My Best Homeschool Year Yet!

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I was recently thinking about our new homeschool year and making a mental list of the things I need to do to prepare for it.  Then I began to think about the things that didn’t go very well last year and how I can help make this our best homeschooling year yet!  I came up with a list of promises I’d like to make to myself and my family.  I’m going to print my list, put it where I can see it every day, and try to follow my own advice to make this a wonderful school year!

While homeschooling is a serious calling and something we shouldn’t take lightly, it is also a time we should cherish.  It’s a time to teach our children academics, but it’s also a time to love them, set a good example for them, and to just enjoy being with them before they grow up and move on with their lives.  I am so very thankful to have these years with my kiddos at home, and I’m realizing that the years pass by so very quickly!  My children are now 17, 15, and 9.  I’m realizing that we really don’t have that many more years with all 3 of the children here at home with me.  So, in order to have our best homeschool year yet, I’ll share with you my list of promises for the new school year.

I promise:

…not to worry if we don’t do everything I had on my to-do list that day.

…not to worry if my house isn’t perfect.

…not to worry if my kids’ school work isn’t perfect.

…not to snap at my children or my hubby when I’m tired.

…not to get so busy driving the kids to ballet, tennis, piano, etc. that I forget to talk to them and show them that I love them.

…to be patient even when the kids don’t want to do school or help clean the house or whatever else!

…to be patient even when the kids are having a hard time understanding something I’m trying to teach them.

…to be happy and cheerful and to set a good example—whether we’re busy or not, tired or not, or hungry or not.

…to read the Bible with my kids every morning before we begin school work, house work, or anything else.

…to show my husband that I love and appreciate him for all he does to help take care of and provide for the kids and me.

…to do my best to plan meals so that my family will be well-fed with nutritious food and I won’t be stressed at the last minute trying to come up with something!

…to be thankful for my children—even when they aren’t perfect.

…to forgive myself and realize that I’m not perfect when I goof up!  And then to refuse to get discouraged and give up.

I know I’m not perfect, and I’m sure I’ll mess up now and then, but I pray that God will help me remember these promises, stick to them as best I can, and have a wonderful, productive school year at home with my kids!

What about you?  Are there any promises you’d like to make to yourself (or suggest to me) that would help make this your best homeschool year yet?

Wendy lives in the South with her wonderful hubby and 3 great kiddos! She is a Christian, homeschooling, work-from-home mom. She and Scott were high school sweethearts and have been married for more than 20 years. Her oldest child has autism, and Wendy began homeschooling her at age 2. Her son, a typical boy, would rather do anything than school! Her youngest child is a little social butterfly and people lover. Wendy loves reading and quilting and will hopefully return to scrapbooking some time soon. You can visit her personal blog at Homeschooling Blessings.

Read more of Wendy’s articles at Hip Homeschool Moms.