I'm typically not that spontaneous. I like  my days to be planned in advance. When I was a teacher in the classroom, I spent hours, after the students went home, preparing for the next day. I would rarely leave the school until all my worksheets and projects were laid out on the shelf behind my desk in the order that I would need them.

But, back in those days, I had no kids of my own. And, for some of those years I also wasn't married. So, time really was my own to spend in whatever way I liked.

God has had to work on that characteristic since I've had kids of my own and left the classroom to teach at home. Why? The scope of my work has widened. I'm not JUST teaching school, I'm also running a household ~ grocery shopping, cooking meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, keeping track of social outings, driving kids to activities, spending time with my husband. And, the list goes on and on.

One of the first adjustments God had to make in ME when I began to homeschool was to let some of that need for planning and scheduling fly out the window. I no longer had the time required to plan all the events of the day with that much detail.And, God opened my eyes to the possibility that I was missing out on opportunities that He might throw into my day, if I was bent on sticking solely to MY schedule.

Therefore, the second change came in learning to NOT be a slave to a schedule. By "slave" I mean pushing through my day with unerring focus, not allowing the unexpecteds to interfere, and getting stressed out when something interrupted and caused us to get behind.( But, I haven't totally done away with schedules because I still find that they give the necessary drive to the homeschooling engine, and help us to steer our course in a particular direction instead of hopping here, there, and everywhere).

As I've learned the art of flexibility, God has given me a few basic directions to follow every day that help me cope with the enormity of my job, and help prepare me for anything.

1. Spend time in prayer, and read His Word.(spiritual)

Spending time with God reminds me that I'm not on this homeschooling journey alone. He is with me when I invite Him to share in my day. When I sit in the stillness and listen to God's voice, I get the courage to continue on the path we've taken, or follow a new route that He is making clear.

Spending time with God also allows me to recall that the Enemy is actively working to undermine my confidence. When I fail to get direction from God, the Enemy is quick to jump in and spread confusion and unrest.

2. Get dressed, and put on some make-up. (physical)

It's amazing what taking a little time for yourself can do to improve the mood of the day. When I'm dressed and ready to face the day, I'm prepared when that unexpected invitation comes for a get together with friends, or family. I'm not scrambling around wrapped up in anxiety and angst, or forgoing the opportunity because I'm not prepared for it.

3. Connect with other homeschoolers once in awhile.(emotional) 

Being aware of the emotional ups and downs of homeschooling helps me feel more prepared to cope with those inevitable days. I'm speaking of the days when nothing seems to go well. Or, when there aren't any exciting projects on the go. Or, perhaps when you're feeling burnt out.

Connecting with others can fill up your empty vessel with inspiration and enthusiasm for the task at hand. Sometimes, it's important to go back to the roots of why you chose to homeschool in the first place. Revisiting your initial decision can arm you with the necessary steam to roll ahead.

4. Sleep(mental)

Getting to bed on time really makes the difference in your psychological state the next day. An alert mind helps you think through difficult explanation, or come up with creative approaches for a kid who's just not getting it. Trying to homeschool when you're sleep deprived means your more likely to a). care less about the quality of the work your kids are giving you. b). give up more easily when the going gets rough c). give in to the urge of yell at the kids when they're not listening, or not making good use of their time d).cut back your schedule for the day because you don't have the energy to reach your goals.

We all know that life can throw in unexpected circumstances. Nobody can prepare for everything all the time. We can't expect to burn both ends of the candle and still live to tell the tale of our homeschooling success. The few ideas I've shared with you comes from eight years experience with homeschooling, and with the understanding that I'm in this marathon until I reach the finish line.