Spring Break-- A Change of Pace





Photograph by Denver



A two week spring break?!  A little voice whispered in my ear . . . "Are you homeschooling or just quitting?"  It seemed wrong to allow the boys extra time away from their studies when everyone else was hitting the books.  However, with Spencer in Missouri for an extra week to turkey hunt, shoot his bow, ride four wheelers, and explore the woods with his Papa Dale, it hardly seemed fair to ask the other two boys to keep up with their academic work.  At the last minute, we decided to extend both spring break and our school year for another week.  Problem solved.

So for the last week, it's been like summer vacation at Chez Degonia.  The boys slept in, played on the computer, read books, went to the library, and played board games.  We watched movies, took hikes and went for bike rides.  John Robert went to swim practice.  We all raced in the Cheerios Challenge.  They downloaded new apps on the ipad.  They annoyed one another and me.  Yet it was lovely.  

I must say, if the purpose of spring break was to take a break from "learning," they failed miserably.  Just playing monopoly-- a three day event-- they practiced rather sophisticated math skills.  John Robert read almost a dozen adult science and technology magazines, and beat me soundly in chess.  We went to an art exhibit where the boys' friend was showing his work.  Afterward, we enjoyed discussing the artwork.

So spring break has not failed to be a time of learning, but only a change of pace.  It's been kind of like going from running on the road to taking a run on a hiking trail.  The path is less sure.  There are lots of turns and you can't really see where you're going.  It's a little slower.  But the scenery is great, surprises abound, and the rewards are rich and memorable.