July 6, 2008
My least favorite season ...
Not Summer itself, I like parts of Summer.
What I like least about summer, though, is School Planning Season.
Most home-schoolers I know are deep into School Planning right now. Some are blogging out loud their thoughts and curriculum purchases, likes and dislikes. Some are taking days alone to plan and schedule.
I have to admit, the whole thing gives me a deep sinking feeling every year.
Not only am I not a planner, by nature, but the whole task we've taken on - to school our children at home - is a daunting, overwhelming one. Oh, sure, some things are easier. Like not having to get everyone up, fed, dressed, and presentable at a specific early time. If that was the only reason to home-school, I would trade it all. But it's not. Each time we've reconsidered, we've come back to believing this is where we're supposed to be, as a family.
But that doesn't make thinking about next year -- even if I already know what we're doing and have purchased it -- any easier. Well, maybe a little. I still don't want to think about it. We're still wrapping up last year. Still trying to figure out what we're doing this Summer. Still trying to learn new chores and make them routine, and get the rest and fun we need and expect in the hot and sunny days of Summer. Next School Year seems like it shouldn't be looming on the horizon just yet.
Maybe it's because, growing up, Summer seemed to be a wondrous dream-land of a lack of responsibilities and schedules, at least from a child's perspective. Maybe there were some chores, and certainly the swim team I was on took some scheduling, but I didn't do the scheduling, I just hopped on a bike or into a car and went when I was told. And the rest, so far as I remember, was just play. And oh, how we looked forward to Summer. That residual dreamy promise of Summer still crops up at the end of the school year.
But now, as a parent, even the wonders of fun take scheduling, planning, discipline, and work. Finding swim clothes and enough towels, or the right park bag, or remembering to pack the lunch and have the right groceries for that packable lunch. And in the midst of all that different-every-day-fumbling, the regular chores march on, relentlessly.
I think I need a Summer break from our Summer before I even think about school.
Posted by Kim at July 6, 2008 5:12 PMHuh. I could almost have written this post myself. Except for the part abt most homeschoolers you know being knee-deep in school planning right now. It seems like most of the hs'ers I know via blogworld, anyway, are FINISHED planning for next year. And I was going to do that the 2nd & 3rd week of June, really, I was. Right after I finished "wrapping up" this past schoolyear-- you know, typing up those things the kids had dictated to me that are still just pencil scribbles on scratch paper, putting loose things in notebooks, emptying all the "old" stuff off the shelves and baskets... some of which is from the year BEFORE last... yeah. But I didn't. I never do. But last year I actually got started on that stuff mid-Aug instead of Labor Day weekend. So I guess I'm improving.
You're not alone. I'm in the same boat...already purchased most things, just need to organize. It's very daunting! September seems so far away, that it's very easy to put it on the back burner. Maybe we need to be accountability partners? :-)
Posted by: Erin at July 6, 2008 8:34 PMAll I have to say is "Amen Sister" :)
Posted by: Christine G. at July 6, 2008 9:37 PMI also get tired of making sure that we have lunches, swimsuits, light sabers, bug spray, towels, swim shoes, my knitting, water bottles, etc.... in the van ready for the park or pool. But then I remind myself that here in the tundraland, summer is a short season and we have to take advantage of it.
Posted by: karen at July 7, 2008 6:47 AMI HEAR you! My brain refuses to think of September just now. It is desperate for down time, and so I'm going with the "Take no thought for the fall, for the fall will take thought for itself" philosophy, at least for JULY!
Seek peace and pursue it! I hope you catch it!
Posted by: Judy at July 7, 2008 7:53 AMOh, man, I WISH I could wait to start school until September! That's always been a disaster here, though. Besides, there's so much good stuff to learn surrounding the Olympics. We haven't really learned much about China yet, so there's a golden opportunity! Oh, and so much math!
But you need to cut yourself some baby slack. The only thing that isn't harder to do when pregnant is eat and sleep, and even that is challenging sometimes.
Posted by: Peggy at July 7, 2008 2:11 PMOur kids have been complaining that everything is LATER or TOMORROW or SOON... never RIGHT NOW. I finally figured out that it seemed that way to me as a kid too, and it's because MOM is getting everything ready to AVERT CRISES before we get in the car. Just call me the lady with the bag now!
We're thinking of homeschooling the kids starting soon. I'm not much of a planner either. Yikes. I didn't know I was already supposed to have it all figured out. :)
Posted by: Chris at July 7, 2008 5:52 PM
