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Let’s face it—homeschool life has a rhythm. Even though we’re the cool, laid-back parents who don’t have to follow rigid public school schedules, somehow we still end up in a bit of a routine. Whether it’s wanting to just get through the three R’s before lunch, or even if the routine is that there’s no routine. Rinse and repeat. But every now and then, it’s nice to break out of the ordinary and surprise your kids with a little random magic. Enter: Dudes Morning and Girls Morning.
These aren’t your typical, planned-out events. Nope. They’re completely random, which is key to keeping your kids on their toes. Picture this: you wake up early, barge into your kid’s room, and announce, “It’s Dudes Morning!” or “It’s Girls Morning!” Your kid rubs their eyes, confused but intrigued, and before they know it, they’re in the car, heading to a local donut shop in their mismatched pajamas. It’s spontaneous, messy, and oh-so-fun.
For us, the first stop is always donuts. Not just any donuts, mind you… local donut shop donuts. The kind you only indulge in when you’re being the fun parent. We go to different shops each time because, let’s be honest, it’s a homeschool field trip at this point. Consider it a lesson in supporting local businesses (aka “donuts are life”).
After grabbing the holy grail of fried dough, we set out for an adventure. It’s usually something simple, like a quick bike ride, mini golf, painting nails (for the girls) or even a short hike. The idea isn’t to go overboard or plan some extravagant event. It’s just about breaking the routine and spending some quality one-on-one time.
Here’s where the magic really happens: during the activity, we have our chats. Not the heavy stuff like “what are your plans for college?” but the casual, real conversations that don’t always fit into the daily homeschool shuffle. We talk about “dude stuff” or “girl stuff,” which, depending on the day, could range from video game strategies to why everyone loves pizza. The point is to create a space where your kids can open up about their goals, what’s going on in their lives, their fears, or even their latest “epic fail” in sports or life.
It’s like a sneak peek into their minds, but in a relaxed setting where they’re free to chat without the pressure of lessons looming over them.
As homeschool parents, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of curriculum, schedules, and checking off boxes. But here’s a little reminder for us too—homeschooling doesn’t have to be so focused all the time. Yes, education is important, but so is the connection we build with our kids. These random mornings give us a chance to reset and remind ourselves that homeschooling is flexible for a reason. We don’t have to follow a strict agenda every day, and sometimes, those donut-fueled conversations can be just as important as that math worksheet (maybe even more so, but don’t tell the math book).
So, next time you feel the homeschool routine tightening its grip, surprise your kids with a random “Dudes Morning” or “Girls Morning.” It doesn’t have to be big. Grab a donut, head out for an adventure, and see what magic unfolds. Just remember—extra sprinkles are always a good idea!
