I am not giving a whole lot of pre planning into this posting, so forgive me if I ramble. Recently, I read about a gentleman who was struggling with severe medical problems and the heartbreak of having to send his young daughter back to public school while he got back on his feet. My heart broke for him and his family.
I, too, have had my fair share of medical disasters and am actually disabled as a result. I can relate to this gentleman in ways that maybe others can not. This may not be a post about schooling really. It is more about living. Living with an illness that can knock your socks off while trying to be a spouse, parent and in some cases teacher as well. If you are reading this you are either a homeschooler, you know someone that homeschools and was curious, are considering homeschooling or the like. Chances are that you are NOT a hard core public schooler. So, let me say that we are often of similar mindset that home is the best place for our children. What happens when that has to change? What happens when home is sort of a mess no matter how hard you try to keep it from being that way? Can we still do it? Can we still teach our children at home if we are not able to do the all day nature walks or the RV road trip learning that just sound so very great? Well, sometimes we can and sometimes we can't. It is all situational, but remember that often times the very things that we swore could never be done were proven false when we just changed our direction a little and trudged on.
I am perfectly aware that there simply are times that it can not be done or should not be done. As in the case of the young man I spoke of earlier, it is in his and his family's best interest at the moment for his daughter to at least continue the current school year. But, if that is NOT the case, I want you to think of this post as a starting place to try to think a little out of the box.
Consider school from bed. Think about the times your little ones begged to be allowed to hang out in your bed. Make it an event. If you are simply unable to function well out of bed, but you are able to converse and be with others, why not move 'class' there?
Consider some online classes. This is not always an option, but if it is, there are mountains and mountains of options out there. I personally don't want to enroll my kids in a public school at home, but that is just me. I like being in control (sort of a type A personality). There are options in either scenario. If you go with the cyber public school, they will often supply you with everything needed including a computer and a voucher to help with internet charges. There are premade lesson plans and teachers that work directly with the kids. You are more or less there to supervise. Then there are the ones that you do not have to enroll in the whole 'enchilatta'. You can sign up for onsie twosie classes on topics of your choosing. They are still structure by the class with the lesson plans and often with reporting to the teacher, but you are not doing the lessons yourself.
Consider what I call "TV school". The history channel, Bio, PBS and channels like that are great! Why not set that recorder and record a series. Watch them together and discuss them. Who needs textbooks? A lot of the channels even have printed material available to educators if you ask for it. They will give you their upcoming plans and many even have lesson plan ideas or activities to go with them. Or, you could just use the show as a point to jump off with for discussion.
Use a general workbook to do the "must do's", and then get creative for the rest of them. Just have fun.
Use your local library (if you are able) and read, read, read...Both non fiction and well written non fiction.
I think that living with a chronic illness or disability is a heartbreak enough as it is. Then, if you take away the love of learning with your children (if you are so motivated to do so) is earth shattering! It is just yet another loss that you have no control over.
As I have said in the past, If the heart and mind are feeling wounded, the body can NOT heal. If it is within your limits to be able to be with your kids day in and day out with your health limits, a little creativity just may be the thing to help make it happen. There are, of course, situations where this is simply not possible. If that is your situation, I will pray for your increased health so that you find yourself in the lifestyle of child education at home very soon!
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