Posted in Educational Pursuits
I've been thinking a lot about our school schedule lately, and it has me a little worried. I think we far and away enjoy the freedom of home educating a little too much. Music lessons downtown this afternoon? Why, we don't have enough time to do ALL the lessons this morning then, so why try and fail? Sets a bad example for the boys. We have a park day today? Well, we'll surely need tomorrow to recover. The boys have a performance this weekend? Automatic four-day weekend!!
Okay, so we aren't THAT bad, but sometimes it feels as though we are. We are on Week Nine of Term One, and yes, we are behind my projected timetable. Three weeks, to be exact. Good thing I know myself SOOO well and built in a three week cushion at Thanksgiving, LOL!! My problem came after Week Four. Weeks One through Four went SO WELL. We were in the 'zone.' You know the zone. Where you get up, everyone's head is in their schoolwork, you're getting the housework done around lessons, meals prepared, kitchen cleaned, laundry kept up, and you even have time to blog. The Z.O.N.E. It was beautiful.
And then....
Well, and then you encounter your first scheduled week off. What do you do? What Do You Do?!?
Well, in hindsight, I can tell what you DON'T do. You don't take that scheduled break. Do No Do It. Avoid it at all costs.
That break is just that: a Break. It breaks your concentration, your accomplishments, your FLOOOWWW. You know, F.L.O.W. You enjoy yourself a little too much, park days look too inviting, family pops round for a 'quick' chat a little more frequently, any reading or game qualifies as learning as long as it's not electronic, etc.
Know this: if you take a break when you're in the Z.O.N.E., you will pay. Dearly. You'll put off starting back up again, family from out of state will come to stay for 10 days, your children will vomit for a week straight, and you will sit down and cry. Because your pretty little timetable for the current school year is now just a sad little memory of what-could-have-been's.
So, the lesson learned is this: unless it's a major holiday or vacation or an illness, do NOT get out of the Zone for a regularly scheduled break, otherwise you will not be able to get back into your regularly scheduled programming.
Well, I'm off to try to salvage my teacher's mind, and to try to find the Zone.... Have a wonderful week!!
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