What happened? I blinked and the year is done again.
Of course, now the questions and insecurities are setting in. We made this decision to home school – was it the right decision? Did we only do it because the world went through an existential crisis in 2020 and we went right along?
Did I do enough this year? Did I make sure that I spent enough time teaching? Did I teach them the right things? Are they ready to move to the next level or did I miss the boat (yet again)? Did I spend too much time on myself and now my child’s future lies in ruins?
If this is your mindset and the questions rambling through your brain, we have the answer. This answer will probably blow your mind. It is based on years of research, testing many theories and trying different things. Here it is, I hope you are ready:
Breathe in…… Breathe out….. Breathe in…. Breathe out…..Relax
There you go, much better. Now that the dopamine levels are up and the stress levels down, let’s look at this logically.
You made the decision to home school for a reason. Think back to that reason and reaffirm to yourself why you made the decision. You’ll probably find that it is still the right decision for you and your family.
The next thing to realise is, you are where you are. The past is the past and no amount of analyzing and worrying is going to change it. What you need to do is take charge. Draw a line in the sand and put the past where it belongs. Accept where you are and move on.
So, what now?
- Celebrate all the year’s achievements, no matter how big or small
- Prioritize self-care and downtime
- Decide on what you want to achieve next year
- Set realistic goals
- Be honest with yourself – do you need help? Look and ask for help where you need it
- Pen down your plan, including writing down how long your break will be with a clear date on when you will start in the new year (give yourself at least a week to do detailed planning in the new year before the actual teaching starts).
The right mindset and approach are the best tools you can have in your arsenal to make this a success!
Children will keep on growing and they are resilient and inquisitive. As homeschool providers, our most important tasks are to ensure that we feed their curiosity, instill a love for lifelong learning and create the structure for them to thrive in.
No matter how much we worry about it, the rest is up to them!
Have a wonderful break and we start all over again next year!