Beware of Second Story Windows

My husband has been out of town most of the last two weeks. Last week I had a stomach virus and this week I have some annoying sore throat thing. Of course, I continue to homeschool but my patience is very limited. Ha ha – my patience is limited on a good week. All week I have been thinking “What could I post about?” Seriously, nothing comes to mind. So today, you get the cold hard truth – there are days where I am ready to jump out of my second story windows. Yes, today is one of THOSE days. You know what days I am talking about – you might have a different name for it but you know what I mean don’t you? If I did jump, I would probably end up in the hospital but it would be relatively quiet and someone else would have to cook for me. Tempting.

 Apparently I have used that expression enough that friends have picked up on it. One day I posted a comment on facebook and one friend said “Stay away from the windows.” My frustration level is so elevated now I do not even dare post anything on facebook.

 Gratefully, my fussy baby is asleep. But I have one child that refuses to do anything I say (including his school work). I have one child that rushes through his schooling so he can waste the day away playing. Did I mention that he keeps harassing me to do his spelling test? I have a daughter who needs me to do a dictation test and a spelling test with her. Then of course, the little two who demand my attention so they can fly through their work and then spend the rest of the day telling me they are bored. I could go on but I will spare you the details.

 So what makes me continue on a day like today? A nap would be nice. The biggest motivator is that tomorrow is Saturday!!! No school. he he. No, the reality that each day is not like this – that’s nice. Knowing that somewhere there is probably another homeschool mother out there who can totally relate to me – that is comforting.

 But in the end, I have to go back to WHY I homeschool in the first place. I have to imagine packing up the children and dropping them off at public school to change my perspective. I visualize doing homework with six different children all evening long. I think of all the great activities and opportunities that the children would miss out on if they went back to school. I have to imagine some kids bored stiff because they are working above grade level and others sinking because they struggle to stay on grade level in some subjects. That would lead to countless parent-teacher conferences and possible discipline problems and by the end of all these thoughts – homeschooling is not so bad. Here are some tips to avoid a bad homeschooling day.

 The day will pass, my windows will still be unbroken, and I will avoid a lot of pain and medical bills. I will use my phrase again though, I know. It makes me giggle just a touch when I am overwhelmed and frustrated. So find something to make you giggle when you are faced with one of THOSE days (or borrow one of my windows!)