“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
Genesis 2:2 (NIV)
We ALL need a little rest and relaxation. But before I was a mother, I thought that the whole idea of summer break was dumb and archaic. All that time seemed like a waste. I even felt this way after I became a mom…
That is, until third grade…
Third grade has been an eye-opening experience. And so HARD. My ADHD/ASD daughter had been a champ that whole year, but the academic load seemed to triple overnight. (Let me insert here that this is NOT a critique on Kayla’s teacher, who had been absolutely amazing!!) This was when Kayla attended a private school where teachers taught two grades at the same time. Kayla was in a third and fourth grade class. I’m sure it was easier on the teacher to stretch the third graders and teach closer to a fourth grade level. Not in the basics of writing, reading and math, but in social studies and science.
In second grade, the only homework had been math worksheets, weekly spelling tests, and the occasional book report. Third grade came and we started studying for tests. And the science projects were huge. Yes, we—with complex kids, us parents are just as involved in the studying and preparing projects. It’s as if we have a desk of our own.
By summer break, Kayla, my husband, and I needed a little rest and relaxation.
Yes, Kayla still attends summer “school.” Especially this year as we tradition to middle school <gulp!>. Yes, this means getting up early to get her there, so I can have a semblance of a normal routine. I still have a day job and writing to do. BUT…there will be NO studying! Nothing due! No book reports, projects or anything of that nature.
Zero Homework🥳
We switched to the public school for fifth grade because her private school had no resources to help with her ADHD or autism. I’m so glad we did too. We got a 504 Plan on board, which will continue through her middle and high school years. There are counselors, social skill groups and the like. Now that we have our official autism diagnosis, I’m researching out-of-school options, and even in my tiny town, finding quite a few!
And you know what? God designed us to need a little rest and relaxation. In Mark 2:27, Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” We are supposed to rest. We are supposed to have time off. King Solomon said there is a season for every activity. In his list, he doesn’t mention a time to work and a time to rest, but I believe it’s implied.
Rest is a gift from God. Allow yourself—and your children—a little rest and relaxation.
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