Do you ever look through old journals or even old calendars you kept? Recently, I stumbled upon an entry from the final week of March twelve years ago. What a blast from the past!
As the young mom of a newborn and toddler, I tried to imagine what life would be like ten years from that point, and had written about it. Where would we be? What would the kids be doing? What would they like?
Here I am twelve years later (yep, two years too late, but you get the point), and I have to tell you…the journal entry has a striking resemblance to our current reality! We had already decided that we would try our hand at homeschooling, and we also knew I wouldn’t be in the classroom anymore for a while. In the journal entry, Easter was quickly approaching and I had spent hours deciding on baby and toddler safe Easter basket fillers. How fun it is to be a new mom of littles, and how similar I am even 12 years later!!!
As the years went on, I continued to grow with the kids in my excitement for each coming season. Even before they were preschool age, we began doing cute little art projects for upcoming seasons and holidays. As time went by, our list of annual traditions grew just like the kids. Of course, our projects morphed from sweet little finger paint handprint art (preschool), to using cutting skills (kindergarten), to adding in writing skills (elementary), and onto short stories illustrated with watercolors as they kept growing (middle school).
You want to know something great?? They STILL look forward to the changing of the seasons and the arrival of each holiday, even though they’re really big now. I see their smiles and the excitement in their eyes as they announce how they’ll be celebrating each coming season and holiday. {In a sophisticated, more grown up way, of course ;)} Now, we incorporate school activities such as seasonal poems (yes, we memorize and recite them!), seasonal academic inventories and self-assessments, holiday stories and art, and special food items we have always made together for each holiday or season. The excitement and happiness that spring from our traditions brings us all so much joy!!
So here’s my Homeschool Mama Tip and Teacher Tip combined into one: Start incorporating traditions (especially if you make up your own!!) when the seasons change and when different holidays, both big and small, are coming up. They make an impression on your kids, and even if you’re afraid they will think the activities are boring or silly, do them anyways! When they are older, I am seeing first-hand how much they remember those times fondly! It’s worth it! It’s worth the effort and the planning. It’s worth the extra time and even the extra expense. It’s worth every moment. Your memories will truly be more precious than gold. You and your kids will look back on these holiday adventures, when everyone is grown and flown, and smile about them. Who knows, you could be creating traditions that will last generations!
It’s never too late, or too early, to start!! Do you have a baby? Start now! Take pictures! When they are older they will love looking at the fun things you did! Are your kids already older, like mine? Have them help you brainstorm fun things to do to celebrate. Make sure you include academics, fun art projects, cooking, and outings!!! Don’t forget the camera! They’ll enjoy looking back from year to year, even they won’t be able to miss how quickly they are changing.
If you were waiting for permission to use some of your homeschooling time intentionally making memories together, consider it granted! After all, this is one of the joys of homeschooling! The time spent breaking from math to do an art project, or taking the day off from pencil and paper school to go to the farm visiting newborn animals, is all so worth it. During one farm visit, we even got to witness the birth of a baby goat! It was incredible!! Talk about a memorable and educational day!
As the month of March marches out, Easter season is marching in, and I hope your wheels are turning on creating some fantastic memories with your children. If you need more inspiration, check out this Spring craft project, or head over to the curated collection of holiday ideas assembled just for you, by me, on Pinterest. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve thought up, and how it goes over in our Private Facebook Group! Sending love and joy your way today and always.