5 Steps To Save The Day When Your Homeschool Plans Go Flying Out The Window

Have I mentioned I am a planner girl? As in, I like to have a plan and stick with it?

Plans, checklists, to-do lists. Those things make me happy.

And then there is LIFE.

Life looks at those “plans” and laughs and laughs.

*sigh*

So, here I was standing in the middle of my day, holding a phone to my ear, answering the same 3 questions over and over again for 45 minutes, mashing bananas in a bowl, listening to my dryer signaling it was done, soaking dishes and gesturing to my daughter to move the table so we could wash windows while drinking cold coffee.

Not the plan. Just Life.

Have you been there? Where on paper everything looks great? Plans are made. Goals are set and you are good to go.

Then you wake up.

And the clean kitchen that you stayed up until midnight cleaning has turned into “the teens made their own breakfast, win!”

Until you look at the sink.

And the counters.

And the table.

Not my plan. Just Life.

The coffee is cold thanks to the migraine you woke up with and the clothes are still wet because someone (ahem), forgot about that last load you chucked in late yesterday.

Not the plan. Just Life.

Your grandmother’s brother dies. So you call to offer comfort and see what you can do but she has dementia.

Instead of comfort, you end up answering the same questions over and over again for 45 minutes straight. I love her but patience is not my strong point.

While chatting and pacing you notice 4 bananas going bad so why not make a banana loaf to save them? You peel them, toss them in a bowl, and mash them while you talk. Multitask for the win?

At the same time, your kiddo decides now is a great time to work on her life skill for the week-washing the windows.

NOT ON THE PLAN!

The truth is no matter how much I plan there are always things that show up last minute. The advice is “Oh just roll with it” or my personal fave that I find myself saying and then kick myself for saying is:  “Tomorrow is another day”.

I mean it IS buttttt that day has plans, okay?! GAH!

Before we go any further let me just say, I ended my day pretty good and got most of my list done and had banana bread to boot!

Are you curious to know how that happened?

5 Practical Steps That Saved My Butt.

You can save your crazy day when the plans go flying out the window.

1. Put Yourself on Time Out

The first thing I did was grab a cup of coffee, my to-do list, a pen, a new printed off planner sheet, and a hard surface. I threw on my son’s crocks and yelled. “Be right back!” to my kids as I beelined out the door and into the sun.

Crocks and socks people, my major no-no. You know it’s getting serious when. 😉

I stalked out to our maple tree and plopped down in the semi-shade. Took a few deep calming breaths, a sip of coffee, and got started.

Action Step: When life gets out of control. Grab 5 minutes even if it means running outside or shutting yourself in your car, bathroom, closet, etc. Take a few calming breaths and then take action. 

2. Setting Priorities:

I’ve talked about the choices we make and how they impact our lives.

When life gets in your way it is time to use laser focus and really pick those priorities for that day.

With my fancy blue pen, I scanned my to do list and crossed off everything that could be pushed aside until tomorrow or even the next day.

Action Step: Reassess your to do list/daily plan with a view of where you are right that minute. What really can be let go? Cross off anything you know that can wait.

3. Choose Your Top Priority:

The reason I love the Deluxe Homeschool Planner sheet is the Top Priority section of this planner page. Actually, I love a lot about it but that is neither here nor there, the point is, picking that one non-negotiable thing is vital for me.

Narrowing it down to one might be hard but it is important. If everything else goes wrong at least that one thing is done.

Action Step: Pick one thing that must be done no matter what. Write it down.

By the way, you can use our special code jenn25 to save 25% off anything in Jennifer Bly’s store. Click here to shop! 

4. Making A New Plan:

After removing what could wait and picking my top priority I felt lighter and more in control. I added in the rest of the things I needed to do. I ended with a shorter list that was manageable in view of the way my day was going.

Action step: Next write what you have left from your old plan to your new plan with your priorities in mind and today’s “life”.

5. Let Go of The Guilt.

At this point, you might be leaning towards guilt of not getting it all done, as planned. Stop right there. You should be saying, “Well Done!” You avoided reaching the end of your patience limit, putting undue stress on you and your kids.

A happy less stressed mom is much better than a to do list checked off and a fried momma. I just might know about that.

Also, feel free to belt “Let it Go!”  at the top of your lungs if it makes you feel better, ha!

Action Step: Be realistic, you are one person. You can not do it all. Be happy about what you are doing, and let go of the guilt. Focus on the positive moments of the day. 

What “saving my day” looks like:

After assessing I went back inside. I put the mashed bananas in the fridge hoping they would keep. I turned off the dryer reminder and added “do laundry” to tomorrow’s list. It will keep.

As for the dishes soaking in the sink, I drained the water out and left as is. I texted my mom with a quick update on her parents then put my phone to charge. Away from me 😉

My must-do item was homeschooling. That is what we did.

We washed a window instead of all the windows. Laser focusing in on the point of the lesson, learning the steps together. Having fun. The next lesson she’ll do one window on her own.

As the kids finished school and did chores, I made a banana loaf and did a few dishes.

We watched a video and discussed it as we ate our treat.

No, it didn’t all get done, but I didn’t lose my cool either. That counts as a win in my book!

Take care,

Jen

PS. I love my Deluxe Homeschool Planner for me and my paper-planning-loving kids. (photos of inside below) If you love picking and choosing your planning pages, be sure to check it out. ⇒PLUS: USE the code jenn25 to save 25% off anything in Jennifer Bly’s store. Click here to shop!