When Your School Day Goes Wrong

 

 

How is school going?  How are you doing?  How are you getting it all done?

Most of the kids around the US are back in school in some form or another by now.  While many have started with distance learning online for the time being, some have been able to go back to a brick and mortar school, and most homeschoolers are off to a solid start.

Regardless of how your child schools, some days are better than others.  Teacher's have bad days, moms have bad days, and kids have bad days!  Who can relate?

So what do you do when your school day goes wrong?

Stop and pray!  First and foremost, go to the Lord!  If He has called you to it, He will get you through it. Ask for patience and guidance and then listen for His reply!

Take a time out.  You and your child!  Not as a punishment, but just a time to spread out for a few minutes and regroup.  Sometimes just a few minutes apart will help you maintain a level head.

Switch subjects.  If a particular subject is frustrating you, it is often best to put it aside and come back to it later.  Sometimes we get lost in the details and frustration and some time away helps to clear our head.

Exercise.  Seriously, go take a walk, challenge your kids to a push up challenge, or just jog in place for a few minutes.  Colby and I will often do a few laps around the table in between subjects to get the blood pumping and clear our heads.

Snuggle instead of struggle.  Again, seriously!  Sometimes we just have a bad day.  Pushing through sometimes works, but often times just snuggling up on the couch with your kids is the best remedy.  Hearts and attitudes are healed when we show love. Pull out a read aloud or the Bible, or just share your thoughts.  School books can wait.

Look for trigger points.  There is usually a reason things are not going well.  Is your child's bed time too late?  Too much sugar the night before?  Are they worried about something?  Could they possibly be sick?  We cannot control every aspect of our child's environment, but we are the adults, and we can often adjust our lives to make things run more smoothly.  Before you were the teacher, you were the parent.  Be the best parent you can be!

Give yourself grace!  And then give it to your child.  Remember why you started down this road.  You are not a perfect person and you are not raising perfect children.  Some days are going to go perfectly while others are going to be a constant battle. Ask me how I know!  Give grace where needed and move forward.

Schooling your kids, whether full time or in a crisis situation (virus, anyone?) is such a blessing, but not always without hiccups.  But you CAN do it!

Not every day is easy, but everyday is worth it!  Make them count!

Blessings,