Homeschool Encouragement: Creating Flexible Expectations

Have you ever been trying to get out the door to co-op and the kids head to the car without backpacks and the baby has a blowout and then you drop your purse, which wasn’t zipped?  Have you?  I have.  Getting out the door is an especially difficult task for our family.  I always have good intentions and an internal plan. I think most of us do. It is that plan and the unrealistic expectations that come with it that can steal our joy. Have you ever had any of these unrealistic expectations?

 

Just this past week, I decided to try a bridge study with my boys.  I found a wonderful simulation and we looked at pictures and talked through why you have what kind of bridge.  We were almost to the point of building straw bridges and they started wrestling.  I was getting frustrated because each kid had already been sent to his room during this activity.  My response?  I called it quits.  I was at the end of my patience.  This wasn’t even officially school and they couldn’t keep it together which means that I was struggling (and was concerned I couldn’t keep it together).  This had not met my expectations.

Homeschool moms, I’m giving you permission to throw in the towel if necessary.  There was no reason for me to keep going at that point.  To continue to beg and plead was just going to result in me being a homeschool martyr and nobody having fun. The whole purpose of the activity was to have some FUN!  Sometimes we can be dogged in our pursuit to finish a project or lesson and that can serve us, but more often I find myself sticking to a lesson much longer than I should.  We will come back to bridge building a different day.  That day was not it.   Learning how to go with the flow and create flexibility and margin has helped me tremendously.  Sometimes our best learning comes without a plan and during relaxed moments like sitting on the couch.

If you are like me, and you have days where you are not at your best, or the kids aren’t, or the dog isn’t I want you to know you aren’t alone.  Reach out to other homeschoolers.  You can find lots of homeschool encouragement resources on my Pinterest board.   You can also sign up to receive my newsletter and access to my printables library here.