As the school year is coming to an end, we parents naturally tend to take stock of what our children have accomplished this year. Unfortunately, too many parents begin this process with negativity and guilt. They see what they perceive as glaring holes in the family’s homeschool year. They focus on the plans that didn’t work out, the good intentions that didn’t bring desired results, the curriculum materials that remained untouched. And we all, being human, have something or other that we didn’t get to during this school year.
However, when we zoom in on what went wrong, we fail to notice all the things that went right. Take a moment to appreciate how much your children have grown this year. They might be taller and broader physically, but they have also learned and grown – academically and personally. While we parents are busy with the logistics of everyday life, our children are busy growing into the wonderful human beings they are meant to be. Often, they surprise us with their maturity, knowledge, and newly acquired skills. And at times, they amaze us with skills that outdo our own. In the coming weeks, we will be discussing how to wrap up the school year. We will talk about end of year assessment and planning for next year. But before we do that, let’s take some time to recognize and celebrate what our families have accomplished. Let’s appreciate the opportunity we’ve had this school year to spend time and bond with our children, to be there for them, to help them learn and grow, to enjoy their company, and to build treasured memories for many years to come.
In my family, before we begin talking about next year, I ask each family member to make a list of what they appreciate about the current year. This way, we all start off planning the next year on a positive note. And it’s also a great way to teach our children to look at the world, and at their lives, through a positive lens.
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