You’d love to wake to the sound of little birdies chirping and happy faces embracing a beautiful day, followed by a lovely session of reading and a day of fun learning. Instead… Well, let’s just say you didn’t.
Not every homeschool day is going to start off on a sing-song note. For whatever reason – lack of sleep, overstimulation, stressful life circumstances, or more – your day has not only not started off on the right track, it has completely flown off the tracks and is lying in a heap of rubble.
You could lament your situation, giving it up for dead. Or, you could take a deep breath and relaunch.
Start with Prayer – As always, pray! Ask the Lord to prevent harmful emotions from coming to the surface, ruining your opportunity to minister to the kids. Ask for patience, kindness, and wisdom.
Go Back to Bed – Being homeschoolers, you have this freedom; embrace it! Sometimes the kids just need a little more sleep. Sometimes you need a little more sleep. If the day calls for it, consider taking naps or sending everyone back to bed for much-needed rest.
Try, Try Again – Don’t be afraid to restart your morning after taking a needed break. Give it the ‘ol college try!
This Calls For Something New – Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.” If, day after day, you are having trouble getting the morning off to a good start, it might be time to try a different approach. Try a new routine, something different for breakfast, or a change in curriculum. Thus we need to…
Reassess – What’s working, what isn’t? Just because you started with this routine doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Don’t be afraid to wipe the slate clean and completely start over. Continue to pray over your day, asking the Lord to give you wisdom in how to proceed. Allow Him to direct your learning and your routine.
Just Keep Swimming – Let’s face it, some days are just going to be hard. That doesn’t mean you have to give up or give in. Sometimes you need to keep pushing through so your children learn diligence, long-suffering, patience, and dedication. Sometimes your children just need to learn your will is stronger than theirs and they will get through this no matter how long it takes.
During this past year, the Lord has been teaching much wisdom in this area. So often I tend to think a hard start equals a bad day. The Lord is slowly teaching me this is not so.Through prayer, dedication, and a flexible routine we are able to turn our day around and see the beauty hidden beneath the chaos.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
We’d love to know… When you’re having a rough morning, what helps turn it around?
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A Homeschool Mom 