The Sidetracks of Homeschool

There are some weeks that just click along in our homeschool. And there are other weeks we couldn’t possibly plan or predict the sidetracks.

Yet, in keeping with the comforts and the flexibility of homeschool, today I want to encourage you in the sidetracks. Because sometimes the sidetracks are the best places to learn.

Monday we had a regular sort of day staying home and getting our subjects done. Snow was predicted for Tuesday so we wanted to get some things under our belts so we were free to play in the snow!

Tuesday morning, my husband left for work. We talked about him heading home when the flakes started flying. Because traffic can get crazy here in the south. Even when it’s just rain.

Snow highlights complete with hot chocolate mustache and a warm fire. But praying for those stuck on the icy roads like Nana and @Hodgepodgedad

About mid-morning there were small swirls of snowflakes. But the snow accumulated very quickly. The children did all the regular sorts of snow day things you do living in the south. Going through several sets of clothing and every last set of mismatched mittens – scooping up snow, sledding and slipping. Meanwhile we started hearing reports of gridlock in Atlanta.

We cheered when Nana got to her house before sunset. And we became consumed in following Hodgepodgedad’s progress home. He left work at 2 pm Tuesday afternoon – after his work had closed and he made sure all his people had left.

He ended up spending the night on the interstate. He made it home 22 hours later. He was in my van because we are down to one vehicle this week 🙁 SO he didn’t have his charger for his cell phone like he usually would. When the battery ran out on his phone he texted me from his work iPad. Which also didn’t have a charger. And so he would power it up for updates about once an hour. It was like the chiming of the news hour – counting down until we heard from Daddy!

Prayer is essential…Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind. Ephesians 6:18

Counting the gifts of a snow day in the south – piles of freshly washed mittens ready to use again, coats and coats, the white of snow at the back door. But the most welcome gift of all – @hodgepodgedad home after 22 hrs, feet propped and napping. SO grateful!

When my husband got home at lunch time on Wednesday – after inching his way up an icy hill for two hours close to home – we celebrated with a feast of slow cooker lasagna. We wanted to sit close to him for long spans of time.

We relaxed and we took naps. (It has been months since Lil’ Buddy took an afternoon nap!) That night we all slept for 10 straight hours. We didn’t even get up until 8 a.m. (this is late for us, folks!)

But was it really a sidetrack? There was math done somewhere in there. Language arts, history, science. We definitely took a break from the regular schedule. But most importantly my children learned once again about the power of prayer!

Give all your worries to Him; because He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Nana was chalking on her kitchen wall during the southern snow.

And Facebook can be a wonderful tool for spreading prayer requests. “To GOD be the GLORY great things He hath done!! Steve Hodges is home safe! I have overflowing gratitude to all of you for ALL your prayers and we shall continue praying for all those still out there. 22 hrs!!”

All in all, it was a good sidetrack. We’ll surely be talking about the great Interstate Ice Immobilizer for decades…

Oh! And did you miss my Art Twitter Chat with @HappyHousewife? The transcript is available here.

Many thanks to our Friday hostesses!

• Collage Friday hostess Mary at Home Grown Learners
• Weekly Wrap-Up hostess Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
• No Fear Homeschool High School hostess Connie at The Daisy Head

What sidetracked your homeschool this week?