Real Life {While} Homeschooling — Homeschooling When Seriously Ill

During my blog hiatus, I am introducing a new series of guest posts — Real Life {While} Homeschooling. 

 

 

 

Over the next 4 weeks, I will be introducing you to 9 inspiring friends, who are homeschooling with some kind of real life challenge. I know that you will be as blessed by their stories as I am by knowing them. 

 

Today, please welcome Heather!

 

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What a joy to be here! Yep, I love Marcy’s blog and I am very pleased that she asked me to write a post for this week, but I have to admit I am happy to be HERE in my home with my lovely children even more. You see I have been in the hospital 10 times this year, 4 of those since late June. It is beginning to feel like my vacation home is actually a room in the local hospital, minus the fun and family.

 

I take joy and happiness in the fact that today my children are home as well. You see my 5 children have the same mitochondrial disease I have. They are just as likely to be in the hospital as I am. Thank the Lord we are all home and comfy. Ready to start the homeschooling year with a bang!

 

Homeschooling has been a wonderful choice for all of us. From the very practical reason of the children have compromised immune systems and infections could be disastrous so being home away from the germs is good. Two of my kids have had strokes that left them struggling for quite awhile. I was able to adjust to their needs instantly rather than wait for paperwork and IEPs. Frankly our disease is progressive and there is no treatment or cure. Would you trade a single moment with your family if you knew they had a disease like that?

 

We have been homeschooling for over a decade now. I even write and speak to other special needs homeschoolers when I have the opportunity. We love traveling for those conventions. It’s a GREAT way to make memories and have a field trip to some place new and wonderful.

 

Over the years I have learned some tips to help when you are balancing significant health needs, family, and homeschooling:

I found out quickly the things you push to the back burner and ignore will be the ones that are most likely to get out of control. Health issues need to be controlled and dealt with in a timely manner. Family arguments should be settled before anyone goes to sleep. Never leave them to simmer and cause resentment to build.

 

Over the years we have had some pretty severe slights and very personal betrayals in regards to our choices to homeschool, have a large family, and our health problems. In order to have peace in my heart and thus encourage my family to live in peace I had to learn how to truly and wholeheartedly forgive that person and move on. I also had to learn that I can’t make them return or even acknowledge that forgiveness was required.

If you don’t have a goal you will never reach it. Here’s an example: This year Grace will learn to write in manuscript. That meant that when December came and little movement forward was happening I turned to an Occupational Therapist to help her with fine motor skills and strength.

Think about this ladies we don’t often give ourselves compassion. We tend to hold ourselves up to unrealistic standards and unwritten rules. Eventually we fail to meet those expectations and welcome to guilt.

 

Blech! It tends to bring depression along for the ride and if like me you have a chronic illness and/or a child with chronic issues you are already one step on the depression train do to stress both physical and mental. What would you say to a friend in the same situation? Its okay not to wake up at dawn and have bible study, fresh baked bread, and a hot multicourse breakfast ready to go by 7am. Its okay to let the laundry slide today or even all week and have hubby help with it on the weekend. We would extend that compassion to our friends so I encourage you to extend it to yourself!

I have learned over the years a rocky marriage only makes all other things that much worse. Your children will be more intense and argumentative when mom and dad are having trouble. It is well worth the time and effort to work on those marital problems and deal with them now.

These scriptures are written in my planner. That way every day I am reminded to pray and seek the Lord in all things. Including getting through the everyday things like homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, nurses visits, therapy, and on and on our days go.

 

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13 

 

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 119:14 Psalms 

 

I want you to know this is not a cake walk and I am trying to say if you follow these 6 things all will fall into place easily. You will get a place where you find balance. That balance will be very specific to your lovely family.

 

Right now as I write this I am sick and stuck in bed for the day. I have the desk calendar beside me. My bible study next to that. My planner open to the first week of school half filled out. My laptop and multiple things up for my blog and speaking. Then to the other side I have a recipe book for an upcoming batch cooking party. Oy! Today I plan. Tomorrow the Lord willing I will be up and moving again able to carry out those plans. Each of my lovely kids has learned that we have to deal with what energy, strength, and health we have today. Tomorrow is the God’s hands.