The Ups and Downs of Homeschooling

The first week of school with NINE children was...busy! Well, that should not have come as a surprise. I nursed the baby, tried to contain the two year old, tutored the challenged thirteen year old, and corrected the fourth graders' work AT THE SAME TIME! It was a little nutty at times. When things became very out of control I called a team meeting, explained the dilemma and gave orders or took suggestions about how we were going to handle the current crisis. That seemed to be a better solution than giving into my flesh and yelling. : ) At times there were tears, thankfully they weren't mine. And no one's feelings were hurt, they just didn't understand how to write huge numbers in expanded form or identify the simple subject or simple predicate in sentences. I'm fairly certain they understand now. It took a couple of days of tutoring. I reminded them how fortunate they are to be homeschooled so that they won't go through the rest of the school year not understanding those foundational concepts. It's so easy to get lost in a large classroom. Who wants to admit they don't understand something in front of all their friends? Or even siblings? I'm grateful that we are all here together. But I'll have to remind myself of that many times in the week ahead.



I have a couple of students who aren't used to being challenged therefore when it happens, they cry. I know they will grow out of it since others have before them so I don't worry. It's easy to cheer them up and encourage them, thankfully. One day around lunchtime I was checking the stacks of completed work at the kitchen table. Anna approached me and asked some questions, I answered, then she glanced over at a discouraged brother who was sitting nearby and back at me and said, "What's wrong with him?" I laughed so hard. I suppose it was her matter of fact tone, the brother's very sad face, and the length of time she'd been standing by him before she asked. I'm in tears just remembering it now because it was so funny to me. Those are great moments. Laughter makes everything better. Even the previously crying child cheered up. : )



Noah, the two year old, is really putting on the pressure. He refuses to stay in his pen 90%of the time that we try it. The other 10% he sits like an angel playing contentedly. Unfortunately when he is out he puts things in the toilet, eats soap, climbs on the table and licks salt shakers, gets into the refrigerator, steals treats from my nightstand, and writes on the carpet, himself, his new cowboy hat and every book in his path with a black permanent marker!!! And so on...I wish I could remember more of the funny (not so funny at the time) episodes. We decided that we might employ the new trampoline which has a net and zipper closure as his new playpen on occasion. The children have already zipped him up inside of it while they ride bikes around the yard. I might use it a little during school...now who will go out there with him? Hmmm. I'll have to appoint shifts...I'll be working on that. I must use all my resources wisely.



On the most stressful days I found that an afternoon swim was the perfect relaxant for my muscles and brain. I might have to put that into our schedule too.



I must admit that one day during my morning time with the LORD I did ask Him if he would come back before school started. Doug Wilson wrote three homeschooling comic books and one comic was about exactly that scene. Mother was on her knees by the bed praying, "LORD, you said you were coming back soon. So could you come before school this morning." ha ha ha! That was me too. One day it will happen. Oh happy day!!!