The lessons of life typically apply across the board. For instance, I learned this lesson in my creative writing classes in college: When you’re writing, don’t take a break at the end of a thought. Stop in the middle. Stop when you get your groove and you have a clue about where you’re headed. Then when you get back to it again you can slip right into the process and move ahead.

This applies equally well in dealing with life’s big interruptions and homeschooling. Maybe you’re facing an upcoming surgery, big home repairs, or extended visits from family. In my case, I’m moving to a new state in five days. We’re taking three weeks off and we’re right in the middle of a study with no end in sight. This is our fifth mid-year move in seven years of homeschooling. I used to think that the best schedule tactic was to finish a unit before the move and start something new after. But, through trial and error, I’ve changed my mind.

It’s okay to stop midstream.

If you tend to want to finish one thing before you start another, trying this tactic may actually give you more peace of mind. Chances are good that during any prolonged interruption your attention will need to be elsewhere. It’s a lot of work to prep for each study. While it feels good to neatly close up shop for a while, that nagging preparation cloud can hang over you during your whole break. Thinking about getting to the library or researching age appropriate project ideas doesn’t top anyone’s to-do list in the midst of a busy or emotionally draining time. It’s okay to just stop and restart on the other side.

For me this means we will stop (not end) our current study, pack the materials in a box and open them up again in our new house just the way we left them. We will know just what to expect when we start. We’ll feel a little bit more like ourselves again. And since we’re already in motion we can mentally stay in motion and let some ideas simmer. Rather than add a blank new lesson on top of a new house, community, and relationships, it will feel nice to bring a little piece of our present into our future to help ground us and move us ahead with confidence.

Nobody likes staring at a blank page. Big interruptions have a way of erasing our ideals and making us feel like we’re back at square one. Put a few ideas in motion now so that you have momentum to get back in your groove… when you get there.

Debra Anderson has been married to her true companion for 14 years and has three sons under age10. Debra’s passions are education, art, her husband, church ministry and missional living — not in that order. She has served as her co-op’s coordinator in Portland, Oregon and loves connecting homeschoolers in relationship to one another. Debra has her seminary Masters degree in Christian Education and has always home educated their boys — even on the hard days. She maintains a blog at www.emergent-homeschool.blogspot.com.