Inclusive Homeschool

Well, I haven’t posted here since the 28th of February. I’ve been busy dealing with other aspects of my life outside of homeschooling, things that demanded my advocacy and investigator skills - immediately.

You know, I’d love to be able to just be a stay at home mom and homeschool my kid. In all my years of activism, I’d have to say that homeschooling my child has been the most radical activism and the most rewarding I have ever engaged in.

But I’m a single mom, and I need to support myself and my child. And I have family, one in particular, my older brother, who is very vulnerable and needs me to be his advocate. And then there’s my dear friend who is dealing with a serious health issue and grandchildren, and adult children I want to find time for.

Survival takes a big chunk out of my time. That and advocacy and care giving.

Still, Brhiannon takes up the majority of my time, so when reality tosses some things your way that absolutely has to be tended to, you just do what you have to do.

It means less sleep for me and the amount I do get is interrupted in the middle of the night, when I just suddenly find my eyes have opened as if they had a mind of their own.

I’m learning to be protective of my time with my daughter. It’s so easy to have her time encroached upon by the urgent needs of others. That happened all the time with my two oldest, and then one day, I turned around and they had grown up and moved away.

I am more mindful of not letting that happen with my youngest.

I think, especially, when you’re a single parent, that you have to be even more vigilant against encroachment. So easy to put things off - whether it’s lessons or field trips. No where is it more important to be able to draw boundaries, to find a balance between service to others and service to yourself.

Because even in making Brhiannon my priority, which she is, I need to, also, take care of myself. Because when I am exhausted, I can’t teach her. Maybe I can meet barebones requirement, but that’s not why I’m homeschooling.

And I know you’ve heard this a million times, but they do grow fast. Problems will be there after your child has grown, but your child won’t - even if they stay in your life. For though they will always be your baby in your mind and heart, standing before you will be an adult never to be that child to you again.

Grandchildren will never take your children’s place. And they shouldn’t. So this is your one shot. They have a place that is beautiful and joyous all of their own. What you have with your child is what you have with your child and it’s only for a very short time.

It’s part of the reason we homeschool. Don’t let other things, even the important ones, cause you to sacrifice that.

Find what works for you, but make sure what works doesn’t cost you more than you’re willing to pay.

Tags: grandchildren, self-care, single mom