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Are You Behind?

November 10, 2011 by Ami 15 Comments

Dear Homeschooling Mom, Are You Behind

November, you always seem to bring the nagging, needling thoughts– accusing me of being behind. 

I start the year with an outline complete with goals and plans. I keep my sketch stretchy– allowing room for life, real learning, and even a little lazy. But somehow, every year, August's you can do this! is replaced by November's you didn't do it.

Elijah's Latin book hasn't been opened yet.

Your American Indian study is only half-finished. 

The binding on your poetry memorization book is barely broken. 

Did you write your Five in a Row plans in invisible ink?

You'd have to do two math lessons each day to catch-up to where you should be.

The frame of your once-beautiful outline has been bent into something unrecognizable and ugly.

Everyone else is right-on-schedule.

Some of the allegations are true. Some aren't. Either way, I have a choice.

I can agonize over my pulverized plans, or I can contemplate and commemorate what we've done off-road.

Spontaneous field trips, baskets of library books, afternoons at the park, following rabbit trails, conversations about God . . . 

Sorry, November. I'm not going to listen to you this time.

We are living. We are loving. We are learning. We are not behind. 

Filed Under: The best laid plans of mice & homeschooling moms..., thinking out loud Tagged With: encouragement, plans

Comments

  1. Kyla says

    November 10, 2011 at 9:54 am

    I soooo needed to read this today! Thanks so much for your honesty and openness. Oh! By the way, the answer is yes. Very, very behind….

  2. Jen says

    November 10, 2011 at 9:57 am

    I love this!!

  3. Andrea says

    November 10, 2011 at 9:59 am

    Just what I needed to hear today! Thank you!

  4. Diana B says

    November 10, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Thanks, Ami. I needed this today!

  5. Heidi R. says

    November 10, 2011 at 10:11 am

    You’re not alone, Ami! I refuse to get stressed out this time about not being where I think we should be. I’m enjoying my kids and this season of life. I’m calling this year the “Life Lessons” year. Hopefully my boys will become better men because of it.

  6. Ky.the.Aussie says

    November 10, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    Thank you for posting this, it’s a great encouragement.

  7. Mrs.H says

    November 10, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    November can be so mean and taunting like that can’t it?
    Just this morning I was looking over things and thinking about how hopelessly behind we seem to be on many subjects. Then I reminded myself that I am the only one holding myself to this timeline that I’ve created. Life is always much more busy (and interesting) than plans on paper. Two field trips yesterday and one coming up this weekend. Not to mention all the tangents in our plans that come about due to something that catches my son’s attention and fancy. We are doing fine. šŸ™‚
    Thanks for a wonderful and timely post!

  8. Juliana says

    November 10, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Thank you. We are there. We switched our core history curric in October, and have been waiting for the new books to arrive. This has left us in a limbo for the last 3 weeks. We have been getting away with the three R’s and an episode of Young Indiana Jones thrown in for good measure (hey, it covers history, art, science and music !) I hate feeling behind. But my kids are learning, and retaining so…It’s alright.

  9. Tina says

    November 10, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    Me too! Nice to know your not alone.

  10. Kylie says

    November 10, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    After reading a post that was quite the opposite and telling homeschoolers we don’t enough, this was uplifting. Thankyou šŸ™‚

    I only write very basic dot point plans for this precise reason.

  11. Rachel says

    November 11, 2011 at 1:22 am

    Thank you for writing this. I really needed this!

  12. Carlie K. says

    November 12, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    This is a wonderful post. It is something that I learned from a dear wise counselor many years ago when my homeschooling journey began. I am so grateful for this persepctive as it gives Christ a chance to shine in our homeschool {lives} rather than my ugly tattered plans šŸ™‚ Thank you for the beautifully written reminder of what is REALLY important!

    Blessings! Carlie K.

  13. Kelly says

    November 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    Yup. This is something we all need to be reminded of…often. Thanks for the post.

  14. Dawn Pickering says

    November 27, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Ami,
    When I read this I almost cried…this has been a burden on my heart also this fall. I admit I struggle soo much more than I want to with getting the learning in that I feel I should do or see others doing. I love to live & learn and I hate breaking up good moments when the kids are doing things together and making memories. I so need help with be consistent. Thank you for this post, for sharing your heart, for showing my once again I can have confidence in what God has called me to do and I am not alone feeling this way. Miss our little moments of running into eachother at Meijer! *Hugs* sweet friend. Oh I just updated my blog and I would love it if you would come on by and say hello!

Trackbacks

  1. Homeschool Journal-November 17,2011 | Coffee & Cookies Homeschool says:
    November 18, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    […] is a really great article that was shared by “Walking by the Way” called “Are You Behind?. It is a very encouraging article that is short but on the point to help lift up moms (or dads) who […]

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Meet Ami

Welcome! I’m a big believer in inspiring kids, cultivating curiosity, delight directed learning, living books, field trip adventures, and keeping your sanity while homeschooling. I hope you find something encouraging here today! You can learn a bit more about me here.

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