First Intentional Week of Homeschool: Not Ideal But Maybe Better

This blog will feature my running pursuits as they affect my faith. We have intentionally and purposefully begun the adventure of homeschooling this past week, so sometimes I will post about that, like today, because it is a significant part of our lives. And since the neuroses (obsessive, ridiculous worry) of my children's future must be closely linked to the clarity of running exercise for forward motion, then you can bet running will be a part of any post in this life-season . In some way.

We listened to my customized classical Pandora station (because classical music will magically make them geniuses, right??? Lol.) which plays Star Wars music and Lord of the Rings often... These were there reactions to the Imperial Death March. Funny boys!

Our older son is almost 5. In pretty much every school system, his October birthday places him in kindergarten next year. This year we will be covering pre-K and kindergarten material to help me prepare the intentional planning and management of curriculum and lessons. We won't register him as a kindergartener until fall 2016. I am purposeful to say we are "intentionally" or "purposefully" doing it now because, honestly, we have been doing it all along. We take learning and character development and projects and especially reading out loud very seriously (and *funly* -- can we please make that a word?) around here. Big Love (the almost 5yo) and Little Love (2 this coming December) follow directions well and look forward to activities. They are already pros. But I personally have to set intentional time boundaries to purpose an education path that will flourish amidst our busy, active lifestyle. Things get lost in the rubble if they are not intentionally picked out and put in a place. For me, this is a challenge!

Perhaps setting time boundaries and official educational paths is my biggest beast to tame. I am the boss. Yikes! I have to take myself seriously (in a gracious way) -- double yikes, triple yikes!!! I am the one who decides what matters most in which moments, from learning to playing to outside relationships and responsibilities and how to make them weave together for my kids' appropriate persons, based on their ages or simply personalities. How flexible or strict must I be for learning success to continue? More than anything I want it to be enjoyable; I want them to crave learning and finding who they are in God, how to share their unique love with others. These experiences and skill acquisition require a patient but disciplined regimin. Can I oil the cogs and keep them moving?

We did it last week--we completed a week of intentional homeschool!!! Even though it did not go as perfectly as I planned, I feel even better than I hoped I would about it. I love it, like I just finished my first week at a wonderful job!

Each week through fall we are going to paint with watercolor those giant oak trees on the other side of our house to track fall's progress. I just told Big Love to focus on the amount of leaves and their colors.

I wanted our house to be in perfect, organized order. I hoped to have a whole day of celebratory kickoff meals. I thought I'd have official lesson plans and activities printed off and ready to go for each day of the week. But some unexpected plans, as well as planned events, on Labor Day weekend stunted those perfectionist preparations. Our house was (still is) covered in toys. I didn't get to the grocery store for special ingredients. I had a very dim vision of planning activities ahead of time; I knew where to start but my creativity was trapped in an anxiety bubble, so I didn't know where to go from there.

And you know what?

The table is easy to clear off, so we had plenty of room for projects.
The toys in the play room were easily put aside for circle time.
My kids aren't big eaters, so they were pleased with their usual meals.
And once we got started, Big Man's educational needs and abilities became clearer than a professionally cleaned window. I now have too many ideas and feel so excited about the future of our homeschooling. I know many days will be challenging and tearful, but I feel confident God will give us what we need when we need it --just like an experienced homeschooling mother told me this past spring.

The age difference between our boys will be challenging this year, as Little Love wants to do every single thing his big brother does and learns to accept that an activity with Mommy will have to suffice until he gets the powerful responsibility of wielding scissors and glue in a couple years.

Last week was full to the brim, but managing time with school actually made it simpler to find time for other important things. I pray I can keep the quiet, still time as important as the active times as they grow up because there are so.many.opportunities to do good things. I need new discernment every day.

I got my 11-mile run in, as well as a few shorter ones, to prep for my half-marathon (<---there was running ;) ). The laundry got started and folded in the same day (what?!), and we spent time with our loved ones, made it to karate class a few times, went on a date. And many other good things.

We will need to stay on track, but homeschool is nice because it allows flexibility for other meaningful things too. Relationships with God and the church, household participation, as well as time for my boys to get to know who they are (I am still getting to know myself, and I will until the day I die), so they can be properly equipped to be independent and critical thinkers, who remain dependent on God, who share with the church to reveal Good News to all people in whatever unique plan God has for each of them, are the hopes and prayers (and run-on sentence material)... and I am sure other things will be made clear as we continue.

Father-God, thank you that my husband and I have been preparing for homeschool together, with You, since our dating days. We pray for your guidance as we equip our boys with knowledge and skills and continued hunger for lifelong learning as children of Yours. Above all, please write courage, confidence, compassion, and faith on their hearts as we pray they choose to  follow Your Son and walk with Spirit. Thank you, in Jesus.