Homeschooling Through a Traffic Jam

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   

 When I first became Alexis' "official" teacher, our schoolhouse was quite different than it is now.  My two older children were attending a Christian School, and my husband worked in an office about 15 miles from home.  Four years later, one child went away to college, one was still in high school, and my husband continued working at his office.  The following year - both older children had flown the nest off to college, and it was terribly quiet.  The lack of activity was almost deafening.  None of us left behind liked it very much.

 

Amanda returned home after her first year, wanting to stay here.  We warmly welcomed her back.  It felt so very good to have her around again!  After registering for her fall classes, I realized that Amanda would have some down time during our school time.  We smiled, and tried to stay flexible - still glad to have her here.  We all learned to work around each other, and homeschooling went just fine until about April...  With one-fifth of our school year remaining, David spent most days making business calls and working out of our home while we had some major remodeling done.  Amanda had a crazy schedule and seemed to excessively be in and out, and workers were constantly roaming throughout our house, prying windows out of walls and more.  In the name of progress, Alexis and I bit our tongues, tried to stay focused - and persevered for two loooong months.

 

Thankful and grateful were emotions I held when we began another school year in a quiet house.  Amanda's schedule was busier, David (son) was back at school, my husband was back at his office, and Alexis and I embraced a home-front that stayed peaceful and productive.  As the new year rolled in, my husband began to hear rumors of a restructure within his company.  We felt concern, prayed often, and held on tight awaiting news.  We were both ever so relieved and thankful when we learned that David's job remained safe.  His office, however, did not.  David learned that he would have to work out of our house.  When receiving the news, I winced...  Immediately I felt shameful for my reaction, and quickly repented to my husband - attempting to hold a determination that this new way of life would work for our family.  Within the next few months, our homeschool environment once again received an upheaval as my husband moved his office into our bedroom.  Believing that this was temporary, and that he would soon use our son's bedroom as an office, (upon graduation, David had hoped to remain in his college town and get a job,) and knowing too, that we would soon finish Alexis' homeschool year, I attempted to relent peaceably to this invasion.  (Key word:  Attempted.  I waned at my repentance - truth be known.)  In spite of everything, we completed Alexis' 7th grade year...

 

That brings us to the present school year...  About a month or so ago I blogged about a struggle I was having concerning a job that my son planned to accept.  Although I came to a place of letting God know that I was okay with it if it was His choice, I was relieved when the offer left the table.  David has accepted another job - and will remain here, leaving for work just as Alexis finishes school each day.  Amanda goes to college full time and works part time.  During Alexis' school days, Amanda is gone only 4 of those hours per week.  My husband remains in the carved out office in our bedroom holding conference calls, phone meetings, etc.  Alexis and I work mostly in our family room, which is the center of our home.  Our walls are thin, our ceilings are high.  I used to think that we had the perfect sized house.  There was no coveting on my part for a schoolroom, until now....  Just a little bit....  Sometimes lately more often than not....

Although there are moments that I wish our bonding was done after school hours, I try to stay mindful of the fact that I love my family, and would be foolish to be unappreciative of any time spent together.  When there is an invasion of the kitchen during a math lesson, with dishes clanking - and a microwave running, clearly I know that I will soon blink my eyes - and this season of our lives will be over.  When Alexis' Bible lesson is going on, and Amanda wants a car moved so she can get hers into the driveway to be washed, I try to smile and remember that the older two will soon be out on their own, Alexis will be off to college, and David will have made an office out of one of their rooms.  I know I will look back on these days with a recognition of worth and give thanks to the One who gave me these blessings.  I will strive to keep my attitude in check for Him!  I think...  I hope...