This is about the point in pregnancy when I switch gears. I become clingy and hate for my husband to go anywhere without me. I begin sleeping very strange hours. Going out in public becomes a chore. And my every day routine completely changes to accommodate how I’m feeling each day.
Even though I usually school right through December, this year I won’t be doing that. (Remember, we homeschool year round so I CAN take off like this without any sense of guilt!) I have decided to declare a long holiday and wait to pick back up until after baby arrives.
There is still tons of learning going on around here, but nothing formal and very little Mommy-led. We are doing an Advent Devotional, we are enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season, we are hosting friends and family, and on Christmas Eve, we will be doing our annual Family Christmas Eve Service.
The next time one of my posts comes out, you’ll see a link at the bottom where you can download a copy. I hope you will be blessed as our family has been blessed. You can read more about our Christmas Eve tradition here.
So, how about you? Are you schooling through December or are you taking off this time of year?
Rébecca says
Ok, I find this interesting… I’mp due any moment now and had planned to take december off from homeschooling to give us time to adjust to the baby etc. I feel like after the baby is born is going to be harder than before (it’s the first time I’m having a baby while doing full-blown homeschooling, my oldest was only 4,5 years old last time). So, I’m getting anxious for this baby to be born before to much of Dec gets eaten up (I definitely want to start school up again in January). But maybe I’m wrong ! You seem to say no school until the baby is born is preferable to taking a break once the baby is there. Is that from past experience ?
Vicki Arnold says
I’m not Amy, obviously, but I thought I would share my experience. 🙂 My 4th baby was the first one to be born while we were homeschooling (this past February). We schooled up until I was almost due, then took an almost 8 week “break”. He was born 2 weeks past the due date, so he was about 6 weeks old when we started back up. During this time, the kids still read, we went to the library, and they did a lot of “educational” activities. I just did not assign anything that needed grading or totally new concepts. I also counted about half of these days as school days in our calendar. Between their independent activities and learning about babies, a lot of learning was happening.
Amy says
Thank you for sharing! We all are different and for me a break that long after baby arrives would feel crazy, but it obviously worked quite well for you. I think the key is knowing what we need to do individually and then letting go of the guilt that comes from doing it! 🙂
Vicki Arnold says
Agreed!
Amy says
For me, it is easier to jump back in once I’ve got my energy back (and my less lumbering body back 😉 ) But, that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. Do what you feel like will be best for you. I just know right now, I am not on my A game and it is better to just wait. 🙂
Stephanie says
How I wish I could take the rest of the year off! Spelling and English have given way to writing book reports on adventure books from the thrift store and Mr. Computer is now the substitute teacher for some subjects, but we’ll tough it out because we can’t afford to lose days when we don’t get to school year round. Count it as one of your many blessings that your home is not a place where others have the authority to make demands of your family and how they school! Just a few more weeks til our babies arrive!
Suanna says
We usually take the whole month of Dec. off, but since I am expecting in January, too I decided to have 2 weeks at the beginning of December that we complete 1 week worth of school. That way we can still have a low key month. Usually we start right back up after the baby is born, as we find the routine of life helps keep everyone sane, but since I am never 100% sure when we will start back up I wanted to get another week ahead. I like the idea of taking some time off before the baby is born to get ready as well.
Amy says
I’m like you and like to jump back in as soon as I can (usually around 2 wks after baby is born.) 🙂
Samantha says
I’m not due for another 11 weeks. This morning I was sitting her stressing our because my husband was doing what he usually does. Get ready for work. He was going to leave me alone with the kids to be the mom and take them to a co-op Christmas party this morning. I was beginning to have a panic attack that something was wrong with me. I thought I needed an intervention. I sat, prayed and asked God to help me, as I was feeling very alone at that moment. It was after praying that I opened my email and there you were, dear Amy, as you always are. Reminding me that I’m not alone. That there is someone like me, feeling the same things. Thank you for being there for me, someone you don’t know, but you have blessed in a thousand ways. You always seem to say what is right on my heart when I don’t even realize what it is. I consider you an answer to many prayers for an understanding friend.
Amy says
Awww, you make me smile! (HUGS) and I hope you had a wonderful day!
Megan says
With my first baby I worked all the way up til the day before birth. Funny story, I actually called into work (I worked at a truck stop restaurant) the day my baby was born telling them I didn’t feel really well that way. lol. Now that I have three kids (5,4,2) I think I would just take it as it came, but I think it would be easier (for me) to school right through, and take a break after the baby was born. Everybody is different though!
Since our kids are still small we are doing advent stuff, and thats pretty much it. Nothing too formal.
Amy says
Agreed – I think we need to listen to our own bodies (and minds) and decide which will work best. I know right now I’m just not capable energy and brain capacity wise. lol
Teresa Schilling says
I needed a break after the baby was born. But we never took much time off as the house seemed to be in more order when the schedule was kept. Add the fact that my babies all came early, so I never knew when to start a break, so that might have influenced me a little. We normally take a week or two at Christmas and then hit Jan. & Feb. hard since we are in a cold cilimate and outside is more limited then.
I always had a surge of energy when the baby was born, so I got a ton done, but by limiting the school that first week home I then did not push myself as hard and could concentrate on the children adjusting to the new baby. My oldest are more self learners so with the last two babies I let them keep going on most subjects, just a a slower pace. It was funny for me, when the baby was born it was like the jumper cables were taken off and the drain from my battery was gone. I felt like superwomen even if my bottom hurt:)
Amy says
That’s pretty much how I am. I feel like I am back! 😉
Jillian says
Good for you Amy. : ) You gotta do what works for you when you’re this far along. I wish I could school year round so I’d have the freedom to take time off like that, but in my state I have to submit 4 quarterly reports spread out during the school year. So, unfortunately I have to follow the school calendar. 🙁
Susan Jensen says
We are schooling through Christmas just because we really did not start school until Nov. This year. I was very sick at the beginning of this pregnancy so I was not schooling then. The we moved from Nebraska to Colorado the end of October so we did not really start until the middle of Nov. So we will be schooling until baby comes the end of March and then maybe take some time off.
Enjoy this break.
Amy says
I’ve had years like that! You end up doing what works for you. 🙂
Jennifer C says
I am so glad to hear somebody eles gets clingy to their husband towards the end of their pregnancy. I am 32 weeks now so the clinginess hasn’t quite started yet. Thanks for sharing!
Amy says
I am very thankful my husband recognizes it and is ok with it! lol
Becky Erdman says
I am also 34 weeks. I am finding it very hard to keep to our school “schedule” Soooo tired! I’m relieved to see that you are taking a break. In a way, knowing someone else is taking a school break makes me feel that its okay to do the same! We’ve been on break this past week simply because I haven’t kept up, but I feel guilty about it. The weather has also been amazing 60’s and 70’s so I’ve let the kids have a lot more outdoor time. We’ve had an odd lesson here or there. I might just be better off giving up till after the birth. Thank you!
Amy says
You are welcome! 🙂
Leah says
We will school until the 21st, with a break the week of Christmas. I am due at the end of May so I am trying to etdone early this year. At the pace we are going we will be done the first of May. I will glad to have a few months off before we start back. This wil be my first baby after starting homeschooling, I am kinda nervous as to how it will go!
Kristin says
I’m not due until March, so I’m trying to get as much in this month as I can. Still, we’ve planned a 3 week break (I started in August, so we’re good to go). We’ll school through next week and then we’ll let the FUN begin 🙂 I’m also planning on schooling up until baby is born, after this break, but, I’m glad to read about others plans, so I can feel assured that I don’t need to feel frustrated if I can’t make it that long 🙂 This is number 5 for us, and only the second time I’ve had to “schedule” a baby around homeschooling (LOL, kidding, ha!) so we’ll see how it goes this time. Have a blessed break, Amy!
Mrs. Mom of 6 says
We’ve got a 4 week old baby, and are planning a long trip (leaving this week!), but I am schooling, because I just took off 6 weeks! We are just doing the basics, and I’m not always on top of the mommy led stuff with my really young ones… but I couldn’t put it off any longer or I was going to still be schooling in August!
we will school even during our trip!
Mrs. Mom of 6 says
oh yeah, and this is baby six, of 9,6,5,3,1 and the new one. We did school right up till baby was born, however, the last two weeks were rather mishmashed and difficult and I’m not sure how much info will be retained! lol
Lisa says
I’m in the same boat as you. I’m due Dec. 21st, and though I intended to do school right til the end, it’s not happening! I’m so thankful for the flexibility that home schooling affords. : )
Nikki says
I am 32 weeks and have doctor appointments twice a week now. I have things pared down to math, language, typing, reading, Bible, and a Christmas activity/craft/history lesson type thing for each day. We set aside history, science, and other subjects that are mom-intensive for now.
Danielle B says
Amy, I’m already a subscriber, but I don’t remember ever getting the email. 🙁 Anyway to get another?
Amy says
Do you get my emails to your inbox? The link is at the bottom of each email. 🙂