When Life Disrupts Your Plans ~ A Benefit of Homeschooling

Oh Yesterday, I am glad you are over.

I ran into town yesterday morning, after dropping Eli off at school, to take one of our dogs for his grooming appointment. I planned to stop by Walmart and then be home by 10:00 a.m. I gave Dawson and Brynne instructions to start their independent work while I was gone.

After going to Walmart, I ran through the bank. As I drove away, I heard a "thump, thump, thump" that was only indicitive of a flat tire. Huh?? I pulled back into the parking lot and saw a huge screw sticking out of my tire that I had picked up while at the bank.

I called Rick and he told me to go back to Walmart because that's where we got the tires and we have road hazard insurance. I creeped back, pulled into the shop, and was told that it would be one to two hours before they could get it fixed.

So much for being home by 10:00 a.m.

I called Dawson and told him to get out his planner and for him and Brynne to do absolutely as much as they could do on their own.

I took the opportunity to do some Easter shopping ... and then some browsing at Kohls ... and then some browsing at Walmart. Each time I went back to the automotive department I was told it would be a little longer. I told them that I thought this was a conspiracy against my husband because each time they told me that, I walked away and spent more money somewhere.

FINALLY they got the tire fixed and I was ready to head home. Except it was time to pick Buck up from the groomer, and I still needed to stop by the library.

I got home at about 12:30 p.m.

I would love to say that all schoolwork was done by the time I got home, but it wasn't. When I pulled in the driveway, Dawson was laying on the ground shooting Brynne's de-armed lifesize Barbie with an airsoft gun. Brynne was cheering him on. I guess they needed a break.

We came inside, ate some lunch, and got busy with some group work.

But the interruptions of our day were not yet complete. Dawson had a dentist appointment at 2:15 p.m. to put brackets on some of his teeth in preparation for his oral surgery that is next Monday.

While he was at the dentist, Brynne and I went to the post office and picked up a prescription. We picked up Dawson, then Eli from school, and then were home at about 3:45 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. I said, "Okay, everybody ... when I say 'ready, set, go', we are all going to run to our bedrooms and put on our pajamas." Yes, it had been a long day.

And what does this have to do with our homeschooling journey?

These days happen.

And the benefits of homeschooling is that they don't completely wreck your life. Dawson got about half done what he was needing to do yesterday, and Brynne did just about everything. Today we'll pick up with what wasn't completed and just move forward. No damage done. No worries.

A lesson was still learned, and a pretty valuable one: Life sometimes gets in the way of your plans. When that happens, you just have to adjust and do the best you can. Some things really can wait until tomorrow.