I felt that, to be true to the homeschooling experience, I should include the hardships as well as the triumphs to give this thing a more realistic picture; so I decided to make a "Top Ten" list that represents the things that have been hardest thus far in our experience. So here it goes.... Drum roll please
TOP TEN FRUSTRATIONS FELT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING
1. Spending long hours coming up with an amazing lesson, only to have my child come up with a better way to have done it. (We all know which child this is : ) Also, the frustration of coming up with the schedule for the day only to spend the entire day explaining how I am the boss and I have us doing certain things for a reason. I firmly believe that I am in charge and that they are not running the show although they try. One of my favorite things to say is, "I win!!! Because I am the parent!" (This is said loudly and sometimes this is accompanied with repeated jumping up and down for effect.)
2. Setting goals for completion time each day only to have major grief and despair during writing that sets us back two hours. I am still dealing with how much to push when, what i call, "brain shut down" occurs. Sometimes it is a syndrome called "exhaustion" and other times it is an illness called "bull-head-i-titis". Knowing the difference between these two is tricky and only a trained professional can diagnose. I am becoming a trained professional!
3. Lack of motivation felt the next day after having a day of major grief and despair during writing that sets us back two hours. My bed, affectionately termed "The Taco", due to its snuggly comfortable wrap around feeling, seems to grip me tighter on days such as these. I am thankful for my walking buddies that help me to be accountable to escaping the clutches of "The Taco."
4. I still don't have any time! (What is up with that?) Shouldn't my quiet times be 2 hours long now? Shouldn't I be able to get all the house work done and be Betty Crocker? Shouldn't I be able to shower every day? (Okay I realize that last one is gross for some of you but it happens)
5. Laundry!!! What in the world? It's not like we go anywhere! I think that they must be changing clothes 3 or 4 times a day without me noticing. I must pay more attention. My house is a wreck always.
6. Some days I am missing social interaction with the coworkers I left. However, now I just bug them with texts : )
7. There are moments I think it is easier to teach 45 of someone elses kids rather than my own two.
8. My salary is gone, therefore we are making major adjustments in the spending area and by major adjustment I mean NO spending. This has been a big game for me actually. What can we do for free? There are things out there like hiking and biking trails, frisbee golf, state parks, picnics. Another question has been: How can I decrease the grocery bill? I will tell you that this is trial and error. Just ask Joey about the look on his face when he bit into a "Fruit Ringo" rather than a "Fruit Loop". It was like I had replaced his Dr. Pepper with Dr. Phil!!! Apparently there is a distinct difference in the taste! Other hands off items are the peanut butter and the jelly. But, in the case of other foods, I have found many off brands that are just as good.
9. I feel guilty because my salary is gone. (This is only brought on by self, my husband does not make me feel this way.) I have considered a night time paper route. Visions of me in my house coat and the children clad in their PJs slinging papers fill my mind frequently. My husband assures me this is not necessary.
10. I do not get to leave my work at the workplace (not that I ever did when I taught at school). My work is in my home.
TOP TEN FRUSTRATIONS FELT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING
1. Spending long hours coming up with an amazing lesson, only to have my child come up with a better way to have done it. (We all know which child this is : ) Also, the frustration of coming up with the schedule for the day only to spend the entire day explaining how I am the boss and I have us doing certain things for a reason. I firmly believe that I am in charge and that they are not running the show although they try. One of my favorite things to say is, "I win!!! Because I am the parent!" (This is said loudly and sometimes this is accompanied with repeated jumping up and down for effect.)
2. Setting goals for completion time each day only to have major grief and despair during writing that sets us back two hours. I am still dealing with how much to push when, what i call, "brain shut down" occurs. Sometimes it is a syndrome called "exhaustion" and other times it is an illness called "bull-head-i-titis". Knowing the difference between these two is tricky and only a trained professional can diagnose. I am becoming a trained professional!
3. Lack of motivation felt the next day after having a day of major grief and despair during writing that sets us back two hours. My bed, affectionately termed "The Taco", due to its snuggly comfortable wrap around feeling, seems to grip me tighter on days such as these. I am thankful for my walking buddies that help me to be accountable to escaping the clutches of "The Taco."
4. I still don't have any time! (What is up with that?) Shouldn't my quiet times be 2 hours long now? Shouldn't I be able to get all the house work done and be Betty Crocker? Shouldn't I be able to shower every day? (Okay I realize that last one is gross for some of you but it happens)
5. Laundry!!! What in the world? It's not like we go anywhere! I think that they must be changing clothes 3 or 4 times a day without me noticing. I must pay more attention. My house is a wreck always.
6. Some days I am missing social interaction with the coworkers I left. However, now I just bug them with texts : )
7. There are moments I think it is easier to teach 45 of someone elses kids rather than my own two.
8. My salary is gone, therefore we are making major adjustments in the spending area and by major adjustment I mean NO spending. This has been a big game for me actually. What can we do for free? There are things out there like hiking and biking trails, frisbee golf, state parks, picnics. Another question has been: How can I decrease the grocery bill? I will tell you that this is trial and error. Just ask Joey about the look on his face when he bit into a "Fruit Ringo" rather than a "Fruit Loop". It was like I had replaced his Dr. Pepper with Dr. Phil!!! Apparently there is a distinct difference in the taste! Other hands off items are the peanut butter and the jelly. But, in the case of other foods, I have found many off brands that are just as good.
9. I feel guilty because my salary is gone. (This is only brought on by self, my husband does not make me feel this way.) I have considered a night time paper route. Visions of me in my house coat and the children clad in their PJs slinging papers fill my mind frequently. My husband assures me this is not necessary.
10. I do not get to leave my work at the workplace (not that I ever did when I taught at school). My work is in my home.
Well, there you have it. It's not always a "bed of roses". But what is? Or maybe it is, I didn't think about the thorns. Who came up with that little saying? Maybe the person was wiser than we realize!
9 comments:
Hats off for the honesty. I can identify with most all of these from the child's standpoint, having observed them firsthand. There were days...
Not sure about Fruit Ringos (better than Fruit Johns, Pauls, or Georges? badoomTSCH!), but I have to say that Wal-Mart's generic peanut butter ain't so bad, although Malt-o-meal's Fruity Pebbles clones are just awful. Horrible.
I can relate, but I STILL want to come to your school! You may struggle, but daily I am amazed at how you are so GREAT at homeschooling! I love to see your ideas and copy them myself...like the leaf animals...so great!
I love you so much and am so glad you are journeying along this road with me and lots of others. You are really a teacher at heart and it shows! Can I do a Jan term?
Love you,
Frances
"Jimmy Sizemore, Ladies and Gentleman." You crack me up. Anything called Malt o meal is not okay.
You can do a Jan term if it means that you are moving here! Thank you for your encouragement. We are all just copy cats at heart. I love you bunches, Fran.
Does this mean that Francis is trying to take my place as guest speaker and substitute teacher?? Keep in mind that I will be available after Dec 31st. LOL I will be in the same boat with trying to save money on groceries, etc. Please share your ideas. Have started clipping coupons, however, I have walked out of the store with the coupons still in my hand!!
Wanda, Oh never. you are still on for subbing and guest speaking (Everyday if you like : ) No it just means you will have more kids to teach. Luke, Caroline, Alora, Andrew, Skyler, Spencer, Samuel, Anli and Virginia. Thats a full size class!! Love you.
Hey, I wonder if that gives me enough kids to have a good reason to leave public schools (immediately) to be a neighborhood homeschooling language teacher? hmmm, I think I'm ready for it...just not sure it's what God has for me at this time. Although, I could ask. :o) I'm encouraged by you!
oh, and I agree, you can't cheat on the cereal. I've tried and it doesn't work. We save elsewhere and get the name brand (because, let's face it, cereal isn't all that fabulous in the first place).
lots of love to ya!
way to go brooke!
i so identify w/ #7
i most often say ("while jumping up & down":) They would NEVER let you act like this in REAL school!
Even though I do not homeschool (and at this point don't know if I will), I so identify with many points, just being a sahm. Thanks for this post. From my end, you look like a natural at it with such creative ideas. I love the material you use, and it encourages me to want to homeschool my kids. Thanks for your honesty. :)e
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