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“It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
~Mark Twain
Yes, here we are in May, with only a few weeks of school left. Are you hearing and/or thinking about “spring fever” more and more? Are you or your kids dragging a bit? If so, take heart and don’t be discouraged. We are all in the arena together, and understand the trials and struggles that come along with this time of year. Let's take a moment to encourage each other when we see that familiar look of weariness on another parent's face.
Sometimes it’s all the planning ahead for summer that turns our thoughts away from the present. Sometimes it’s simply a beautiful day and we NEED to be outside. Sometimes we just need another Spring Break! But there are natural rhythms to the year and they often signal that a little change in routine will do you good. So whatever the distractions might be, here are a few ideas and thoughts to help make spring fever work for you instead of against you:
- Get outside when you can! Taking school outdoors can be a great remedy for the blahs, especially when the weather is lovely and the kids just want to be out in it. Not bad for mom (or dad) either! Click here for some ideas on that from last year.
- Maybe try getting together with other SLOCA friends on a homeschool day at a park and doing a couple of subjects there together… (has anyone ever done this and did it work? Let us know in the comments section!)
- Even if you have to be indoors, incorporate more movement and a little play or silliness into your home day – math facts while jumping rope, poetry recitation while hanging upside down, one pushup for every spelling word, etc. Anything to liven up the routine.
- Build a fort in the living room and homeschool in it.
- Schedule more breaks if needed, but use a timer and get back on track.
- On a lighter homeschool day, get everyone on board to finish their work early and then go to the beach, or a movie in the middle of the day.
- Playdates for the kids are great, but don’t forget yourself – plan a night out with friends for a little mom-time to refresh and support each other!
- Sometime you just need to push on. Remember that ultimately, we are modeling perseverence to our kids and our attitude about the end of the school year will set the tone in our homes and influence how they think and act.
- Finally, like our words of wisdom in last year’s post about Spring Fever, let us encourage you to stop and enjoy each child exactly where they are right now, and think about the growth they’ve experienced this year. Focus on connecting with each child rather than trudging through a to-do list. Whatever your goals were for the end of the school year, notice how amazing each child is, and be proud of what you’ve done together this year. Let that fuel your motivation to finish strong!
How do you combat Spring Fever? Leave a comment below:
