Let's face it, Momma. You are a REBEL.
If you weren't, you would have simply put your kid on the big yellow bus when he was "of age" at five years old, and not thought a thing about it. But you DID think about it, and even "worse," you acted on it! And beyond that, you're a special brand of a rebel, because you're looking at adding in SPANISH to this sweetie's daily life.
You took the hard way. There was an EASY choice that receives no questions, no flack, no eyebrow raises, and you took a WAY different path, and let's face it... you probably made "off brand" choices in a BUNCH of other arenas, too, like health, food, and parenting in general. (Are you laughing and listing those choices in your head now? I know! You, REBEL, you!)
That being said, you think for yourself, and you probably don't think of obstacles or problems as a reason to change your patterns or daily expectations.
Like me.
I LOVE homeschooling. I LOVE my online sessions with my Spanish Geniuses, and have been quite surprised to find out that I'm enjoying my Leadership Course online sessions just as much! So, like you, when we had a GIGANTIC eight hour away move happening sometime this month, I figured it would be fine, I could keep my current schedule and daily expectations, and just be flexible.
I was silly. We're moving an entire farm, we still have one kid at home, the business, inventory, the shop full of homesteading stuff, three cats, and 7 of my beloved chickens. So all the Spanish Geniuses Live sessions form NOW through October 19th are canceled. I felt TERRIBLE about that. I will miss my students on Oct 10,14 & 16th. But to try and push through was not a good plan for the family. And why do we do this, after all? It's for family! (Right???!!)
So - when do you push through and WHEN do you call off school for a day, a week, or more? Here are my guidelines, I hope they help you!
When to push through with "close to" a regular homeschool day - for any ONE of these cases:
- One child is sick (but the others aren't)
- Mom has a cold, but nothing contagious or requiring bed time
- Dad has a new job, new schedule, new whatever
- Dad stays home from work
- Unexpected visit from church member/neighbor/acquaintance
- Power goes out (school outside!, or CAR school, or mall school!)
- You have to pack for a future trip or move that is more than a month away.
- Water is shut off for any reason (school at the park, go to a friend's, time for a lesson in pioneer days, or grocery store run)
- Snow day - school is canceled for everyone else. (NOT US!)
When to take the day off from your regularly Homeschool Pattern:
- Any TWO or more of the above scenarios on the same day
- Family visit from anyone out of town
- Dad wants you to.
- Church or community service day takes a lot of time
- Co-op Day (we do not double up - we EITHER do co-op, OR we do home school stuff, never get home from co-op and do more work.
- "Nice day" off (No snow days.... take the NICE days off!)
When to take more than just one day off:
- Surgery or hospital stay for ANY family member
- New baby
- Any of the above plus a visit from an out of town family member
- Moving houses
- New Job for Dad that changes his hours/schedule/vacation time
- More than one kid is sick.
- Area flooding, extreme weather, community emergencies
- Major travels for sports
Maybe you're thinking, that's nice, Suzanne.... But HOW do we keep going and not have the whole day wasted ANY WAY?
Well, being married to a marine, birthing five children, and being ALMOST to the end of the homeschooling journey, I am no stranger to improvising.
Here are a few ways to keep going with your homeschooling day, with some simple adjustments:
- Change locations,
- Change the amount of work,
- Change number of subjects,
- Adjust the duration of time,
- Improvise the medium through which they're learning.... who can forget "DOCUMENTARY DAY" in history or science class? Videos can be SUPER educational, especially when they're unexpected!
- You can change who teaches your children
Choose a nice light method for a while... an example of this would be for your Spanish method: ONE WORD a day!
Here's our newest bundle to help with that - The Spanish Fun Activity Calendar has a TON of games and easy activities in a one-day-at-a-time method. You truly learn just ONE new Spanish word a day for TWO YEARS!
Use MOVING as a discount code and get another $5 off until October 20.
I hope these lists help you to decide when you can push through, and when, maybe you decide NOT to. At my stage, with just ONE kid left, a senior in high school, this cross country (okay, just across the state, but it's Texas... so 8 hours away) move has me ok with stopping ALL subjects for the week.
Yet, SHE is STILL is getting all her school work completed! I am AMAZED at her discipline and drive, but I would be JUST as satisfied if she were skipping her school work and 100% focused on packing, trailer and moving truck rentals, learning simply how to turn on the power and transferring accounts!
I'd love to hear your experience - have you ever pushed through some bumps in the road and regretted it? Or vice versa?