Transparency and Whiplash

I feel like so many times when I read a homeschooler's blog it is all sunshine and roses with 6 kids in matching jumpers playing violin and dancing over their math problems. Now if your kids all wear matching jumpers and are playing classical violin and beg to do extra math drills then bully for you and I don't want to hear about it...and quite frankly, neither does anyone else. So in the interest of transparency, this is what my week has been like. I think you will understand why I am suffering from whiplash as you read.

Sunday- We reminded the kids we were started school on Monday and gave them back to school gifts. This was well received (obviously). I posted about that with pictures a few posts back...if you are interested check it out.

Monday- School started with much wasted time over copywork (which is basically how we do handwriting practice here). I expected a little belly aching about copywork. I was not surprised by this. But I knew I would persevere and the boys would come to get it done. But besides that all was "sunshine and roses." I discovered how much we are going to like our Science curriculum. Day one-good! Glad we started school!

Tuesday- Copywork was another problem area. But when it gets done their handwriting is great. Lots of whining. I discovered how crappy the social studies book and my plans for it are. I think I am going to have to start over and come up with something else. It is a exciting as watching paint dry. This was not good! Went to a Homeschool Mom's Night Out at a friend's house. There were something like 14 homeschool mom's there (and a couple CUTE babies). Got some great ideas and encouragement. It was the best part of my day! Love you ladies!!

Wednesday- Part of our problem is distraction...so I asked Shane to pick up those tri-fold poster board things that kids use for science fairs to create "cubicles" for the boys. They like them. And after looking at another mom's handwriting curriculum (which was one I almost bought) I decided to change what we do for handwriting. I took those ideas and made the same plan for the boys today. It wasn't hard to duplicate. They did SO much better. It seems like something we can all live with. Science was great and SO MUCH FUN...the mess on the dining room table required us to eat 2 meals in the living room. Decided to get out of the house and go to Effingham and visit the library (LOVE Helen Matthes). It was great. We looked like the perfect homeschool family minus our matching jumpers. :) The boys played nicely. I checked out a BOATLOAD of books to make our study of Native Americans work. And, in the apparent intellectual setting of a library (even in the children's section), I brainstormed new ideas for how to make social studies work this term. We only had to go the bathroom once...Maverick seems to have a "thing" for pubic restrooms and we visit them more often than anyone should ever visit a public restroom. The big boys went to CCC Sport's Camp VBS. I spent the evening cleaning up the house which wasn't really so bad. Griffin and I laughed and played and had a dance!

Today- Apparently, ANY writing is going to be a problem. Woke up this morning with a headache that I have yet to kill. Aiden wasted over and hour complaining about his handwriting. Then he moved to complaining about phonics. Then he complained about math. He huffs and puffs and cries. I can stay calm for about the first 30 minutes and then I get angry...I realized me getting angry doesn't help anything...it just makes the nastiness spread. It is now 3 and he is finally finishing his math...he should finish school by 11 or 11:30 each day. I think maybe someone learned something...but I don't know who and I'm not sure what. And when I spend the whole morning trying to get them to focus I feel like Griffin gets ignored. Oh, and when I went outside to take care of the animals I discovered no one penned up the chickens last night. I thought Shane did when he came home from Sports Camp, he thought I did because I was home all evening. We now have dead chickens in the coop...it is pushing 95 degrees F today...that is NOT a good combination. So, it has been a horrible day and I would like the chance to start over.......

It is good to know I get that chance...tomorrow. I can go to bed at a decent hour tonight and get enough rest so hopefully I don't have a headache. I can start my day with Bible and prayer in the morning (instead of doing it after lunch) and not with email and facebook. I can know that every single homeschool parent has days like these even if they only share the sunshine and roses part.

OK, that was me being transparent (and a little tongue in cheek). I have nothing personal against jumpers, violin, or math problems. :) But I still don't really want to hear about your perfect day today...tell me tomorrow. If we stick with our pattern it should be a better day! :)