasted. I knew my kids weren't thriving with this type of curriculum, but I was having a terrible time making that change.
Then the Principal Had Something to Say
For a few years I had been getting a homeschooling magazine in the mail. (I know, right? In the mail???)
I enjoyed reading the stories of other homeschoolers and how they did things. It seemed that every month there was an article about a homeschooling mom and her kids and their exciting, free-flowing homeschooling experience. It sounded so fun and relaxed - everything that ours was not.
Around the time that things were really escalating in our homeschool, I read yet another article about a happy homeschooling family and I couldn't take it any more.
I went to my husband in tears and said, "Read this! This is how I want our homeschool to be."
He read it, because what else would he do while his wife was a weeping mess in front of him, looked at me and replied, "Well then do it."
Was it really that simple? You mean, I could trash the new curriculum I just bought and start all over? I could chuck the workbooks and do things like unit studies and read-alouds and nature walks???
Implementing that Important Homeschooling Lesson
I was invigorated by his confidence so that weekend that is exactly what I did. We took some time to explore options and decide what we wanted our homeschooling to look like.
The first thing we did was a unit study on the Rosary and we read a book together about St. Dominic. We then went on to study the Civil War and had the best homeschooling year we've ever had.
I still kept some of the workbooks for some of the kids, but here's the most important part, I gave myself permission to change things up and do what worked for everyone!
That is the important homeschooling lesson I learned: that I have permission, even the responsibility, to change things when they aren't working, no matter what it has cost in time or money.
What do You Need to Change?
Is there anything that you're hanging on to that just isn't working? Is there something you need to simplify?
It might not be your curriculum. It could be:
- the unhealthy food you're eating
- your morning and/or bedtime routine
- the time you spend (or don't spend) with your husband
- a complex method of record-keeping
You name it. If you know that something really isn't right and just isn't clicking, then give yourself permission to try something new. Sometimes simplifying means finding an alternate method that works better for everyone.
It doesn't mean you have failed. By no means! Instead, it means that you are acutely aware of what you and your children need in order to be successful at learning and at life.
Don't feel down that things didn't work out. Get up, see what needs to change and try again.
Let me know what in your life needs changing! I'm here to cheer you on and help in anyway I can!