The Potter's Hand

Aug. 20, 2006 - Adaptability

I’ve written before about our routine. It may not look like yours, and that’s OK. I tried for a long time to make our little homeschool match my perceived idea. You know, the ones we see in some homeschool magazines…the ones with the smiling family on the front cover all dressed in matching outfits presumably made by mom. Then I woke up and smelled the Starbucks. Our school is unique because our family is unique. Frustrations abounded as I attempted to put a square peg in a round hole. No matter how I tried, we only ended up with bruised edges.

The beauty of homeschooling is adaptability. I came to realize we didn’t have to be sitting at the kitchen table promptly at 8:00 a.m. with bright shining faces and matching shirts. It wasn’t working and I hate to admit, it took me too long to concede the point. We found that 10:00 a.m. seemed to work better for our family. Lessons were finished and learning was taking place, regardless of when we began…and with noticeably less bruised edges.

Enter Princess Emma. This wonderful addition to our family has forced us to adapt once again. Vain attempts to continue with school as before were repeatedly met with frustration. One of my favorite sites is Preschoolers and Peace…anyone found Toddlers and Peace? If so, please send me the link! Now we take the mornings for waking up a bit more slowly, chores, extra projects, computer time and play. After lunch, Princess Emma goes down for a nap and we hit the books. Rather than continue to work against the rhythm of our current family situation, we’re flowing with it…and it’s working!

I’m sure the future of our homeschool will contain many more adjustments. I pray I will become more adept at recognizing the need for change a bit more quickly.

• Post A Comment!

Aug. 21, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by hskubes

I agree that one of the beauties of homeschooling is adaptability. *Ü*
How wonderful that we have the freedom to change things according to the season of our family life. What a blessing that is. Sometimes we have to change what we're doing daily but praise God that we can. It's great to have a skeleton of a routine but, yes, flexibility is something we all need to embrace. *Ü* And we have two toddlers, so I understand completely about how precious nap time is.

By the way, thank you for your comment. The girls love their socks!

~ Christina
HsKubes HomeSchool Haven
HsKubes Haven for Home
Christian Military HomeSchool Mamas

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Aug. 21, 2006 - Thanks for the kind endorsement!

Posted by PreschoolersandPeace

And I, too, am changing the way we do things around here so that it fits our current family situation better. In fact, we might not start school at all until October as per my husband's wise advice. Love that man! Hmmm... I probably need to blog on that...

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Aug. 29, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Momof5littlewomen

Let me know if you find the toddlers and peace. My 17 mth old is going to 1 nap a day so I am trying to find things to keep her busy during the morning hours while we school. We have to do morning because that is when my mind is awake enough and energy up enough to concentrate :-)

June

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The daily, sometimes hourly, musings of a homeschooling mom of four surviving on prayer, friendship and lots of Starbucks. Some days my cup runs over and some days it all spills out the cracks...and I wouldn't have it any other way.