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You are here: Home / HomeSchooling / Helpful Habits / The Sidetracks of Homeschool

January 31, 2014 by: Hodgepodgemom

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.

The Sidetracks of #Homeschool hodgepodge.me 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.

Atlanta snow 2014 highlights hodgepodge.me

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.

snow jam hodgepodge.me

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.

Winter snow gridlock Atlanta 2014 hodgepodge.me

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

The gifts of snow day #homeschool hodgepodge.me 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.

relaxed hodgepodge.me

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

worry

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?

A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels: Winter Olympics

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About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

Art in the Homeschool Twitter Chat
Winter Olympics Resources at Ultimate Homeschool Pinning Party!

Comments

  1. Stef Layton says

    January 31, 2014 at 9:57 AM

    WOW! It’s been raining here for so long, I’m over it. Wish it would have snowed, but I’m not jealous of that traffic. GEEZ!!

    Reply
  2. Phyllis at All Things Beautiful says

    January 31, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    Yes, no one could predict that sort of side-track. How stressful! I am glad everyone is home safe now. {Hugs}

    Reply
  3. nana says

    January 31, 2014 at 10:42 AM

    I don’t think that I have EVER been so glad to see my cozy, warm house after driving for 5 hours and 15 minutes in a traffic jam beyond belief! Yes, it was slick, icy, and terrorizing…but the prayers of my family kept me safe and got me home!
    Ok, laugh at us Southern folks who do not know how to drive in snow! It is true! Thank goodness a “snow-jam” like this only happens every decade!
    Forever and ever,
    Nana (still shivering!)

    Reply
    • Hodgepodgemom says

      January 31, 2014 at 2:15 PM

      There was GREAT celebrating when we heard you had made it home! And it was the combination of the ice and everybody and their brother leaving all at once that made it impossible. And made Hodgepodgedad have to sit in the same spot on the interstate overnight. SO thankful it is over and there is melting sunshine today 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lara M says

    January 31, 2014 at 10:53 AM

    So glad @HodgepodgeDad made it home safe! It looks like you all really enjoyed the snow 🙂 Sometimes the best lessons are the unplanned ones, we have had a lot of extra prayer time this week, too!

    Reply
  5. Ticia says

    January 31, 2014 at 12:39 PM

    It’s really amazing to me how long it took for people to get home. So glad Hodgepodge Dad made it home safely.

    Thank you for sharing the verses and quote, they’re a great reminder.

    Reply
  6. Melissa Newell says

    January 31, 2014 at 3:52 PM

    So glad he got home safe. What an ordeal down south. Prayer is powerful! Blessings to your weekend!

    Reply
  7. Daniele @ Domestic Serenity says

    January 31, 2014 at 5:56 PM

    Was checking FB every 1/2 wondering on updates about your husband! SO glad all was safe & sound, what an ordeal for you and the south….ugh.

    Reply
  8. Marianne says

    January 31, 2014 at 11:26 PM

    So glad to hear that all is well with you and yours!

    Reply
  9. Rebecca Ray says

    February 1, 2014 at 8:46 AM

    Glad to hear that your husband got home safely. We had several friends that got stuck in the mess and didn’t get home for a very long time either. Still, the snow was beautiful, and wonderful, and we feel blessed to have had the mini-vacation this week from our regular schedule.

    Reply
  10. Kay @Kay's Little Korner says

    February 1, 2014 at 10:22 AM

    Oh no, he got stuck!!! We are in SC now, but just moved from Alaska. We were very shocked by the stories we heard of our Southern neighbors getting stuck on the interstate! We did get out into the fluffy stuff to play, thought. It was fun 🙂

    I just love your Corrie Ten Boom quote. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  11. Nita says

    February 1, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Hi there, visiting from Weekly Wrap-Up. I really dislike driving in the snow and had to for the last few weeks. Glad you all survived it.

    Reply
  12. Lora @ My Blessed Life says

    February 2, 2014 at 7:04 PM

    Ahhh, snow days are so much work, aren’t they? But they’re so much fun:) Glad your husband made it safely home!

    Reply

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