Caroline and I have completed our first two weeks of homeschooling this year. It’s gone well overall and I think we’ve settled into a flexible rhythm that works for both of us. But it’s been an adjustment for each of us in different ways. I’m getting up an hour to an hour and a half earlier. We’re starting much earlier in the morning than we ever have. It’s all good, but it’s a big shift for me since prior to this year she always wanted to start later.

Just before the start of our homeschool year, I created a collection of themed playlists so if I didn’t have time to write a post I could sit down and quickly record something to share. Great plan, right? Except about half way through each day my voice starts to go. Since we do a lot of reading aloud and discussion on top of the subjects where I “teach” Caroline, my voice gets a workout each day. I’m very glad I made a change at the last minute and added a second video course. From the vocal standpoint alone, I can’t imagine teaching another subject.

Along with all this, there has been a lot of sad circumstances in our somewhat extended circles which has weighed me down quite a bit at times. Over one recent weekend, I felt a crushing weight of sadness on my chest all weekend. I won’t go into any more details, but I did address it here if you want to read about it: Time To Press On.

Truth be told, I’m more than a little disappointed we’re halfway through September and I’ve done very little blogging since there is so much to write about this time of year. But I made the decision a few months ago that home and family comes first and I was moving blogging down the list as a priority. In the past, I would more often than not choose to work on blogging rather than doing somewhat important but lower priority homemaking or family things. I’m not doing that any longer. Home, family, and homeschooling come before blogging.

So does my need for time to myself which has been in very short supply lately. I have nothing to give to others if I don’t have time to be refreshed. I’ve had to severely limit my interactions with others outside my immediate family so I have enough energy for homeschooling and my homemaking responsibilities. The past four years have taken a toll on me as an INFJ. Parenting an INFP daughter during the past four years has also been emotionally draining. I could wish things were different in the world or that we weren’t both deeply feeling women with a strong sense of justice, but that’s the way it is.

So I adjust accordingly and continue to trust God to lead and protect us each day.