We homeschooled our teenage daughter during 8th grade and it was as amazing as it was challenging. At times I thought I’d have a heart attack. Oftentimes, my heart would explode with happiness. Homeschooling changed us. It made our bond stronger. Naively, I thought it would make it easier to see her grow up, it didn’t. I always told myself, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I was looking forward to homeschooling our youngest daughter when it was her turn.
Little did I know that we would be back at it along with thousands of parents across the country.
I learned a few things that year. This playlist helps me remember those things as I struggle to get through the next month of self-isolation. Wait, did I say month? Who am I kidding? I am barely making it through the day.
Got to be real.
When we first decided to homeschool our daughter, we had lofty goals. She was going to code an app and publish a short novel. Then, we got real. She completed all the coursework for core subjects, did well on her exams and wrote a lot of essays and some code. She focused on what she loved while progressing at the right pace. And, that was when we had planned for homeschool and had the means to do it. Now, it’s the end of the world as we know it. This isn’t the time for academic overachievement. So long as she’s getting her work done when and how the teachers want it, and she’s showing up to all the virtual classes, she’s getting it right, and so am I!
All the small things.
One of my favorite parts of homeschooling were the little moments that we were able to steal daily. Our longer breakfasts. The side conversations sparked by something she was learning about, which really caught her interest. Glancing at her while she was completely focusing on an assignment. Arguing about all the petty stuff. Getting over it. Taking the time to appreciate these things as they happen is priceless. The year flew by. It was gone in a flash. And even though this crisis feels like a never-ending manic Monday, it will pass too.
Sweet dreams (are made of this).
Having a schedule is a must when you’re homeschooling. It’s the only way to hold them (and yourself) accountable. But, it’s okay to throw the schedule out the window sometimes. We skipped the schedule a lot during our homeschooling year. So much so, we joked that first period was Sleeping 101. Sure, we felt guilty about it sometimes. But, eventually, we realized it was the right thing because she was happier and more relaxed. We all know that kids are stressed too- now more than ever. Let them sleep, let them chill. Let them have sweet dreams.
Smells like teen spirit.
Teenagers need their friends. If you don’t know this already, you will learn fast. Homeschooled kids don’t have the same social life IRL that most teenagers do, so social media helps them stay connected to their peers. Right now, every teenager is a homeschooled kid, so unless you’re a warrior or a saint, you’ll probably have to let them go online. This is a hard one because you will have to engage and monitor their online relationships and life exactly as you would their real life, and sometimes that’s easier said than done. Do it your way. Set rules, set boundaries. But, trust me, it’s the best alternative.
Don’t worry, be happy.
Give yourself credit for doing this, even though it is not by choice. Remember that in the end, it will be worth it. Because the one thing we never get back is time, and this is time that was given to us to be with our families. So, if even for a couple of hours a day, take the time to not worry and be happy. Have some faith and even a little red, red wine.
Get the full playlist here.
