Lazy Genius Your Homeschool–Principle #4: Live in the Season
If you have ever experienced the disconnect of purchasing a highly regarded curriculum and it just not working, then this might be the principle for you. You hear about a great new resource and it seems like it would solve so many problems. You make the investment and begin, but it’s just not a great fit. I am 95% sure that it’s not you, and it’s not the curriculum. It’s your season.
When we try to live outside our season we come up against roadblocks and difficulties. It can look like too many activities…or too much at home time. It can look like too much structure…or not enough rhythm to our days. Any time we are putting someone else’s ideals on our lived experience, we’re living out of season.
Seasons can be actual, physical seasons. Where we live, Winter is cold + dark. If I’m pushing through like it’s still Fall, there is going to be a big disconnect between my expectations and our reality. There can also be seasons of life, like a season of sickness or unemployment. The season of babies + nursing + interrupted sleep comes with so many challenges. All little kids, all teens, a mixture of both–you get the picture.
Seasons can also be blessedly short! This spring was a perfect storm of pandemic + busy work + end of the homeschool year blahs. I knew I didn’t want to throw in the towel in May, but I was going to need some serious support. For these six weeks that meant, a few takeout meals, lots of rest and downtime, and time outside. I had to consciously give myself the resources I needed so that I could get through the season.
JRR Tolkien said, “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near one.” Our days as homeschoolers are filled with dragons! Living in your season acknowledges the real limits of our time + attention. Living in step with our season gives us the little bit of grace we need to do this work for the long haul.
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I found the contradictions of this post life giving.
“Any time we are putting someone else’s ideals on our lived experience, we’re living out of season” is a wonderful line in the middle of a discussion about living in relationship with the “dragons” which form the seasons of our life.
The danger, I think, is living too consistently. Either by typically rejecting outside influence or conversely typically arranging our lives by the norms and expectations of the groups we belong to.
Following along with the series and loving each post! Thank you!!!
Love the phrase “living out of season.” I think it’s a worthy guide.