The next right thing

Last summer I spent some time reflecting on my approach to homeschooling. For years I had been feeling like something wasn’t quite right with the direction we were taking, but it was difficult for me to put my finger on what exactly needed to change. In some decisions, like this one, the needed changes seem to be so large that it’s easier to keep ignoring the problems. My husband and I took the time for some challenging conversations while trying to decide what to do about school. We wondered what was best for our family and what was best for our kids.

By August we had decided on several changes in order to promote a more peaceful and productive learning environment in our home. Now, as I look back as the school year draws to a close, I can see how a few key changes contributed to a positive year.

Program change

First, we changed from a hybrid classroom (with its two classroom in-seat school days each week) to full-time homeschooling (with its optional elective classes in-seat each week).. It sounds quite simple, but for our charter school this involved switching programs and losing four, highly-coveted spots from the program we were leaving. The finality of such a decision had plagued me for some time, but it turned out to be a beautiful "next right thing" for our family.

Curriculum

With the kids now enrolled in the new program, I had a vast array of curriculum options to choose from. I was thrilled to finally be able to make every single curriculum choice. (Every teacher's dream) Knowing what I envisioned for my children was easy: a curriculum that cultivates wisdom, that is teaches children how to think and instills virtue, that is, teaches children what is worth doing. I settled on a classical education approach to support those goals in general and on the Memoria Press curriculum in particular. I have been thrilled with the results of this "next right thing." The curriculum switch has challenged my children academically in Latin, math, literature, and history while also sparking their curiosity in science, fine art, and classical music.

Schedule

The last change was an adjustment that came completely from within our family. When I first started homeschooling, "everyone" seemed to advise me to not have a set schedule. Why? Because then I would be treating homeschool as school. At the time this seemed like excellent guidance from seasoned homeschoolers. For years we did not have a set starting time for school. The siren's call of "let your children's love of learning dictate your day" looked idyllic on Instagram, but in reality led to a disjointed day with irritated children who couldn't work independently because they never knew what to expect next.

This year we decided to start school promptly with our morning devotion at 8:30 AM. This was a relatively small shift in our day, but it had a huge impact. My fear of recreating school at home proved to be unfounded. Like clockwork, each morning our dining room table was the focal point for academics. Clear expectations and consistent routine gave our kids the freedom to tackle their work proactively and independently, often starting their work on their own before 6:45 AM. This wasn’t recreating “regular” school at all. It was much better. Having a clear schedule was the "next right thing" that provided more daily peace and less chaos in our home.

Reflection is always important after a big change. We've now officially made it to May in our sixth year of homeschooling, and I can honestly say that this has been the best year of homeschool we have ever had. The "next right thing" was the best thing that could have happened to our homeschool.

May's Mix

When it comes to diffuser blends, I tend to find a combination that I love and then shamelessly fill my diffuser with the same thing for basically the entire month. Kind of like a good playlist. You too? Then this is the only recipe mix (see what I did there?) you need this month. It's the perfect balance of woodsy, citrus with a barest hint of spice, and it's often requested as the mix for our homeschool space.

These oils are considered “happy” or "balancing" oils—oils that are designed to elevate our mood. Smell is our only sense that activates the limbic system, which is the part of our brain that controls our emotions. That’s why I tend to have at least one of our seven diffusers (don't judge) running at some point during our day—it provides an even undertone to our entire day.

You can download my May Diffuser Calendar for more options to do the same in your own home. Or, if you want a pretty version of my May Mix to share with a friend, download it here.

Thanks for reading! What's something that has been your "next right thing"? I'd love to hear about it! Just hit reply if you'd like to respond. (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation just between us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.