a tough one

February's drear, and a few things I love right now

A friend has declared “Never make a schooling decision in February,” and year after year, I agree.¹ Another friend joked that if the public schools sent curriculum catalogs around right now, she’d be inclined to sign up. What is it about this month!

I’ve got a few guesses…

• We’re hard on ourselves. Despite knowing all the joys and work that has happened since September, we decide the new standard is the gold standard and everything must meet it from now on. Anything less is a disappointment.

• We forget how soon the end will come. Many homeschoolers finish their formal schooling in April or May. That’s only two months away!

• Attitudes deteriorate. This goes for both the adults and the children, who of course rub off on each other and then wonder why no conversation is proceeding in a civil tone.

• We get tired and leave out the fun stuff. After approximately one million cozy days, it is hard to remember how to keep spontaneity up your sleeve. Dance parties, learning a new card game, having the whole family follow an art tutorial on Youtube, staying outside for three hours in a row (with snacks!) are all theoretically things we say we love about winter. But we have to remember to do them.

Anyway it’s a tough month. I’ve taken to confessing to nearly everyone that I’m bored and just want to read my novel right now. Let’s keep the standard honest.

And in the face of these great hurdles, the rest of this newsletter is just six things I appreciate right now. We’ll save the discussion of yay or nay standardized testing for next month. : )

1. Microwave popcorn

In a bowl on the couch, on the table next to a laptop, on the floor with a pile a books and a blanket. The quickest way to offer solidarity to any task your child has taken up. Sometimes a little work snack is just what’s needed. Even if you love making a stovetop batch for movie night, keep a few boxes of the quick stuff handy in the cupboard and teach at least half the kids to how to make it themselves.

2. Year-Labeled Muji Boxes 

This was my husband Joe’s fix for the piles of dear notes, art, scribbles and drawings I kept around my desk. I’m a paper bits person, always have been. So: a box labeled with the year, into which I slide everything all year. Yes, it’s that simple. Then I go through it and sometimes throw a few things away, usually I keep most of it. I really enjoy looking at the boxes lined up and knowing the precious bits of paper are (relatively) sorted, at the very least dated, and saved alongside all those books we’re storing.

This is the type we use, which I guess Muji doesn’t sell in that material anymore. But they still make it in white!

3. Valentine Station

The kids love to make valentines so I lean in and order supplies to make it go as smoothly and uncontested as possible. Making a card for someone is 10x a worksheet, any day of the week. An entire box of red markers, red and pink colored paper, black pentel sign pens, some heart stickers, glue sticks, envelopes at the ready. Don’t overthink it, but also just do it.

4. Homeschool Wins photo album

I keep a shared photo album on my phone where Joe and I add photos that qualify as homeschool wins. Any project, experiment, handwritten note (especially ones that get sent off in the mail), field trip, barn project, theater show, gets added. Then I go back and look at all the moments from the year. It can be very encouraging and is easy to keep up with.

5. Sitting down with my book

If you settle in with a book after lunch (phone in the drawer in the other room) expecting to be interrupted by different child-queries, you can tell yourself you are winning on two fronts. 1. You are showing pleasure in reading, and thereby suggesting the same activity to them. 2. You are centered and prepared to answer questions as they come, with eye contact and courtesy, possibly even reflection. These questions always seem simpler than the ones fired at you when you are multitasking, and let’s not forget that engaged adult conversation is half the education in itself.

6. Acting like I just woke up here

This is a weird one but it is possible to act as if your life is a trip you planned and you are just seeing everything for the first time. First time you notice that shaft of sunlight. First time you’ve walked up that hill. First time you’ve gotten to watch your child sleep next to you. First time you’ve made pasta with cheese and put it into warm bowls and leaned around a table together. I don’t know, let things get trippy and see what you savor!

---

In a few days I have a fascinating interview to share with you with Carol Hudson, a Charlotte Mason method homeschool mom of seven.

Comment and tell us what’s helping your February. 🖤

1. Personally I think the best month in the northern hempishere to make any schooling decision is April. It’s not quite the end of the year, so you’re still realistic about how things are going, but you can go and visit or observe anything you’re seriously thinking about signing up for next year and compare how things really shake out.