This past month, I returned
home for my spring break.
Since spring break lies in the
middle of a semester, I had
homework to complete over
the break, including studying
for an important test.
On one of the last days of my break, I decided to sit
down on the deck and get some studying in while I
was watching my younger siblings.
I soon remembered why I often had a hard time
devoting my full attention to my studies during high
school.
My siblings came up to me about every five
minutes needing something or wanting to show me
something, and it was very hard to resist talking to
them and giving them the attention they wanted.
I finally threw in the towel after my two-year-old
brother scribbled on a worksheet that I had carefully
completed.
I say this not to complain about my siblings or
my spring break, but to illustrate the common
predicament that many homeschoolers experience.
It’s challenging to balance the desire to interact with
family and the necessity of being productive.
I have been reflecting on what I and other
homeschoolers I know have done to try to minimize
distractions of any kind, but especially that of
siblings. Here are some of the things I remember:
1. TRY TO MAINTAIN A ROUTINE.
It helped me to have certain times of the day that
were dedicated to school. That way, I would not feel
guilty about telling my siblings that I can’t do xyz
task at that moment.
I had my study time every day, and eventually they
learned to be better about respecting that. I would
try to make my study time coincide with theirs so
that they would be busy and distracted.
ANNA EILEEN
26
