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We all run into times when life gets in the way of homeschooling. For me, the holidays are a tough time. This is the time of year when we have doctors’ appointments, different holiday celebrations, and both kids have their birthday. Add in Christmas and life is stressful.

Last year, I was more stressed than I realized until it smacked me in the face. I found myself having severe memory problems. I stood in the check out line in a panic because I couldn’t remember my password for my debit card. I made phone calls and hung up because I couldn’t leave a call back number because I couldn’t remember what it was. I was worried I was losing my mind. It got bad. 

Sometimes unexpected life events happen, and homeschooling becomes difficult.

What do you do?

I will admit, I didn’t do so well last year when things snowballed out of my control. I fell apart, and my kids became just as stressed as me. To give you an idea, my kids still say, “Boy, last year was a nightmare.” I decided to handle things differently this year. 

Here are some things to try when life gets tough. 

Free Up Your Schedule

I have a tough time with this, but am so glad I fully embraced it this year. If you know you have a full plate ahead, start dumping other things to make room.

December into January is a hard time of year for me. I thought long and hard about what I feel the kids must do for work. The other subjects would be put on the back burner until January when things calm down. 

For us, reading, writing, and math are a must. I add in other subjects that we find are fun. I don’t want to overplan, though, because when we can’t accomplish it, I become a crazy momma, and my stress level goes up.

Change the Way You Homeschool

I implemented this for the holiday season, and I am completely stress-free for a change. I can’t believe how much easier my life has become. I will definitely do this every year. 

I decided for the four weeks leading up to Christmas that we would be changing our whole format of schooling. I came across a unit study bundle over at Hide the Chocolate. She and some other homeschool bloggers developed an all-encompassing unit study for Christmas. It includes science, reading, history, geography, nature study, music, and art projects. All of it is planned out for you. I have been singing from the rooftops about this bundle. I added in math and free reading for my kids to round out the unit study. 

I am happy because we are getting in our academic work and have time for field trips and other fun projects together. I don’t have any planning to do except make sure I have a few supplies on hand. Best of all, the kids are having fun and learning.

If times get tough, find some unit studies that can help. You can find free resources, or some with a small fee, on the Teachers Pay Teachers site. You can also find unit studies on Pinterest. The Techie Homeschool Mom has digital unit studies. All the resources are 100% online. 

Sometimes, changing how you homeschool for a little while can be a big help. Maybe you include more online programs, free reading, or Netflix movies. Maybe you look for videos on YouTube for the kids to watch and learn from for a while. There are even sites like Khan Academy or Outschool that teach online. 

For further ideas, take a look at How to Salvage Your Homeschool Day. It can help you find ways to adjust your days to make things a little easier.

Plan Fun Things in Your Schedule

When life becomes overwhelming, you need to have some fun added in to keep you sane. It is a good way to relieve stress. It also keeps everyone in the family feeling happy and connected. 

Some ideas to include could be:

• Field trips– Include some educational field trips, whether it is a museum or getting outdoors on a hike. Maybe you take the kids to a local swimming pool to swim for gym time. If you can connect it back to something that meets a homeschool requirement, maybe you won’t feel the kids aren’t getting schoolwork done. 
• Virtual field trips– If you are stuck at home, you can do a search on virtual field trips. We have found webcam videos at zoos and a virtual tour of Gettysburg. Sometimes art museums have virtual tours, too. 
• Board games– Another way to have fun is with board games. There are a lot of games that involve math, spelling, or simple logic and strategy.  If you need some ideas on fun strategy games, take a look at my previous post Fun Strategy Games to Include in Your Homeschool.
• Arts and Crafts– If your kids love doing arts and crafts, include that in your schedule. Get them art kits or put out random supplies and have them create their own things. Around the holidays, make cards, ornaments, homemade gifts, and pictures to hang around the house.
• Science experiments– Find some fun science experiments to try out that are simple and look fun. STEM Challenges are also a lot of fun to include. 
• Baking and cooking– It’s a good way to teach some life skills and have a little fun. You can also make some fun no-bake items, like energy bites, or simple treats like mug cakes. I have some other simple treats you can find in 5 Easy Treats to Make with Your Kids.

Whatever you can manage to fit in, try to find ways to de-stress and have fun. As you can tell, for me, I still need some educational twist so I feel we are still getting schooling in. The key is not to plan too much in the first place so you can include some fun things in your week.

Ask for Help

Sometimes, moms have a hard time asking for help. If things are getting too overwhelming, ask family or friends to help. Could someone bring the kids to an activity for you? Maybe someone can take the kids out for the day so you can do what you need to do. Maybe someone can help you with homeschooling or help with other things so you CAN homeschool. 

It is okay to ask for help. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. You are still Super Mom. Even Superheroes have sidekicks or others to call on for help. They don’t do it alone.

Take Care of Yourself

In order to take care of your family and homeschool, you need to take care of yourself. It may mean you take a week off. It may mean you take a month off. You need to be at your best in order to do what you need to do. The best part of homeschooling is YOU make the schedule. You don’t have to follow the school calendar or Monday through Friday schedule. You homeschool when you need to. 

Find ways to relax and regroup. It is different for everyone. Some thrive and feel rejuvenated by being with friends. Others prefer to take a bubble bath and read a good book. Incorporate some relaxation into your day so you can try and tackle what comes next. 

By freeing up your schedule, including some fun, and changing how you homeschool, you can help make a stressful time easier on everyone. You are still getting in work but maybe it looks a little different. And that is okay!

How do you homeschool through difficult times? Share your comments.

Happy Homeschooling!