I wrote a little note about planning for homeschooling back around Candlemas.  You can see that post here:  https://theparentingpassageway.com/2014/02/04/time-to-plan/

This Lenten time is such a spiritual spring for the soul, and such a time for the birthing of possibilities.  In February’s planning post referenced above, I mentioned sitting down with a calendar and starting to plan start and end dates, and to really look at the festivals your family celebrates throughout the year.  I really urge you to do this now if you haven’t already.

Some people make a wheel and pencil in the major points of the year seasonally with the solstices and equinoxes and add in descriptors for other festivals and the months; some people take a large piece of paper and divide it into twelve months and write down the festivals and how the months make them feel.  I also suggest to  go through and make notes of how your children were during different  months and what you could plan as a family for everyone during the next school year as the “glue” that hold everyone together.  Were the children bouncing off the walls in January?  Did the children fight a lot with each other in May?  These things are so specific to your family and to the success of your homeschooling. 

I also recommend that you think back – did you take any field trips?  Did you spend as much time outside each day, week and month that you wanted to?  Did one point in the year end up being much busier and stressful than you thought it would be?  Why was that? What activities outside the home will you cut out or include this year?  What would be most helpful for your family?

Finally, after you think about the months from a seasonal perspective, a perspective of inner mood, and then from the perspective of your children and the overall energy level in the family, I ask that you look at the months from your own perspective.  Where was your self-care?  Did you do anything for yourself this entire school year?  Did you nurture yourself in any way by learning something new, doing something new artistically?  How did you feel holding the space in your homeschooling during different months?  What could be done differently in order to make you feel wonderful during your homeschool adventure?

These are the sorts of things to really think about because they help you make a plan.  If you want some things that are different for your family during this next school year, but keep doing the same things over and over, the outcome is not likely to change.

Observe, ponder prayerfully, and seek change with solutions.  It will come, and the answer is inside of you.

Many blessings and peace,

Carrie