Springtime at our household means a week or two of sorting and cleaning. There's the easy stuff. The outgrown clothes, worn out shoes, broken toys, and garbage-picked computer parts that didn't work anyway. Washing the windows, walls, steam cleaning carpets. That part is hard physical work, but not stressful. For me, the stressful part is NOT getting rid of stuff I consider junk, because it's precious to someone else. What can you do with a collector (pack rat)? Teach them organization skills, keep their door shut, and focus on the positives! If you are the one who has trouble with clutter, I recommend Don Aslett's, "Clutter's Last Stand" as a motivator and a "how-to" book. It may also motivate the pack rat in your life. Who knows?

Spring cleaning is also a time for analyzing curriculum, beginning to evaluate what is worth keeping, and what has outlived it's usefulness. A time for clearing out old ideas that didn't work very well and trying a new approach. I know many moms feel intimidated by the State. If you go off the beaten path, will the education police come after you? Will your child miss something that will cripple their ability to succeed? The fact is, even a bad curriculum at home will work better than a good one at school. But, you and your child don't have to suffer. If you enjoy what you're doing, and your child enjoys it, they will remember more of what they learn. Pray over your choices. It doesn't have to cost much (or anything) to be effective.

You may have some different goals for your family than I do. Is your child college-bound, going into ministry, a trade, or farming? Your daughter may plan to be a musician or homeschool mom. Your son may want to be an entrepeanuaer. In the high school years, the courses you choose should either be geared toward a particular college of the student's choice or toward their life goals (if college isn't in the picture).

Sometimes so much time is spent on the academics, we lose sight of the things that really make up life, that they will need to know. Like cooking and laundry (mom shouldn't be doing it all by herself!), fixing a car or the plumbing, or caring for the needs of a young brother or sister.

Spring cleaning is a chance to reflect on the use of time. How much time should be spent on school? Does my house have to fall apart because I'm a homeschooling mom? Sometimes, it does. There are seasons for everything. When there are babies in the household, sick children or a move to another house, it's nearly impossible to keep up with just the maintenance of living! Here, we need to give ourselves grace. But young children can be helping (though they do so imperfectly...it's important they practice) If you are in a time of your life that structured schooling just doesn't seem to work... take a look at "unschooling". Children will learn from real life, and will see the value in it far sooner than arbitrary word problems on a page.

Do you have a child approaching their teens? Do they understand the gospel and basic doctrine? Can they read with understanding (both fiction and nonfiction)? Can they write easy-to-follow directions in a "How To" paper? Do they know how to verbally articulate their opinion? Can they express themselves logically and persuasively? Can they discern motivation from an author, speaker or film maker? Can they listen to a speaker and make an outline of his points? Can they calculate without a calculator? Do they know arithmetic up to fractions, decimals, percents, & averages? How about finding area and volume, estimating, solving for an unknown number and counting back change for $20? Can they type? Can they use a computer or the library for research? These are essential skills. If they know this much, they can probably skip Jr. High and go right to High School level work.

What about the expectations of the State for fulfilling credit requirements? What if we get behind in that? What if we miss something? The Home School Legal Defense says that there are no SPECIFIC requirements for high school graduation from homeschool. (No specific classes, hours, credits, or days required). The parent decides what constitutes an education for their child, and gives them the diploma when they have fulfilled these requirements. Only those who are college-bound need to consider specific courses outside those practical to life and godliness. If planning for college, contact the college to find out what courses they consider prerequisite for the given major. You still don't have to follow the 4-year-plan for high school. Your children can begin college courses at any time through CLEP testing, community colleges dual enrollment, or distance learning. It's much cheaper that way, and just as accredited.

Spring is a good time to reflect on family life. What relationships need attention? Are their any "weeds in the garden" that need pulling? Working together on projects can give great opportunities for some heart to heart conversations. In the process of spring cleaning, other things may come up that need to be dealt with. It may be correction, an impromptu Bible study or prayer together, or helping someone else in need. It may only take a moment, but it can make all the difference. Remember Jesus. He had a job to do, but on his way he would stop and care for the needs of those He loved. We need to live in our homes as Jesus did. Letting love be our motivation. Remembering the values of eternity, we can make room for the right things, and clearly see what needs to go! The busyness of life may seem to get in the way, but it can develop character. Faithfulness, orderliness, diligence, mutual respect and consideration for others, constructive criticism and humility. These are things worth making room for.