When You’re Not Excited to Start Back to Homeschool

Posted by Melissa | 0 comments

I’ve always been the poster-child cheerleader for getting organized to head back to homeschool. I make plans well in advance for every subject we’ll study. My newly-arranged homeschool room is shining with organized (and laminated) beauty and ready for fall photos. All the inspiring books stand at attention on my shelf just waiting for the learning to start.

But not this year. The summer hiatus has been wonderful, too wonderful. It has me bewildered that I ever considered homeschooling year round, let alone sticking with this mom-intensive form of education for the 11th year in a row. Can you see I’m stuck in a summer rut and don’t want to pack away my flip flops in favor of a teacher’s planner?

So is there any hope left in the school box for me? Or am I doomed to an under-planned year of drudgery and boredom?

Can I spell h-o-p-e?

There’s always hope, but it has to be placed in the One who gives it best, Jesus. For starters, I’m praying to the Lord to give me excitement and motivation for the upcoming year, as well as a fresh vision.

I love how The Message puts Proverbs 29:18: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

If you’re stumbling all over yourself like me, boldly ask God to give you a peek into what he is doing through your decision to teach your children at home. Ask for His perspective and insight into your coming year of home education. Remember that He who has called you is faithful. Always.

Schoolify your Space
Yes, I just made up that word, but it’s what usually needs to happen to our homeschool space after a summer off. That means that right now, my schoolroom looks like an I Spy book full of random objects which include snow ski boots, a lampshade and lots of counting bears on the floor.

Whether you teach at the dining room table or have a devoted schoolroom, spend a little time working on the space for the new year. Get rid of last years learning remnants. Organize your supplies. Sharpen those pencils (or get a kid to do it for you). Get special things ready to keep the toddler busy during the school day. Put something inspiring on the walls.

I find that just working in my homeschool room gets me enthused. In fact, I ignore the mess all summer long because I know I need the cleaning momentum to ride into the new year inspired.

Shop for School Supplies
Most homeschoolers have a gene alteration that involves an intense lure to school supplies. There’s something so satisfying about getting new boxes of colored pencils, glue sticks and composition notebooks. Get shopping to jumpstart the teacher in you.

Hit the sales and that will give you even extra boost of accomplishment, as this DNA for school stuff is often bonded with a frugal gene. Our kids aren’t the only ones who get in the school mood from shopping. And don’t forget to get some office supplies that will make your job as primary educator easier. Think heavy-duty 3-hole punch, new mommy scissors, a laminator or a big splurge I’ve been eyeing—a binding machine.

Curl Up with Your Curriculum
Words that only a homeschool mom can appreciate! All the research that went into choosing your curriculum last spring can pick you up out of the doldrums now. Grab some of the books you’ve already ordered and just read them. Something will spark the teacher part of your brain as you recall why you were excited enough to order this. This will also help you wrap your head around what your kids will be learning and how you’ll be teaching it.

Pencil in Your Planner
If you’re still dragging your summer self into the school year, then grab your homeschool planner and get to work. There’s something mentally productive about putting things in writing. Laying out the basic framework of your days will help you turn the page from summer to fall.

Assign Grace
Be gracious to yourself as you plan your new routine. Don’t start all your subjects at once. Ease into things slowly over the first few weeks. Start with the basics and slowly add one subject at a time. It’s not just the kids who need refreshing as they begin the learning year. Homeschool moms need time to stimulate the discipline required for another school year.

Don’t beat yourself up or throw in the towel if the thought of another homeschool year is daunting. Starting the year is like getting into the swimming pool. First, you dip a toe into the water to make sure it’s not freezing. Then you might sit on the step for a bit to get used to it. Slowly, you stand and wade into the chilly water. Before you know it, it feels fine, even invigorating and you’re ready to dive in.

Homeschooling is like that and I promise the water will be fine before you know it.

Melissa Morgner is a happy wife of 17 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from 14 down to three. After ten years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Half Dozen Mama, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.