Homeschool planning and implementation, co-op, field trips, service projects, church, AWANA, soccer, Cub Scouts, playdates, family activities . . . it can all be so overwhelming, even when we’re healthy. Add in a chronic illness, and it can become impossible. Who can juggle it all? Not me.
We. must. stop. the. madness.
So you slow down. Maybe this year you skip the co-op, don’t return to Cub Scouts, take less field trips. Maybe this year, you just focus on what has to be done. Homeschooling, church. That’s all. Is it enough?
I’m here to tell you that not only is it enough, it’s a good thing. We’re great at making ourselves feel guilty for not doing it all, aren’t we? It’s crazy. I mean really . . . crazy. We are home with our kids every day. God has blessed us with the desire and ability to homeschool them, disciple them, guide them. Even on the bad days. Every day. And yet somehow we still feel like we aren’t enough for them. And our health is suffering for it.
Why do we often overextend ourselves and our kids? Perhaps we’re afraid they are “missing” something. Maybe we think we have to make up for sometimes homeschooling in the bed. Or maybe even we are afraid of the “s” word . . . you know the one . . . socialization.
Whatever it is, we need to get over it and realize that our time with our kids is short. Before we know it, we’ll blink and they’ll be gone.
What do you want to remember? Scouts, ball games, playdates, field trips? Or time together. Snuggle time. Time reading together, cooking together, playing games together. Great talks, leisurely walks, family time.
Or even more importantly, what do you want them to remember? Start there and I’m guessing you’ll figure it out. I’m getting there, slowly but surely.
