I know I’ve written on homeschooling with morning sickness, but there are mommies out there dealing with chronic illnesses (although, sometimes morning sickness seems chronic 😉 ). There are also mommies who have down days or days when they are just too tired to even move, let alone school.
Dealing with something like this is disheartening and discouraging and makes you wonder if you really *should* be homeschooling.
This was the type of question asked by SleepyKnitter on my Homeschooling Questions post:
I’m a low-energy person and often don’t feel well due to various challenges, and I wonder how mothers get through homeschooling when they don’t feel well.
Rather than me answering a question I really can’t answer because I do not deal with chronic illness or fatigue, I’d love to rally some discussion here on what mothers who DO deal with this day in and day out put into practice in order to keep going with homeschooling, and also how they cope emotionally and mentally.
Leave your thoughts and encouragement in the comments section!
Kathleen Smith says
Amy,
Since dealing with chronic pain for the last 6 months and subsequent surgery I had one daughter in public school and had to bring her back to homeschooling because it was much easier to deal with my health issues while still homeschooling her. Public schools don’t understand when you have to miss school for surgery and doctor’s appointments.
Don’t forget to stop by my blog for a last chance opportunity to join in some book giveaways. One ends tomorrow. They are on my side bar to the right.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Elle says
Two years ago I underwent back surgery after having all ready been on bed rest for about 6 weeks. We were homeschooling all three of our sons at that time, and I was very concerned about how to be consistent. Taking the end goal of learning and relationship, I approached homeschooling as a gift during that season because the boys were able to crawl into bed with me while we read. Or could sit around me while I laid on the couch. There was a great deal more of one on one schooling because I couldn’t stand in front of a board but they could sit beside me with paper and pencil. All of our goals for that year were met. On a slower paced schedule, but still met. The boys also developed a sweet compassion for me and poured their hearts out towards me in serving me around the house on the many things I was physically unable to do.
What seemed at the start to be an impossible situation became a season of blessing.
Lisa says
Sorry you’re feeling icky Amy! 🙁
I have limited experience w/HSchooling, many friends are just now looking into it! We live in a VERY liberal state!
Here’s an idea & one that I will be offering friends & family as well…
Substitute Teacher!!! 🙂
As in, Aunties or Gma’s or BFF’s, preferably w/no or few littles so the “class” isn’t too big! HA! 🙂
Everyone has areas of expertise that they can share & teach & it gives momma a much needed break(teachers in-service day?) not to mention, most of the kiddos would really enjoy the change of scenery~ 🙂
Would LOVE to hear your thoughts since you’re well versed on this HS topic!
Really hope you feel better soon!!!xoL~
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..if only… =-.
Amy says
Lisa,
Excellent point! My mom helped with teaching phonics to my 5 yo while I was sick. Now that I’m doing better, I’m still thinking I’d like for her to come around and help out every so often with it! Thanks for sharing!
Christine says
My issue is chronic migraines–pretty minor compared to Chronic Fatigue, or cancer, or…..
Possible suggestions for dealing with chronic health/energy issues:
– School year round to stretch out the year, allowing for down days.
– Give up all notion of mimicking regular school at home. School in bed if necessary (or comfy couch), depending on your condition. Invest in lap trays for your child’s written work, and in a laptop computer. Have your husband help create a bedroom conducive to learning (wall maps, etc). Put in some cheerful touches, like plants, new paint, or pretty curtains.
– Swallow pride and allow someone you love and trust to take the kids to the library, gym class, hiking, enrichment class. Pray that God provides this person, in case no one currently fits this description. God will provide at the proper time! It may not be in the first year you pray about this.
– Read often Paul’s account of his own thorn in the flesh. Thank God for His sufficient grace. Guard your heart against envy and anger, toward those who have fully working bodies. Everyone struggles with something.
– Take medication if it’s available and if it works for your condition. Pray that God protects your body from side effects. And continue to pray for healing, while thanking God for the trial.
– Remember that your child’s heart learning comes first, not the academics. Put God first. He’ll help the other things to flow smoothly. If we put Him second, he’ll let us crash and burn more often.
– Children always watch how we respond to our circumstances. If mom is content despite everything, they will see Jesus through her. This attitude requires a lot of Scripture reading, and praying. Use Scripture for handwriting, for reading practice….fit it in whereever you can, for extra exposure to God’s word. It really is sweet medicine! And praying is good oral language practice! Kids who pray have to learn to express themselves well. It’s a natural result of prayer.
You (and your family) need more Scripture and prayer than others, and as a result, you’re actually closer to God than most. Thorns in the flesh are a blessing in disguise!
– Don’t feel sorry for your children. Yes, you may be sick/weak/depressed more than other moms, but God is allowing it. Trust him. Your children are learning hard spiritual lessons early. There is special blessing in that–they’ll benefit for a lifetime! They may be spared some pain later, for having learned these lessons earlier.
– Don’t feel pressure to provide a “typical” childhood for your kids. Again, trust God…He is allowing your condition. He’ll use it for his glory. Keep thanking him.
May God bless you!
.-= Christine´s last blog ..read aloud recommendation =-.
Amy says
I am so encouraged by everyone’s responses here! Thank you so much for weighing in on this topic.
Laurie says
Christine, your post spoke so many encouraging and convicting things to me today…thank you.
I have had health issues for the last few years and one thing that helped us a lot was to re-evaluate our method of schooling. Getting the necessary schoolwork done has been much easier since we moved to text/workbooks in some subjects. This was an extremely difficult decision for me but it has worked out well. And the kids actually LIKE using these and are learning well. They take much less energy for me and then I can use what energy I have for cuddling and reading on the couch and projects.
Carolyn says
I was very glad this question was posed. I deal with RA and Fibromyalgia. I have good days and I have bad days. I know I am doing as God has called me to by homeschooling my two youngest children ages 10 & 13. It isnt easy yet homeschooling when your well isnt always easy either. There are many days that I teach laying down. My boys continue to thrive testing very well in yearly testing. Not only are my children learning what “normal” parents can teach they are learning far better lessons than I could teach if I was well. They have learned to be paitient, kind, servants, flexable to name a few. They may do two days worth of work in one day or half a day another. It all balances out.
Homeschooling is not for everyone. You really need to seek God for the answer. Only God can tell you if you should or shouldnt. No person can deside you should or shouldnt teach, including yourself. God equips us with the gifts we need to accomplish His will. I for one am thankful that Im not “normal”. I have become a better parent because of it.
mama4x says
I would love to hear more on this topic; my husband is unemployed like so many and I find that his presence and the discouraging effects of financial trouble have stagnated our school year.
.-= mama4x´s last blog .. =-.
nobody says
i suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and i don’t intend to homeschool. i will not be able to do it properly (i know, because i have actually done some teaching) because of the ‘brainfogs’ so i just intend to send them to an at least halfway decent school and them teach them a bit at home for extras. it isn’t legal where i live anyway, though we might move. i think it is vital that you teach your children a critical attitude, that helps them cope with hypocrisy and lies in the outside world. it runs in both our families to rebel against that sort of thing, so i’m not worried much.
if i were to homeschool, i would teach them reading and calculus mostly, plus a lot about how to do literature research, then they could teach themselves and each other. “if you can do nothing else, read, so you can come by easily what others have worked hard for” 😉
cheers
Tonya says
Between pregnancies, moving, sick kids, sick mommy, is there ever a time when we have a “well” week? 🙂 I wouldn’t necessarily characterize my family as sickly, but it does seem that there is always a reason I don’t have energy to get school done. Since my husband is in the military, we don’t have the help of anyone else. One of the main things I have done is let my standards drop. School whenever we can. Do school while I’m half asleep, lying down, whatever. Oh, and caffeine and motrin are definitely two things that keep me moving on days I would rather not! 🙂
We decided that this year would be a “light” year of school – last year was extra extra stressful and we were all burnt out trying to maintain all the school work. I have repeatedly found my oldest child (6th grade) learning on her own – reading a history encyclopedia and taking notes!, reading biographies, reading chemistry… Our original goal with teaching our kids was for them to LOVE learning and to know how to learn about something on their own. Somehow we’ve succeeded at this!! Praise God for HIS mercy!
.-= Tonya´s last blog ..Random Stuff =-.