Please share!
Decluttering the school room.
Writing lesson plans.
Filling in the calendars.
Printing galore.
Buying just the right curriculum.
Choosing a new math program.
Heading to Target for new crayons, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, composition books, pocket folders, filler paper, and washable markers.
This is how many of us begin our new school year. And it can be overwhelming.
If you’re anything like me, the focus is always on the logistics of starting the new year. What supplies do I need, what books should I buy, how in the world did the school room get in this shape?!?
Seriously, it stresses me out.
So, I got to thinking. What if I begin the new school year with a different attitude this year? What if I focus on the JOY of this new beginning.
Because that’s what it is . . . a new beginning. And one that deserves a measure of JOY!
This is the only time Ben will begin his first year of middle school. That’s huge!
I want to make this time more JOYful. But how?
Instead of focusing on the clutter, let’s focus on the JOY of being organized.
Rather than worrying about writing lesson plans (not that I do, this is more for you!), how about giving your children the JOY of choosing something to learn about, and then supplying them with everything they need to succeed.
How about instead of filling our calendars with so many things to do, we find the JOY in leaving plenty of days open for spontaneous field trips, play dates, arts and crafts and science experiments!
Let’s print what we need, but find some JOY in seeking out opportunities to let our kids express themselves in ways other than the written page. Try surprising them by getting out the messy art supplies, glue, and scissors!
Curriculum is important to most homeschools, but this year, how about spending more time finding the JOY in learning from good books — read for your own JOY, and read aloud to your kids to bring them JOY. You might be amazed at how much they learn!
Math. It’s hard to find anything JOYful about math in our house. So, this year, I think I will focus on helping Ben find the JOY of developing diligence and perseverance. Because it takes all of those things for him to be successful with math. A new math program isn’t always the answer. It’s character-building to do hard things.
School and office supplies make many of us happy. So go ahead and buy all of those new crayons, pencils, and notebooks. But add a little JOY to the day by packing them all up in gift bags as a “first day of school” treat for your kids!
I have told you this so that my JOYmay be in you and that your JOY may be complete. ~John 15:11
May your year be more JOYful!
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