Here’s the thing: most homeschoolers don’t use a standard curriculum as their end all and be all. Raise your hand if that’s you. I admit that I don’t use one set of lessons. I practically can’t. Our family uses a Catholic classical curriculum. Many people (very successfully) use a classical curriculum as a complete curriculum for their elementary-aged children just by adding math and language arts.
I don’t.
I always feel compelled to add science, history, religion, literature, writing, and foreign language above and beyond the grammar memory work, math and language arts. In fact, I usually try to meld the classical curriculum with a full-on Charlotte Mason curriculum. I want to spread the feast. For 2 years I challenged myself to pick and choose and coordinate (did I mention we also did a separate second coop one semester?).
I planned to do the same this year. I didn’t just consider it. I PLANNED it. Imagine a complex week-by-week lesson plan, combining the best of not just one Charlotte Mason curriculum, but THREE Charlotte Mason lesson plans with a classical curriculum. Yup. It is pretty. It took hours.
And it won’t work.
And therein lies the problem with me homeschooling. I am not burnt out because my kids are ill-behaved, or because I don’t get enough sleep. Ok, well, maybe that second part.
I am burnt out because I don’t get enough sleep AND I can’t say no to different subjects.
I think it is all so fascinating!
So enriching!
So useful!
Ultimately, it’s just SO MUCH!
And all of the fascination, enrichment, and usefulness fly out the window in exchange for task-mastering a day crammed with a bit of this and a bit of that. I turn into a watch-the-clock boss, patting myself on the back for how many boxes are checked. I am frazzled by distraction, and annoyed by life’s interruptions. It’s a miserable existence.
How many blogs rant against this style of homeschooling, and how many homeschoolers confess to this craziness? Like, everyone (except those zen unschoolers).
But, I hadn’t found solutions in the blogosphere… Just that we shouldn’t be checking boxes. We should be enjoying the relationship. We should be praying more, or teaching less, or crying in our coffee with a friend.
I have an infant. I have a preschooler. I cannot avoid distraction or interruption. I cannot predict how any portion of any day will go. I have set myself up for failure by thinking that I can not only PREDICT it, but that I can PLAN ELABORATELY AROUND THOSE PREDICTIONS!
I seriously thought that. Admit it. You have, too.
Let’s read that again and laugh at the insanity: I act as though I can not only predict how any portion of any day will go, but I can also plan elaborately around those predictions.
Not. likely.
Yesiree, I definitely set myself up for failure.
So what is an over-achiever to do?
Sending my kids to school so that I don’t have to make the hard decisions sounds really appealing some days. But really, that is just the frazzled me. Once frazzled me caught up on sleep I’m sure I would miss the lifestyle, and my kids. And quite honestly, I cannot deny that my kids are thriving, and I like our long winter vacations.
I would endure almost anything to be somewhere warm in the winter.
So here is what I have done, and I am sharing it because if you’ve made it this far, it’s probably because you are an over-achiever trapped in a homeschooling body, too:
I started minimalist homeschooling.
Minimalist homeschoolers avoid the “do it all” mentality that is rampant in homeschooling.
Minimalist homeschooling is using your values to prioritize what is most important in your school. Minimalist homeschooling is being honest about your time. Minimalist homeschooling requires the most perfect resources for meeting specific goals – no more, no less – that will fit in the available time.
Make a Change to Start Homeschooling without Guilt TODAY.
Right Now.
#1
It’s ok to stop what you’re doing and reassess. Don’t throw everything out the window, but take a look at your space. And by space, I actually mean time.
Take the time to tally how you spend all of your hours in a day, and in a week. Don’t forget to count the time you spend on personal care, transitions, cleaning, errands, and all of those other necessary activities that add up!
Once you’ve identified how you spend your time, you will know exactly how much time you have to homeschool. Now, make sure that the schoolwork you have decided to use can fit in that time!
This sounds so obvious, but seriously, so many of us are trying to cram an hour of work into 45 minutes. In reality, our schedules should allow an hour for 45 minutes of work. Every project manager needs a contingency – you are a project manager, and time is your currency, not money. Be sure to budget 25% extra time in your days to reduce stress.
#2
Also, consider whether you should be using an timed schedule, or whether you should be using a list-style schedule. In a timed schedule each hour (or half hour) is identified, and items are allocated to specific times. In a list schedule, all of your items are listed for each day, but are prioritized. List schedules do not assign a specific time to most of the items in a day.
List schedules are great for homeschoolers who cannot predict when one child will need special attention, or when naps will happen. If you are a homeschooler who is overcome with panic when you reach lunchtime and realize you haven’t completed all of your morning tasks, then a list schedule may be just what you need. List schedules allow you to stop for immediate needs, and then jump right back into your list, picking up wherever you left off.
#3
Keep Going.
Minimalist homeschooling adds confidence, clarity, and simplicity to your home, and time to your days. How you schedule your time is just one aspect of minimalist homeschooling… there is so much more that will simplify your homeschool and ease the stress.
Intrigued? You should be! There is a way to have a meaningful and excellent school with less stress! This is just one small way in which homeschoolers can adjust their mindset to achieve more with less stress.
I have a book on the topic. I also wrote several other articles that elaborate on some aspects of the minimalist homeschooling mindset:
Minimalist Homeschooling Mindset Series
Minimalist Homeschooling Resources
What do you think? Can you relate to this plight? Are you suffering from over-achieving-induced homeschool burn-out? What do you feel guilty about leaving out? What do you have on your planner? I’d love to hear about your challenges and successes… please comment below.
Wishing you all the simple things,
Zara
