A Tale of Two Months

It is the best of (homeschooling) times, it is the worst of (homeschooling) times.  The months of February and March, that is.

With the homeschooling convention I attend (CHAP) coming up on Mother's Day weekend, I am beginning to sort my way through all of the piles of curriculum I could choose for next year. 

 I really like doing that.  It gives me something to look forward to on these bleak late-winter days. 

 The possibilities of all the wonderful things I can teach my children next year astound me.  It's like I can take all the mistakes I've made this year and wipe the slate clean--because next year will go perfectly, right?  

Unused curriculum without dog-ears, doodles, and messy handwriting are a beautiful thing.  I love the anticipation of new things to come.

This is also the worst time of year for me.  I typically finish the school year right around the time I go to convention.  So that means we have about three more months of school to get through.  

That means three more months of working in the books that are dog-eared, filled with doodles, and full of messy handwriting.  That means three more months of dealing with how off track I have gotten from my original plans for the year. 

 And of course there are those bleak late-winter days.  I just want to send my kids outside without them coming in muddy ten minutes later telling me it's too chilly to play.  

So as I wake up each day these months, I remind myself that I am one day closer to spring and completion of yet another school year. I am one day closer to the Homeschool Convention.  Most importantly, I remind myself that I am right where God wants me to be whether I "feel" like doing school today, or not.  

And I press on.