When Asking Am I doing Enough is Actually Productive
Want to listen to this post over on the podcast?
In another post I shared how there are two paths before us when we begin asking ourselves am I doing enough in my homeschool.
One path leads to spiraling especially when our thoughts are focused on comparison whether we are comparing ourselves or our children to others. I highly recommend that episode if you haven’t listened to it Listen here yet or even when you need a reminder to focus on your homeschool and the word of God.
In this post I am sharing how asking if I’m doing enough in my homeschool can be helpful.
I find that when asking am I doing enough This question is most helpful when we get very specific. When we fill in the blank. That means asking questions like did I do enough to help my child progress in phonics, enough to help a child learn math facts, did I do enough to help my children know how to complete the kitchen chores, or enough to develop that one habit I really wanted them to learn.
By getting specific I can really evaluate our homeschool not with comparison in mind but with the reality of my family and my goals for myself and for my children.
I find that setting time aside to do this is valuable and necessary. I try to do this throughout the school year especially when I notice poor habits, struggles with a math concept, or subjects getting lost in the mix of everyday life.
But As we are in the last days of our homeschool year I find this helpful as I move into planning for our summer and our next school year.
Just a reminder here that I am not looking at that information that I have gained for the purpose of beating myself up for what I didn’t accomplish.
Maybe goals weren’t accomplished because they were too ambitious and didn’t match the reality of my year or my child’s development.
And maybe things have fallen through the cracks because I got too relaxed in some areas. I didn’t set myself up for success on many days and certain subjects didn’t get done.
Knowing and owning that is helpful. I want to grow and continue to give my children an excellent education. So I can’t get lazy and I shouldn’t waste time throwing a pity party about what I didn’t do right.
Instead I can move forward and make a plan.
For example This past year I didn’t follow up with my 5th graders assigned reading and books didn’t get read. The plan moving forward is to assign some of those books to her summer reading list and since it is attached to prizes she is very motivated to read the books.
But not stopping there I am thinking of ways I can schedule check ins throughout the school year so this doesn’t get lost again.
So did I do enough to have my daughter reading the biographies and historical fiction I wanted her to read this school year? No. But I am moving forward with a plan.
I am not just looking at what I didn’t get done either I am looking back and seeing areas we have made progress. Did I do enough to help my high schooler get math credits? Yes. Enough to help my 4 year old learn alphabets and support his interest in reading and math? Yes.
So friend if you must ask yourself did I do enough this school year I encourage you to set some time aside as you close out your year and fill in the blanks. Ask did I do enough to help my child progress in fill in the blank.
Did I do enough to reach my goal for how far we would be in History or any other subjects. Get specific.
That is so much more helpful than just feeling like you didn’t do enough and then spiraling.
Post: When You Wonder if You’re Doing Enough in Your Homeschool
Podcast Episode: When You Wonder if You’re Doing Enough in Your Homeschool
