The more equipped I am, the better I can fulfill my role and enjoy the experience. It is similar to having the best tools for a given job. Or the more appropriate bicycle for the ride. Let’s say I have an amazing beach cruiser. My beach cruiser has all the bells and whistles for my flat land rides. If I want to ride in the mountains, my beach cruiser will not be the best choice. I need gears and better tires in order to enjoy the ride. I could ride my beach cruiser but I will have to pedal extremely hard. I will be exhausted and more than likely, not enjoy my bike ride. So many teachers/parents are riding beach cruisers when a good mountain bike is needed. What can you do today to be better equipped for your ride? 

Do you need to pack a snack? Plan breaks and actually take them? Do you need to ask others to join you on your ride? Or do you need a solitary ride to recharge?

Currently, I am a classroom teacher.  My bike ride looks and feels very different than when I was a homeschool parent. Nonetheless, I still need to make sure I have the correct bike for my journey. Not only the correct bike but the best equipment.  It was the same when I was homeschooling. 

Having been a classroom teacher for several years prior to deciding to homeschool, I thought I was equipped to be a homeschool mom. How hard could it be? I had my beach cruiser all ready to go. My beach cruiser was top-of-the-line. I mean I had gone to college for this! 

Some of the things I did not consider when embarking on my homeschool journey were how much I had depended on my fellow cyclists (coworkers), the fact that my route was already planned for me (state standards), and most of what I needed for my ride was provided by someone else (curriculum). Homeschooling was a wide-open road with countless opportunities and no map.  I was excited and stuck. 

Looking for the “right” curriculum was overwhelming. What if I chose the wrong one? What if, after spending so much money, my kids and I did not like it? Would we have to use it? Would it be okay to switch direction in the middle of the year? I asked a friend, who had homeschooled for years. She was helpful to an extent but she was miles ahead of me in the homeschool journey so her bike and route looked vastly different from mine. I was nervous. 

To make a long story short, I found curriculum and we began our homeschool ride. Was our ride smooth and carefree all year? No. Did I look for schools in which to enroll my little cyclists in December? Yes, yes I did. We did complete our homeschool ride in June. I think I gained more from the ride than my kids. Reflecting on that time over the years since has been so good for me.  Knowing it is okay to make U-turns, yield to other cyclists who have more experience, take snack breaks, go on solo rides, and get the best equipment needed are lessons I apply daily. 

I want to encourage you. You are not alone. If your path is smooth right now and you are cruising along YAY!  Look for someone who may need a cheerleader or a listening ear. If your path is bumpy and you feel like your tires are flat, it is okay. Pull over, take a seat, have a snack, and re-evaluate. You may just need a pit stop. If your path is hard to see due to foul weather (brain fog, stress storm, sadness, or despair) you can pull over to the side of the road as well. Phone a fellow traveler. Ask for help. Even if you don’t know exactly what kind of help you need, that is okay. I have been there. If we cyclists/parents are completely honest, we have ALL been there. There is nothing wrong with taking a pit stop. You may need to switch bikes. You may need to find a tandem bike for a bit so you can pedal with someone. 

Regardless of where you are on the path, well equipped, on the right bicycle, sailing along, or not, you are not alone. The Marigold Movement is here to support you and your family the best we can. Reach out, share your successes, your flat tires, and your chain-falling-off moments. Who knows, you may find a fellow cyclist to share the path with. 

In case you’re wondering about my ride…My husband and I decided to put our kids back in school after our year of homeschooling. We re-evaluated and found a hybrid school where I was hired as a teacher and our kids attended. Our son graduated from this school and our daughter transferred to public school and graduated high school during COVID. I went back to teaching full-time in public school. Many changes,  some flat tires, many U-turns, many yields, and some stops. We kept cycling through.  

Don’t compare your bike and your path to anyone else’s. We can travel together with all of the differences. The goal is to keep on the path of laying a sturdy foundation for our kids so they can choose the best bicycle for their ride.