Homeschooling Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

By Jennifer A. Janes

It’s that time of year. The one where we got spoiled by having three weeks off for Christmas break and then promptly got sick the day we started doing lessons again. The sickness has cycled through the entire family, and I’m the last one to recover. This has been going on for a month now.

My children want to take all of these as sick days. We have done some “light” school days, but most days I have pressed through, making sure that our critical goals are reached each day and that we hit some of the other subjects and activities we usually do too. The girls don’t understand why I continue to push.

Here are the lessons I’m trying to teach by homeschooling even when I don’t feel like it:

Perseverance. Sometimes you just have to keep going, even when the circumstances aren’t optimal. My kids need to know this now. Life isn’t going to be perfect, but you have to keep doing what needs to be done.

Service. Homeschooling my children is a calling and an act of service—an outpouring of my love for them. When I choose to do what I know is best for them, to homeschool even when it’s not convenient, it sets an example for them. It’s important to do what’s right, even when it’s tough.

Time management. My kids like to take off June and July for summer break so we can enjoy the summer camps and other activities we participate in each year. If we’re going to finish our lessons by the end of May without having to double and triple up on them later in the spring, we need to keep working whenever possible.

Discipline. It is important for my children to see that having a routine and the discipline of getting up to do something worth doing is critical. Having the discipline of a daily routine will help them now and in the future, whether it involves spiritual disciplines like a daily quiet time or the task of getting to a job or ministry commitment regularly.

Responsibility. We have a responsibility, as Christians and a homeschooling family, to conduct our lives with integrity. We’re not perfect, but we do want to be good representatives of Christ and of the homeschooling community at large. We follow the local public school calendars loosely and keep good records of our attendance, lessons we’ve done, and field trips and educational opportunities we participate in. Our community is watching, and we want to be found faithful.

How do you keep momentum going in your homeschool—even when you don’t feel like it?

Jennifer Janes lives in Arkansas with her husband and two daughters, one of whom has special needs. She spends her days homeschooling, reading her Bible, praying, sharing good books with the kids, and writing in blue ink. You can connect with her on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Google +. She also shares on Pinterest and Instagram.