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Homeschool moms don’t get much of a Christmas break. I mean there are 500 things to do on Christmas break. But to TRULY have a Christmas break we homeschool moms have to say NO to a few things.
Thanksgiving turkeys have been demolished and the Christmas shopping season is in full swing. With the coming of Christmas comes something every homeschool mom looks forward to. Christmas break!
Chances are at this point in the school year you are DONE. You are ready for a break. The kids are ready for a break. And that break can’t come fast enough.
However, we are still homeschool moms. So… really Christmas break isn’t much of a break, is it? I mean there are 500 things we could be doing on Christmas break. Believe me, I have seen ALL those holiday must do crafts, activities, and printables on Pinterest.
But, that’s not what Christmas break is about. To TRULY have a Christmas break we homeschool moms have to say NO to a few things. Here’s what NOT to do on Christmas break.
Feel Guilty
We’ve all done it. We see the other homeschool moms making cute crafts, celebrating Advent and baking treats. We aren’t doing those things and immediately the guilt sets in.
I mean those things are what GOOD homeschool moms do, right? NO! Listen, you don’t have to be some fancy holiday mom to rock the holidays. Kick the guilt to the curb and embrace the mom you are. Not the mom you are comparing yourself to on Facebook or Instagram.
Homeschool Planning
The first few years we homeschooled I spent Christmas break planning out our homeschool for the next semester. A lot of moms do this, and a lot of bloggers recommend it. I am NOT one of those homeschool moms OR bloggers. Sorry. My personal opinion is Christmas break is just that. A break. I am not taking a break if I am planning for the next semester.
Just say no to it. Believe me. You can plan out the next semester when it comes. Or take a few teacher planning days before you start Christmas break. Public schools get to count those days as school, why can’t we??
Homeschooling Through the Holidays
Just no. Really. Why would anyone homeschool through the holidays? I tried this one year. So… I kind of know why but really I was insane. It was a few years ago and my middle had needed a tonsillectomy. My son was a baby and I felt like we had missed SO much school. So… we planned to take just 2 days off for Thanksgiving and 3 days off for Christmas.
It was a disaster. Really. I don’t know what I was thinking but I definitely wasn’t thinking logistically. Homeschooling through the holidays CAN be done. I’m sure. People blog about it. But, really no one NEEDS to do it. And that includes YOU.
Homeschool moms are ON all the time. We never get a break. Our jobs are 24/7 so believe me when I say the world will not end if you don’t “do school” over the holidays. It will not end if you say no to those fun crafts, baking treats, or other things that Pinterest says you NEED to do on Christmas break. The planning for next semester WILL get done. It doesn’t HAVE to be over Christmas break.
What should you do on Christmas break? I shared some of my favorite things in this post. But, I will also add that you should do what YOU want to do. Don’t do that craft just so you can snap a picture and put it on Instagram Do the craft because you WANT to share that moment with your kids (and don’t feel guilty if you don’t!). Read that read aloud that you LOVE to share each holiday with the family. Go look at Christmas lights on a school night. Do things that YOU and YOUR family find enjoyable. That will be different than what I do, and guess what? That’s okay!
So, are you ready for Christmas break? I am! My recommendation? Minimum of two weeks for Christmas break. Preferably take off Thanksgiving through New Year. The years we have done that we have felt so much more rested and ready to tackle the second half of the school year.
And while you are enjoying your time off remember what not to do on Christmas break. Just say NO to the above three things. I am giving you permission. You’re welcome!
Hi Gina! I shared our routine and schedule here : http://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/real-life-homeschool-routine-year-round-schedule/
Also, in Ohio we don’t have to submit our “plans” just a basic curriculum outline. We tend to follow the schools schedule for some of our breaks, but basically shoot for a week off every 12 weeks or so. We start in August after our county fair and end mid to late June. We always take the whole month of July at minimum off because of church camps.
How do you plan your schedule to homeschool year round? How many breaks do you take? I would like to do this but I know for my state I have to submit my plans by August for the following year. Any help would be appreciated!
You’re welcome!! Thanks and enjoy your break 🙂
YES! This! Homeschool moms need to give ourselves permission to downscale and take a break! I often feel so guilty! But we all need a break. And we all benefit from it. Thanks for the reminder! 😍 And what an amazing and generous giveaway!
You are very welcome!
Thank you for this. Just… thank you! XD
Oh yes, it is I’m sure. I notice it’s harder to take long breaks the older the kids get. That’s why we don’t take the whole month off anymore. BUT we still take a couple of weeks. Even if you have a high schooler you deserve a Christmas break 😉
And your Advent gift to us: freedom! Thanks! I needed to hear this as I was.tentatively planning on schooling and lesson planning over the break. Whew!
This would brighten my nephew and his new family. They are struggling with bills and this would be a true blessing for them as a gift. I could buy them many beautiful gifts for their baby girl. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for the great advice! I have been trying to figure out how long to take off this season.
We could use the extra money! trying to save up for a vacation next summer
I would use it but some new bedding, including new pillows. Ours is getting very worn out. With the rest of it, I would donate to a specific charity in our area. Good luck to everyone!
Great points and an awesome giveaway! Thank you!
Thank you! It is my first Christmas homeschooling and I have found myself looking into new curriculum possibilities. Have a blessed Christmas!
What great suggestions!
If we won, it could go towards a family trip! We’ve never been on an actual vacation.
Good luck!
Me too!
Yes you will, and soon! Good luck
Winning the giveaway would help with our Christmas budget and keeping ahead of bills. 🙂
I sure need a break!
Winning would enable us to purchase warm winter clothing for our family. We gave it all away 2 1/2 yrs ago before heading south. Now that we’re back in MN, we really need it!
We all need a break, especially at special times in the year!
I hear ya on the medical expenses :/ good luck!!
Winning would ease up our medical expenses which tripled this year… and help with curriculum costs as I have one child entering high school next year, which requires an additional course of study.
Love this! Not sure if we are going to homeschool or not (aren’t there yet age wise with my son), but these are such wise points. With baby number 2 due this Christmas, this financial blessing would help our family lessen the financial burden the holidays, bills and new baby are bound to bring.
Good luck!
Exactly!!
Say it with me, ” I will NOT homeschool over the holidays”. You can do this!! Life will just keep getting in the way. The key is realizing this, relaxing and finding other ways to do “school”.
Great goals! Good luck!!
I’m a first-time homeschool mom with a kindergarten in two little ones underfoot. We’ve missed so much school already because of sickness and travel times that I am super tempted to work through the holiday butt I appreciate the inside you give in your article! All in moderation. And I need the break. LOL 🙂
I love this! Thanks for sharing! One thing I am learning during Christmas is that it doesn’t all have to be perfect before I can enjoy it. I tend to think I have to have my list all done before I can open the doors to Christmas – but am finding so much more joy in embracing it all even if it isn’t how I expected. ❤️
This would fix our suv! It would make a huge difference considering our other vechicle is getting bought back by the vw company.
I WISH we could take the whole month off but high school is a different beast than when the kids were little. Great suggestions tho!
If we won this giveaway, we would use it to help our church get new children’s ministry curriculum, and to finish repainting our house.
You’re welcome! We school year round too and have always done that. Until this year. #lifehappens :/
I’m an all-year homeschooler, and your suggestion to take off Thanksgiving through New Year just.blew.my.mind!!! Gonna be turning that over in my mind this week….! Thanks for waking up my brain this drizzly Monday morning!! 🙂
You are very welcome! We plan on doing the same thing 🙂
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁
We decided to take 3 weeks off this year due to Christmas Day being on a Sunday. We are all looking forward to lying around in our pjs for at least one of those weeks! Thanks for the encouragement. 😊
Trip to FL to spend it with my Dad ~ first Christmas after my mom’s death
Thanks for this!
How would this bless us? By easing our online class budget.
I too have learned the value of taking breaks, but was thinking of doing some planning this year . . . Maybe not. 🙂
Thanks!
Thanks for the great advice.
I agree completely! We get tons of schoolwork done January, February, and March when it’s too yucky to go anywhere. Public schools close due to the weather, but we get a ton done in those months. That is why we can take a different approach to schooling from Thanksgiving to New Years. Flexibility is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling.
Yes. Christmas should be guilt-free break for everyone. Even mom. Completely agree!!