Plan ahead if you know a difficult time is coming!

Plan ahead if you know a difficult time is coming!

Do you see a difficult time coming in the near future? Sometimes, difficult times just come upon us, but other times, we know they are coming. By the time I was expecting our third son, I knew a difficult time was more than likely coming. High-risk pregnancies run in the family, and full bedrest is just a part of them. Likewise, I had preterm labor and premature babies. Preemie babies need special care around the clock. There are lots of doctor’s appointments and sleepless nights – ALL worth it, by the way – but still, a difficult time.

Ask yourself what will help you homeschool through a difficult time.

If you know you have a difficult time ahead, ask yourself what will help you homeschool through that time. When I asked myself that, it was having all of Bigger Hearts for His Glory’s Storytime books recorded on audio. My oldest son, Wyatt, was going to be starting Bigger Hearts. I love Bigger Hearts! There is a fair share of reading in it though, and I didn’t want my son to miss any of those amazing books.

So, I spent my bedrest recording audio of myself reading the books. I enlisted my mom and my dad, and they willingly read some of the books too. I also found a few of them on audio online. By the time we began Bigger Hearts with Wyatt, I had my little preemie (my precious Emmett, who is now six foot two). I was thankful every day for planning ahead for that difficult time.

Training and instilling good habits can help you homeschool through a difficult time.

During this same difficult time, my middle son, Riley, was four years old. He was precious, but he was a pistol. We called him the rocket, and he was so eager to learn. He was a smart little firecracker, and he was thriving in the middle of Little Hands to Heaven. I just could not bear to halt him. When I asked what would help me homeschool him through that upcoming difficult time, the Lord simply said “Wyatt.”

Those of you who have an oldest son might have “a Wyatt”. What a blessing if you do! Wyatt was (and is) so amazing with his younger brothers! He was a born mentor, trainer, and teacher. So, as I taught Riley Little Hands to Heaven (during full bedrest), I made Wyatt my assistant teacher. He brought me the books, played the music, taped the big letters in masking tape on the rug, took turns reading, and corralled Riley whenever he was ready to blast off like a rocket. By the time I had my sweet baby Emmett, Wyatt could pretty much do it all – at 7. He loved it! And so did Riley. I thought I might be out of a (homeschooling) teaching job!

Do you have a difficult time coming?

So, I ask you, do you have a difficult time coming? I have known a difficult time is coming many times in life. I knew I had upcoming surgeries. Another time, I knew we were moving. Still another time, I knew my Dad had a very difficult time coming when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Don’t be defeated by your difficult time coming. The Lord will walk with you through it side by side. But the Lord is a planner, right down to the most intricate details. And we should be too. Planning keeps us busy and takes the pressure off later. If you know you have a difficult time coming, pray about it. Ask God to show you what you can do to prepare. Homeschooling through difficult times still gave me joy, and we all need a little joy when we are going through hard times. Plan ahead! You will be grateful, and so will your family.

In Christ,

Julie