Beating the February Blahs

Posted by Barbara | 0 comments

I know. It is October. February is still in the far-off land of post-Christmas, post-New Year; we also all know that Christmas is a lifetime away. No need to start shopping yet. Right? Oh dear…

But I digress: regardless of your level of comfort regarding the fact that Christmas is a mere 11 weeks away at the time of this writing, I’m sure that your level of comfort regarding February is very acceptable right now. And if for no other reason than that you had not thought about February yet. Until I brought it up. Aren’t you so glad that I did?

Well, maybe you aren’t so glad that I brought up the February blahs. But you should be. Because, if you are like the majority of home educators, there is likely a sinking feeling in your gut when you think of that month of the school year. Yes, it is short, but, my goodness she packs a wallop. February, to me, signifies a few things. First, February reminds me that the ‘fun’ holidays are over. No more Christmas and New Years’ Day. Easter is a long way off, and Valentines’ Day is just a made up holiday so it doesn’t even count.

Plus, the post-card perfect snow of crisp December mornings has faded into salt-and-sand filled slush banks that my kids can’t really play in on account of the exceeding wetness.  And yuckness (no, that is not a real word).

Plus, February reminds me that I have four to five months left of school to teach and that I have likely used up all my cool mom gimmicks and fun school tricks in the first four to five months that I have already taught.

February can be hard. And long for the shortest month.

But here I am in October already seeing the threat of February looming in the distance, taunting me with its bleakness, fretting me with its tediousness. Sigh. What hope is there for avoiding the pit of a sad (or a truly S.A.D., for some of you) February?

First off, it is important to know that there is hope. Always. In all circumstances. Even in the “blah” that can be February. But like all hope, it takes some fostering, and some nurturing, and some planning.

Typically, in September, we teaching moms are all gung-ho and ready to wow our kids with the new books and new subjects, new pencils and pens. By February, the books are all dog-eared, the subjects are boring, the pencils have no eraser, and all the pens are running dry. Why don’t we hold off on some of the new stuff for February? What if you had one subject (or two?) that you didn’t even begin teaching until February? It could be a series of short unit studies, or a language, or an art technique, or a life skill. Add a new subject! But don’t add it on top of what you are doing because you are likely already busy enough. For the month of February (or for the rest of the year?) drop a ‘lesser’ subject, or maybe just lighten how much of it you cover, to make room in your schedule for the new class.  And while you are at it, give the kids a new pencil. With a fresh eraser. Bliss!

Then there are the field trips. There are a lot of fun things you can do with your kids from a field trip perspective in the fall. Apple picking, pioneer villages, war re-enactments and so on. Then comes February. “Well. Um. Let’s just stay home because the weather is yucky.” No, no, no! Don’t do it! Take them skating, take them to the fire hall, take them to anything indoors. Or do take them sledding in the wet slush. It will be an all new experience and a memory they won’t forget. Or (as is more my speed and comfort level) plan an “at home” field trip. Set up forts in the various rooms in your house with blankets and pillows and “travel” from one to the next. Each fort could be different country, or a different battlefield, or a different time period, or a different Bible story. Or even just sit and do your typical school schedule in the forts! Math in the living room fort. Language in the basement fort. How much fun would that be?

Plus, you should read this book “Add Two Cups of Laughter” to get a host of encouragement on adding some levity to the “in the trenches” days of homeschool.

This is all well and good, you might be saying, but why is this crazy woman giving us these little ideas now, in October, when we have Thanksgiving this weekend (go Canada!) or next month (go US of A!) and we haven’t even finished cleaning out the garden yet?

Because hope takes fostering, and nurturing, and planning. And you need to start now. And even more important than starting with a functional game plan for February school life is the need to start with your heart and your mind.

Last month, in my article here, I reminded us to be sure of what the Lord was calling us specifically to do and then to walk in it with confidence, and without comparing ourselves to others.  And the month before that, I reminded us to be in the Word, reading the Proverbs for wisdom to know how to live this life by God’s principles. Hope for February, (just like hope for October) starts there, too.

We need to believe that He who began a good work of faith in us, and in our kids, and who spurred on the homeschooling in our home will be faithful to complete all of it even through the blahs of February (Phil.1:6, paraphrased, of course).

We need to believe that as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness that all the strength and resources we need for today (and especially February) will be added to us, and that we ought not to be anxious about a blah February (or any tomorrow in between) knowing that each day holds its own worries (Matt. 6:33-34, paraphrased, of course).

We need to believe, regardless of what kind of sin is in our hearts that is inhibiting a joy-filled, hope-filled February, or whatever growth we still are seeking in our spiritual life, that the God of peace himself will sanctify us completely so that we are fit for His kingdom and any task he lays before us (homeschool-related or not), and that he will keep our entire soul, body, and spirit blameless for the day of his coming. And when that seems impossible for us to do in our own strength (which it IS!) then we need to believe that “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1Thess. 5:23-24, paraphrased, of course).

The way to hold on to hope for February is the same way to hold on to hope for today: seek the Lord. Trust him to work his good will in your life. Look to him to be “the God of peace himself” in the face of whatever this day holds. He has called you to many things; trust him to be faithful to do it all. If our souls are at peace as we approach February (or Thanksgiving and Christmas!), then the rest of our schedule and expectations and functionality will, most likely, fall into a peaceful rhythm too.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13

Barbara Postma and her husband, as they homeschool their 7 children, are finding out that no two children are alike! Between lessons and lunches, Barbara blogs at Fuel by Barbara.