At the end of a school year, I always look back on what has gone right and wrong in our homeschool. I don’t think I’m the only one that seems to remember all the failures, while forgetting all the successes.
To banish the pessimistic memories that seem to naturally fill my mind, I instead focus on our “wins.” The subjects we finished early. The plays we saw, and the field trips we took. The unexpected twists and turns in life that are less stressful, and sometimes funny, in hindsight.
This exercise not only reminds me of how much went right, it reminds me of my blessings. In the midst of what seems like endless toiling, most everyone temporarily loses sight of the goal or of the hope of finishing the goal.
March seems like it is 5 years long.
Spring fever isn’t just allergies. It’s the itch and ache to do something, anything, besides diagram sentences and find X in a world of Y‘s.
And this year, 2020 if you’re not reading in real time, has been a bummer of a spring. You just thought April was long in a regular year. April 2020 was exponentially long and boring for most of us – quarantined from everything we thought we didn’t want to do. No co-op. No piano recital. No formal. No finals. Oh wait, my kids still had finals…because homeschool!
So, we may need extra help at the end of this school year remembering the successes and blessings since it hasn’t ended on a high note.
Our end of school year highlights:
We celebrated our eleventh year at the same homeschool co-op. We had a good year with awesome classes, but we finished early in March without saying a real good-bye since we didn’t come back after spring break, like many of the schools around the country (world?). High school classes were completed on Zoom. No excuses in homeschool.
My youngest daughter started her first year of piano lessons. Two of my older daughters had taught her a few things, but this was her first year with a real teacher. She performed in her first piano festival and scored a Superior.
My younger two daughters and I attended two plays, Jungal Book and Showtime with Shakespeare, A Magic Tree House Adaptation. We love going to theatrical performances at discounted school rates.
My older two daughters attended Worldview Academy camp. This is our family’s fourth year at this practical and fun Christian camp. They have made new friends every year and are impacted by the teaching.
We began round four of braces. Can’t any of my kids have straight teeth?
We enjoyed many playdates, sleepovers, park days, visiting friends and family, celebrating marriages, and mourning deaths.
No, 2019-20 wasn’t perfect. No school year is.
But it was good, as it always is when I review the whole year.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, we can choose our attitude. My family and I choose gratefulness and contentment.
How was your school year? Be honest! Admitting it went sideways isn’t a crime, but don’t get stuck in that hole. Choose your attitude and see if hope doesn’t peek through the clouds. Celebrating the end of a school year puts it all in perspective.
Georganne