Mike Smith:
You’ve planned out your school year—down to the minute. You’re sure that if you stick rigidly to your schedule from September through May, your kids will finish all their textbooks and you’ll be done in time for the summer vacation. It’s a beautiful plan, but not very realistic. When we try to achieve a goal without taking breaks along the way, we quickly burn out. It’s a natural part of being human.

How can you make room in your school year for rest, as well as the occasional interruption? Take an honest look at your schedule. Did you plan your daily activities too closely together? Did you allow yourself enough time to prepare and eat meals? Recognizing the time needed for your various activities may seem to result in less time for everything. But the more realistic you are about what you can accomplish, the more productive your homeschooling will be.

Deliberately plan breaks that don’t coincide with holidays or weekends—which are rarely restful for Mom and Dad! Allow your kids a day off between unit studies. Plan to order takeout sometimes so you don’t have to prepare dinner. Every so often, cancel school on Friday—and kick off the long weekend with a movie or play day. Has your son finally overcome his struggle with memorizing the names of the presidents? Allow him a few days off from history to focus on a subject that comes more easily to him.

And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.