Spring Fever

This is the time of year when I beat the consistency drum.

Finish strong.
Don’t give in to distraction.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Focus on seeing things through.

Every spring, I watch homeschooling friends slowly drift from their intended course. The siren song of warmer weather proves too much for a good number of moms. School is gradually left behind in favor of play and freedom, and the best laid plans fall victim to spring fever.

Don’t do it, I’ve always warned. Be consistent. Finish what you start. Give your children the gift of perseverance. Be the example of work before play.

This year? This year, I’m having to preach to myself.

Spring Fever

What I really want to do this year is call it good. It has, after all, been a long year.

Spring Fever

A very sick child. The loss of my mother. Epic flooding that forced the cancellation of a ministry trip. The Lord leading us out of our previous church. Transitions for college kids.

A long year. A long year indeed… and it’s only April.

Spring Fever

What I want to do is ditch school altogether. I want to write off the last few weeks. Set the unfinished books aside. Shake off the memories of these past few months and run, headlong, into the future.

Spring Fever

Because the future is sunshine. It’s two beautiful rows of snap peas already coming into blossom. It’s a box of asparagus producing, three ducklings that are the biggest pets you’ve ever seen, kids riding bikes and chasing kites from sun up to sun down. It’s field trips with friends and hanging clothes out to dry and finally, finally feeling green grass under my feet.

Spring Fever

It’s Spring Fever. I know it is. And I’ll only give in a little, I promise. I’ll balance school and freedom, work and play. We’ll meander to the finish line of 2018-2019 in the next few weeks and yes, I will probably breathe the biggest sigh of relief in my nearly two decades of homeschooling. Not because it’s been a rough year for learning (actually, it’s been one of the best I can remember) but because I’m ready to shake off the dust and move forward. We all are. And that’s ok, because by golly, it’s spring.