“Runners, take your mark … ready”, then the starter’s pistol, and we were off on a 1000 yard race. It was my first race at this distance and my coach’s words to pace myself faded in the face of a surge of adrenaline. The track was indoor and only 200 yards long and I was bounding off like a startled jackrabbit. By the time I finished the first lap, I had opened a 50-yard lead. My coach was frantically gesturing at me as I finished the second lap with a 75-yard lead. I couldn’t figure out why he was signaling for me to slow down. My lungs were burning as I finished lap 3, still 75 yards ahead of the rest of the pack. Then it struck me, I still had two more laps to go! My legs were beginning to feel heavy and my sides were splitting as the lactic acid began to build up in my blood. I instinctively slowed a bit to alleviate the cramps –the pack closed in. Lap four finished with my lead now down to 25 yards. I could hear the other runners behind me as I struggled to keep running. My lungs were burning, I was gasping for breath and my pace continued to slow as I pushed on. With just 25 yards to go, the entire field trotted past me to the finish line and I stumbled across dead last.
What happened? Quite simply, I hadn’t planned my race and I ran out of energy in the final stretch. Many of you are in the final stretch of our homeschooling for this school year and unless we have planned well, we may be running out of energy. What are some strategies to help us finish strong rather than stumbling across the finish line?
Evaluate your goals
Hopefully, at the beginning of the school year, you mapped out your goals for each of your children. Take a moment to assess where you are and if necessary adjust the goal to something more attainable. Since you are the one setting the standard, there is nothing wrong with making adjustments to accommodate your children and the events of the year. This is not to say that we reward laziness by adjusting our standard, but as the homeschooling parent, you have the flexibility to make adjustments to fit the needs of your family. When you finish strong, rather than limping to the finish, everyone has a sense of accomplishment.
Adjust your timeline
Perhaps it is not the goal but the timeline that needs adjustment. Were you over-zealous for when the goal was to be met? Life happens and, especially in the academic realm, all the lessons may not be completed as anticipated. It’s okay to extend your school year or, in some instances, carry over the lessons for the next school year. Rework your “pace” so you can reach your goal.
Pray
Bathe your homeschool in prayer. Ask the Lord daily to bless your time as you teach your children. Pray with them about their subjects; pray for them in their studies. Pray that your homeschool would glorify Christ and that the discipling of your children would be blessed by God. Christian discipleship is your first calling; the academics are secondary. As we cross the finish line this year, may we finish strong and may God get all the glory.
