Will I Regret This Timing? Taking a 2-Week Break Right After Starting the School Year & Our California Extravaganza
As a homeschooling family, flexibility is one of the biggest perks we enjoy, but with that freedom comes tough decisions—like when to take a break. This year, we did something a little different. Just as we were getting back into our school routine, we decided to take a two-week vacation for what I like to call our California Extravaganza.
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As a homeschooling family, one of the biggest questions I’ve been asking myself is: Will I regret this timing? We just started the school year, and here we are, planning a two-week break for our much-anticipated California extravaganza vacation. Normally, I like to get 6 to 8 solid weeks of schooling under our belt before we take a break, but this year has been different, and the timing of this trip couldn’t be helped.
With all the chaos of repairs in our home this summer, we hadn’t even fully settled back into our routines. Despite that, we moved ahead with our travel plans because of some amazing travel deals we couldn’t pass up! This vacation wasn’t something we had initially planned, but sometimes the universe aligns, and you just have to go for it.
Why the Early Break?
There are a couple of reasons why we decided to take this break so early in the school year. First, extracurricular schedules played a huge role in our decision. We wanted to ensure that our daughter wouldn’t have to make tough choices when it came to her fall performance opportunities, so it made sense to go sooner rather than later. Additionally, if we had pushed the trip later into the school year, there was a strong possibility we wouldn’t take it at all, and that’s not something we wanted.
Not only did we get free flights using our Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but we also found unbelievable discounts on tickets to places like Disneyland and Legoland, saving us 50% on tickets alone! The stars really aligned for this trip, and everything just fell into place.
Our California Extravaganza
Our trip took us from Los Angeles to San Diego with stops at all the best family destinations. We zipped around LA, spent magical days at Disneyland and California Adventure, then headed down to Legoland, before finishing our adventure at the San Diego Zoo. It was a whirlwind, but the memories we made were priceless.
You can find more details of our trip over on Instagram.
Despite the disruption to our homeschool schedule, I can honestly say I regret nothing! The timing of the break may have seemed inconvenient, but it was exactly what we needed. After a hectic summer and a rough start to the school year, this trip gave us a much-needed reset as a family. It was the perfect balance of adventure and restoration, and coming back, we felt more aligned and ready to dive back into our homeschool routine.
Will I Regret This Timing?
As a homeschool mom, I know how critical it is to establish a rhythm early in the school year. But sometimes, life throws you curveballs, and you have to adapt. Yes, taking a break so soon after starting the year was a risk, especially with the challenges we’ve been facing in our math curriculum. But after reflecting on the experience, I know it was the right decision for our family.
Traveling, exploring new places, and spending quality time together is just as important as hitting academic milestones. These experiences are part of the journey and contribute to our homeschooling in ways that textbooks can’t.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the timing wasn’t ideal, but this trip was exactly what we needed. It reminded me of the freedom that homeschooling offers—flexibility to take advantage of opportunities and the ability to prioritize family experiences. So, no, I don’t regret this timing. In fact, I think this early break set us up for success as we move forward into the fall with renewed energy and focus.
If you’re a homeschooling family considering an off-season break, I encourage you to embrace the flexibility that homeschooling offers and enjoy the journey!
