What does your homeschool actually need right now?
In my last email, I said we should stop looking at everyone else’s homeschool . . . so now let’s talk about yours.
What does your homeschool actually need right now? We can get so pulled with the woulda, coulda, shouldas—comparing ourselves with what everyone else is doing and losing sight of what is right in front of us. I’m all about simplifying (your life and mine), so in this email I’m going to give you five different situations. If one of them speaks to you, maybe we can help!
Situation #1: We Need a Reset
If you are feeling burnt out, behind, or lacking motivation. . . you might just need a little bit of support. And that comes when we add a little bit of spice, flavor, or something new. There is something about new and unexpected that seems to cut through the humdrum of our days and spark our curiosity. With the right kindling and a little bit of encouragement, we can coax our homeschool back to life in no time. Whether you need something that is open-and-go, less prep, or just different, we have some great options to get your homeschool back on track.
Situation #2: My Kids are Bored
Sometimes the issue isn’t effort—it’s connection. Our kids are smart, and they can tell when we’re just going through the motions. They are hardwired with their own unique interests, and maybe they are not seeing why this actually matters . . . not in the grand scheme of things “you might need this one day” but specifically to them. Why do they need to learn this? If you are battling boredom and school feels like it is way too much effort to get your kids going, it might be time to take our cue from them. Find what sparks that curiosity and wonder again. Find what makes them ask questions and lean in a little closer. Yes, this might be different for each of your kids, which means you might get to do a rotation or even multiple things at once. For the family who wants to get excited about school again . . . it might be time to shop by their interests rather than the to-do list.
Situation #3: We Need more Structure
Do you feel like you are floundering? You have all the ideas, all the curriculum, all the resources . . . but your kids are sleeping in too late, going to bed too late, gaps are forming, and things feel disjointed and chaotic? What does your rhythm look like? Listen, if I had to choose a camp, this would be me. I am the queen of spontaneity. I don’t like schedules, I don’t like to feel obligated or stuck. But I have also learned that my kids thrive with some element of “what’s next.” If this is you, it might be time to bring in some simple ways to answer that question for your kids: assignments that they can do on their own so that you can set clear expectations without having to run every second of the day. Yes, it is possible!
Situation #4: I'm in Crisis
I originally only had four situations, but I threw this one in here because I actually personally know some homeschool families in this camp right now and it has to be said. Whether you are dealing with chronic illness, death, grief, mental health struggles/crisis, or even just significant change like pregnancy or moving . . . these issues can seem like a black hole: sucking all the time, energy, and focus and leaving little room for anything else. If this is you, you don’t have to carry this weight alone! We have recently started an Online Academy. We have live classes, on-demand classes, and even grading that can help keep your students motivated and on track if you are just in a season where there’s nothing left. If you are going through a serious crisis, please hit reply and let us know. We would love to point you to a solution and pray for you.
Situation #5: I Honestly Don’t Know
Sometimes all you know is that there is a problem—things aren’t working, but you can’t identify why. This can be because we are new to this whole thing and there are too many variables or even because we are just too exhausted to figure it out. Whatever your reason, don’t try to figure out everything . . . just focus on one thing. What is your biggest pain point? What are your kids enjoying? Where are the battles happening? If this is you, our team is just a reply away and we would love to help! Tell us your main trigger points, the ages of your kids, what you’re currently doing, and we’ll give you a custom-tailored next-step plan!
You’ve probably heard it before: baby steps. We get so focused on the gap between the goal of where we want to be and the reality of where we are today that we miss the small steps it takes to get there. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but when done right . . . it actually sticks.
Maybe your homeschool doesn’t need everything. It just needs the right next thing.
