Well, here's what's going on in my corner of the world:

For the past two years I seem to have this anxiety crisis right after the holidays.  You know the "am I doing enough" questions really start to harrass me.  When I started this school year, I had a plan, a philosophy in mind, but I've had moments (days) of doubting  myself.

I call my learning philosophy " A Season for Everything".   When my ds1 was 6 I tried to teach him to read.  He wasn't interested or ready.  So we waited.  Last year as he was 7, turning 8, he was ready.  So our main "school" focus was phonics.  We did a litle handwriting, and a little math, and those were our priorities, in that order.  By the end of the year he was reading Level 2 readers . Now he loves to read and his skill is increasing by leaps and bounds, without much direct instruction from me.  I have no idea how it happened.  It was just the right season.  But last year I had severe anxiety over math. For two months I agonized over how much math we weren't doing.  It was hard to remind myself that it wasn't the right season.

So this year is the season for math.  If we do no other "table time" work, I try to do math 3-4 days a week.  He is progressing solidly.  We take our time to understand concepts and computation.  IT feels natural.  I hold myself back from rushing through subjects so he won't be "behind".  I remind myself that some seasons last longer than others, but they all have a purpose.  He told the cashier at the grocery store the other day that math was his favorite subject, and that he's good at it!  No math anxiety here!  It is the right season.  You can't plant bulbs in the winter and expect tulips in the spring.  The ground has to be ready to receive the seed.   I know this in my heart, I really do.  But now, I am anxious over his writing/grammar. 

School-aged kids at his age are writing papers and essays.  My son still needs help spelling!  He labors at copywork.  Now verbally, he can tell you a 20 page story, but he struggles to write one.   I try to calm myself by reminding myself that next year will be the season for writing/spelling/composition. 

Thankfully, I have some wonderful internet friends (like Home-Grown Kids) who have travelled this road long enough to assure me that me and my kids will be okay.  That Solomon knew what he was talking about, there is a season for reading, math, writing.  But buidling relationships, sharing God's word with your children, sowing into their hearts and minds,  creating strong family ties,  tending their character and attitudes - those things are always in season.  That's what I'm trying to learn today.