Homeschooling After a (Unexpected) Break

Getting started back into homeschooling after an unexpected break doesn’t have the same thrill as starting off a new school year. The new school supplies, books, and first day pictures aren’t happening. You’re not refreshed and renewed, ready to start the new year. Instead, you’re exhausted and feeling lazy and you’re honestly kinda liking this no school idea. And the whiny part of you is coming out just like the kids is, “Do I really have to do school today?”

I’m sitting here writing this post after a stomach bug wreaked havoc on my family and our routines this past week. We haven’t done much of anything, let alone school, in much of the past two weeks. My youngest got it first and worst, and the rest of us thought we had escaped, only to all come down with it about a week later. It’s been rough.

Today is Monday, the start of the new week. And while we still aren’t quite ready for our usual coop meeting today, I figured surely we could pull off a regular school day at home. Instead, I’m still sitting here writing and taking just one more day to collect myself before I gather the gumption to get things done again. Like the laundry. Oh the laundry.

We’ve had lots of breaks like this through the years. You can count on at least one unexpected break happening every year. Sometimes more. Last year for us it was that other sickness going around in 2020-21. That was a month long break. ugh. We’ve also moved this school year. And packed for that move of course. Other years, we’ve gone on long trips to visit family, gone to funerals, weddings, and even a couple trips just for fun. Some we could anticipate and plan for, some came as a shock and were more difficult to work through. Every homeschool break threw off our routine though, even if I knew it was coming.

My kids would be more than happy to let me sit around for the next week as they continue being slugs on the couches, doing art and listening to audiobooks. We’ve done a movie marathon as well. Sounds like a fine life. Minus the puke. But I’ve decided it’s not the life for us, though some of the break has been nice.

You see, we need our routines and to work our brains. I don’t know about your family, but after a few days of nothing, it seems we all start floundering a little. We get a little lost. My 4 year old starts complaining about needing something to do and my older two become hermits in their rooms. It’s not like what they’re doing is bad, but some structure is good for us. It keeps us being productive happy people. Without a little intentional structure and meaningful work, we can lose some purpose in life.

In moments like this, I have to remember why I homeschool. Part of that reason is so we can be flexible and take these unexpected breaks for life happenings. This is real life. As homeschoolers, we’re not just teaching our kids how to do well in normal daily life and school routines, but also how to deal and come back after struggles. How to find the new balance in life after a change. How to pick up and keep carrying on.

Today when I’m feeling a little guilty for taking one more day to rest, I know my kids are still learning. They do well most of the time with pursuing their interests and dealing with boredom, though it’s more of a struggle for my youngest still. We’ll find our balance again in structured learning too.

We may ease into things over the next couple days. Have a lighter day with less intense writing and more reading together. Or maybe we’ll just have a fun science or art day. In the end the school work will always be there. There isn’t really an end to it. I’ll try not to stress and just do the next thing to help my children learn on this journey of life.

So tomorrow there will be crying and moaning and not all of it from the kids. But we’ll do it. And I know once we get past the first day or two back in the swing of things, it’ll be ok. Sometimes the worst part is the anticipation. Or the making it happen. It really takes a lot of mom power. But I know I can do it. And you can too.