Leaving Footprints: Best Laid Plans

I'm a planner, and a list maker. Always have been. And as a former classroom teacher, my 'bent' is to make a schedule and then adhere to it with rigidity. The bell rings and it's over, or it's lunch, or time to change classes, or whatever. Therefore it stands to reason that one of my biggest challenges as a homeschool mom has been in letting go of THE BELL. I have at times drifted, and reverted back to my former way of thinking and tried to make the kids stick to a very strict time schedule. THIS NEVER WORKS.

"Ok kids, we are stopping right here in the middle of this exciting history lesson to...yes, you guessed it, have our handwriting lesson. Forget Alexander the Great, get your pencils."

It just doesn't work. Never has and never will. And in truth, why would I want it to work in that manner? The short answer:

For my own ease. To make ME feel better. Because crossing things off MY list makes ME feel like I've accomplished something.

But have I? Have I really?

Yes, in life, my children will have to be on time for work (I require them to be on time to our schoolroom now), and yes, they will probably have times in their lives when they are required to follow someone else's bell. But, right now, RIGHT NOW they are privileged to learn at their own pace. When phones ring, cars break down, family members are sick, or LIFE just happens, it's not the end of the world. When we are really enjoying the day's science lesson we are not required to 'finish up' so we can move on. We CAN do just one more experiment or take a spur of the moment walk. Do we always? Nope. In fact, most days we go with the flow of our schedule and plan. But we CAN change if we so choose. Education is integrated with life. As it should be.

I am writing tonight because I am/was frustrated with our day not turning out as I planned. Not EVERYTHING got checked off MY list. On days like today I need to be reminded of the goals that Ben and I wrote years ago. They are pasted into my planner and always will be. We should probably revise them someday, but for now they give our home(school) a strong spine.

Have a relationship with Christ
Study and understand God's Word
The ability to think for themselves
Do anything or be anything
Know how to find answers to questions
Have solid relationships with others
Question things
A college education if required for their desired profession
Be creative
Be inventive
Be men and women of character
Appreciate music, art, and literature
Cooperate with others
Derive self worth from God not man

When I bring today's events into the light of our lifelong learning goals, my mind shifts. Just as when I focus on heavenly things vs earthly things. I can relax. Still having a goal ( read plans/lists :), running for the prize, but resting in the knowledge that when things don't go as I planned they ARE going as He planned.