Yesterday Amy posted about our new 4-day schedule, and all the reasons, details, and logistics that go along with this release. I'm a schedule lover, so I was excited when we started talking about the feasibility of creating a 4-day version of our current 180-day schedule. I thrive on scheduled time, lists I can create and mark off, and generally having my ducks in a row at the start of each day.
Boy was I in for a rude awakening when I became a parent, and then a homeschooler! Despite all my best intentions, life became very unscheduled when I hit that season of my life. My box-checking style was severely cramped.
Schedule and order are good to have in life ... God is, after all, a God of order. And scripture commands us to bring order to our lives ... But be sure that everything is done properly and in order (I Corinthians 14:40) (yes, I'm aware that this verse is speaking specifically to order in church/worship, but I think it's safe to apply to life in general!).
One of the greatest lessons that I learned as a "student" in our homeschool (and am still learning), was that there was/is freedom in letting go of *MY* schedule/box-checking. God often (usually) had a very different plan for my day/week than what I envisioned when I got up each morning. By the end of many of my homeschool days, my carefully written lists were unmarked and my IG (Instructor's Guide) schedule was unchecked. It was many years before I could see those days as a success and not a failure. A success because God had accomplished exactly what He purposed in those "unscheduled" days. And at the end of those days He would gently remind me ... We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
The purpose in my sharing? While I am/will be one of the loudest cheerleaders and biggest proponents of our new 4-day schedule, I also wish to encourage balance. Balance that hopefully grants you freedom and confidence to let go of your schedule some days, or re-imagine and re-invent your schedule when life requires it. It's ok to ignore, skip or cross out some scheduled assignments if necessary. Because in those moments you (and your children) will learn an even more valuable lesson ... your written plans (schedules) will always be a servant to the Master's plans.
Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Homeschool mom and student of life
One Comment