Steer for the Curve Ahead

I didn't grow up in North Dakota with its relatively straight highways and streets on a grid layout. In the San Francisco Bay Area, very few roads and highways continue on endlessly in one straight direction. In fact, the freeway by my home was named East and West, but it actually traveled North(west-ish) and South(east-ish). Then there were roads that snaked through canyons and forests that we used as shortcuts. And of course you've all seen pictures of the famous Lombard Street. When we moved to North Dakota, where my grandparents grew up 100 years ago, it was so simple to navigate my way around. Roads labeled North actually went North, a city block was actually square and it was easy to know where 5th Street was.

But the reality of homeschooling -- and life in general -- is that it is rarely a straight-forward adventure. There are many "plot twists" and "blind curves" to keep things exciting and well, anxiety-producing.

Recently, I heard Governor Huckabee speak at an event. He told a story of the time he and other governors visited the Winter Olympics facility and participated in a bobsled race. He told how he was scared to death because bobsleds operates only on gravity and the placement of the bobsled in the track through each curve determines its success and each curve is different. He talked about making a mistake and careening off the track. But then he shared how a 16-year-old Olympian gave him the best advice of his life:

"Let me tell you the secret to the whole deal ... You're going to see the first curve. I don't care what you're thinking or feeling, you steer for the curve that's right there in front of you. By the time you steer for it, you're in it. If there's any mistake, look, quit worrying about it. If we're through the curve, the ice behind us can't hurt us. That's all you've got to remember: you just steer for the curve ahead."

And I tell you what, mama, that resonated with me in ways I can't explain.

There's no point in going over all the mistakes I've made that have led me to this place and time. I could sit here and obsess over how I should have moved slower through the preschool and early elementary years with my daughter so we wouldn't be correcting bad habits and relearning basic skills in high school. I could worry about how we haven't completed the number of math lessons I had expected by this time of year.

Instead, if I'm going to survive this time-fed race we call homeschooling, I need to just focus on the curve ahead. That's preparing for the next lesson, being present in the moment, and leaning into the hard instead of instinctively pulling away from it. (I could jump down a rabbit hole and tell you the importance of leaning into the turn when you're riding motorcycle, but I won't)

Look, mama, what's done is done. The temper tantrum you had last week is water under the bridge. The struggle your student had with Algebra in the last lesson is behind you. Looking back will not get you through the next curve. Make a note of what you learned and get ready for the next curve. It's coming fast, you can't stop it, you just steer for it and lean in.

With Love,

Kristy