As the days begin to warm up, the winds pick up speed, and the color scheme changes from an lifeless brown to a radiant green, I get “The Itch” for two things. These same two things surface every year without fail, and I find myself helpless to stop either.
Run, Momma, Run
After months of winter hibernation, along with all the delicious soups and stews (which, obviously means homemade bread,) I have an intense desire to dig out my running shoes and hit the road. I often start at the beginning of a Couch-2-5K program each March, as if it were a natural part of time change. The days get longer, so there is more time to run. Or maybe, it’s the warmer temps that draw me outdoors more frequently. Or quite possibly, it has more to do with those few extra pounds I put on over the winter months due to eating those heartier meals. Whatever the reason, I have to run!
I started running when my kids were babies as a way to destress and become faster than my little-runner-baby. (As soon as he learned to walk, he promptly started running away from me!) I ran around our neighborhood, and to the park, with the kids in a double jogging stroller. Sometimes, I’d go to one of the many trails in our town, that were paved and nestled along the river.
(Excuse the cell phone pic, taken while running. I recently came across this adorable image of my kids holding hands on one of our many, many runs!)
Once we moved to the country, I realized running close to home is fairly impossible. Dirt roads, guard dogs, snakes, flying cars, no sidewalks. It soon became very clear that I could not head out my front door and go for a run, as I did when we lived in town. I, then, started driving to a local park to run, but that took almost 15 minutes one way. My husband even started running with me in the evenings so I could go on our country road, with a “bit of protection.” (AKA, my big strong hubby!)
After months of trying to figure out how or where to run, we finally decided to invest in a treadmill. Now, as a “real” runner (as in, an outdoor runner!) I felt that buying a treadmill was the very last option. I assumed I’d get bored very fast running on a “hamster wheel.” But, to my surprise, I have found it most enjoyable. I can run at the same time each day, regardless of weather or weirdo park go-ers. (For several months, I dealt with a creeper situation and began running with pepper spray, and got a dog…) I don’t need to worry about the kids at home, or taking them with me. It’s truly a win-win for this runner momma!
To Plan or To Execute
Now, that other itch that tends to come about every spring, is a bit more complicated than retraining my muscles to run long stretches. It has a lot to do with the children, their education, and my desire to plan.
Once we have gotten through the bulk of our school year, around mid-March, I begin the process of looking ahead to the following school year. I typically visit our favorite homeschool website (Ambleside Online,) download the upcoming year’s curriculum chart, and start the book hunt. This is absolutely my favorite thing about homeschooling (ok, one of them!) Oh, the planning of the school year! And, the books!! Or, maybe its just the hunt for the books that is so enjoyable? Anyway you roll it, I love this part of homeschool prep.
For the past six years, I have almost completely followed the curriculum posted on the Ambleside website. But this year, I have decided to switch things up a bit, and make my own booklist and schedule. I wouldn’t go as far to say its a full curriculum, but we will be using it as such, with the addition of a few other great books for the remaining subjects. We will maintain our “Charlotte Mason Education” status by following her methodology, yet we will divert just a bit over to the “Unit Studies” and/or “Unschooling” methods. (Don’t worry, if you are new to all this terminology. I will be explaining this in further posts.)
With all that being said, I AM SUPER EXCITED about our next school year. I have begun planning the books, the field trips, and some extras. I have also started purchasing some of the materials we will be using (again, this will all be in a later post, so stay tuned!) Which leaves me in (now) mid-April, with several weeks left of the current school year, a pile of new books, and the internal debate of, “Should I stay or should I go?”
**Spoiler Alert** I will stay in the current school year, finish it well and start our next school year according to the schedule. As strong as the pull is to move ahead, I know the best course of action is to complete the current plan. I also know the steps I take to set the right example for children may be slow and tiresome at times, but wholly necessary to lead them on the right path.
I’d love to know what springtime “itches” you get! Is it similar to mine? Or completely different? Let me know in the comments below!
