I'm learning to walk again.
Our boys aren't the only ones learning new and different aspects of life as a homeschooling family. I'm learning to walk again.
Life is so rushed. I think we can all relate to the term "rat race". We become families rushing to get through so we can get to. We are running from here to there to fulfill our responsibilities, expectations and life's activities. Somet...imes we literally do not stop but only to sleep enough to do it again the next day.
Families transitioning from traditional school to homeschooling will often mention how much life slows down. When researching all things homeschooling, I remember reading or hearing this from families who, like us, have experience from both sides of educating our children. It's not until weeks after we've been homeschooling do I understand what they meant.
While some describe it as 'life seems to run at a slower pace', I'm more inclined to describe it as this..."we are learning to walk through life, not run through it."
It hasn't been til these past few weeks of homeschooling did I realize just how much rushing and running we were doing, both mentally and physically.
Our weekends are no longer planned around weekend homework. The slow down is especially noticed on Sunday evenings. We aren't rushing to get 'life' ready for the upcoming week. We don't have to prepare ourselves mentally for the upcoming week...tests, homework, lunches, clothes ready, books in backpacks, etc. I honestly didn't realize how much Sunday evening mental preparation I was rushing through.
Monday mornings are no longer dreaded. Oh, the dreaded Monday mornings of waking up sleepy children. Children who dread the coming week b/c of school. We would wake up at the latest time possible only to find ourselves rushing to get out the door on time. Rushing through b'fast, rushing through a change of clothes, brushing teeth..."get your backpacks! Did you hear me say hurry up!" Running out the door with all kinds of elevated commands and demands b/c we are rushing. Or for some, rushing to be catch the bus on time.
The rushing continued in school. My boys learned quickly that if they didn't get through with their work, they either had to bring it home to complete or sit out of recess in another classroom to complete. They acclimated to rushing through their work to avoid both circumstances. They learned to rush through their lunch in order to eat all of it and still have a few minutes to talk with neighboring friends...unless it was quiet lunch that no one got to talk.
And the rushing didn't stop just b/c school was out. "Get your homework done before you go outside to play with friends."...this equated to my boys rushing through homework so there would be enough time to play outside. The other aspect of this was "you can play outside first, but you will need to come in early to get your homework done before bedtime." So, here again, rushing their playtime outside. The rest of the evening was rushing...get homework done, baths, supper, prep for tomorrow...all before bedtime at the latest of 9:00, only to start it all over again the next morning. On evenings we had extracurricular activities, the rushing became racing. Racing to beat the clock to fulfill all our duties and activities.
So, in all, one of the most noticeable aspects of our past few weeks of homeschooling, we are learning to walk. And yes, we are having to learn to walk again. Rushing was all we knew when it came to life during the school year. Don't get me wrong, I am busy but that's not to be confused with hurried or rushed. You see, I'm busy planning, grading, teaching and fulfilling my duties as a mother and wife. But I'm not rushed. There are some days we don't know what to do with ourselves b/c of all the extra time we have. When the boys cooperate and focus, we are finished no later than 1:00 and that includes breaks, snack and b'fast. But there are days we are still schooling at 3:00 or later. These days, the boys just took longer to complete their assignments. They are slowly learning that they control how long their school day lasts. They aren't used to this. In traditional school, their day is planned for them...every minute of the day and even into the evening. Homeschool allows them to have more control of their day. They aren't rushed to complete their assignments but at the same time, they are learning to work independently, manage their time reaping the benefits or sowing the consequences.
Yes, life does slow down. I'm learning to walk again. And as a toddler learning to walk for the first time...it's just as freeing now as it was then.
Our boys aren't the only ones learning new and different aspects of life as a homeschooling family. I'm learning to walk again.
Life is so rushed. I think we can all relate to the term "rat race". We become families rushing to get through so we can get to. We are running from here to there to fulfill our responsibilities, expectations and life's activities. Somet...imes we literally do not stop but only to sleep enough to do it again the next day.
Families transitioning from traditional school to homeschooling will often mention how much life slows down. When researching all things homeschooling, I remember reading or hearing this from families who, like us, have experience from both sides of educating our children. It's not until weeks after we've been homeschooling do I understand what they meant.
While some describe it as 'life seems to run at a slower pace', I'm more inclined to describe it as this..."we are learning to walk through life, not run through it."
It hasn't been til these past few weeks of homeschooling did I realize just how much rushing and running we were doing, both mentally and physically.
Our weekends are no longer planned around weekend homework. The slow down is especially noticed on Sunday evenings. We aren't rushing to get 'life' ready for the upcoming week. We don't have to prepare ourselves mentally for the upcoming week...tests, homework, lunches, clothes ready, books in backpacks, etc. I honestly didn't realize how much Sunday evening mental preparation I was rushing through.
Monday mornings are no longer dreaded. Oh, the dreaded Monday mornings of waking up sleepy children. Children who dread the coming week b/c of school. We would wake up at the latest time possible only to find ourselves rushing to get out the door on time. Rushing through b'fast, rushing through a change of clothes, brushing teeth..."get your backpacks! Did you hear me say hurry up!" Running out the door with all kinds of elevated commands and demands b/c we are rushing. Or for some, rushing to be catch the bus on time.
The rushing continued in school. My boys learned quickly that if they didn't get through with their work, they either had to bring it home to complete or sit out of recess in another classroom to complete. They acclimated to rushing through their work to avoid both circumstances. They learned to rush through their lunch in order to eat all of it and still have a few minutes to talk with neighboring friends...unless it was quiet lunch that no one got to talk.
And the rushing didn't stop just b/c school was out. "Get your homework done before you go outside to play with friends."...this equated to my boys rushing through homework so there would be enough time to play outside. The other aspect of this was "you can play outside first, but you will need to come in early to get your homework done before bedtime." So, here again, rushing their playtime outside. The rest of the evening was rushing...get homework done, baths, supper, prep for tomorrow...all before bedtime at the latest of 9:00, only to start it all over again the next morning. On evenings we had extracurricular activities, the rushing became racing. Racing to beat the clock to fulfill all our duties and activities.
So, in all, one of the most noticeable aspects of our past few weeks of homeschooling, we are learning to walk. And yes, we are having to learn to walk again. Rushing was all we knew when it came to life during the school year. Don't get me wrong, I am busy but that's not to be confused with hurried or rushed. You see, I'm busy planning, grading, teaching and fulfilling my duties as a mother and wife. But I'm not rushed. There are some days we don't know what to do with ourselves b/c of all the extra time we have. When the boys cooperate and focus, we are finished no later than 1:00 and that includes breaks, snack and b'fast. But there are days we are still schooling at 3:00 or later. These days, the boys just took longer to complete their assignments. They are slowly learning that they control how long their school day lasts. They aren't used to this. In traditional school, their day is planned for them...every minute of the day and even into the evening. Homeschool allows them to have more control of their day. They aren't rushed to complete their assignments but at the same time, they are learning to work independently, manage their time reaping the benefits or sowing the consequences.
Yes, life does slow down. I'm learning to walk again. And as a toddler learning to walk for the first time...it's just as freeing now as it was then.
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