Monday, July 23, 2012

homeschool chaos

My mom is an expert in the homeschool world. At one point in each of our lives, she has homeschooled every one of her 6 children. When I was a lot younger, she wrote a short story about the life of a homeschool mom, and I want to share that with you today! Enjoy =]
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A Day of Homeschooling


The children get up, get dressed, make beds, have breakfast, then do chores and we have devotion.
We make it to school on time if we are not interrupted by phone calls and discipline problems.

We go upstairs. John Z. and Sarah Ann play in the playroom while Steven, Meagan and I go to the schoolroom to begin their lessons. While I am giving instructions on how to do page 6 in English, I hear fussing from the playroom. John Z. and Sarah decide that they want to play with the same toy at the same time. After I get that settled, I go back to Steve and Meagan. They are waiting on me to explain the instructions again. I explain again, trying to remember that they are 5 and 7 and they will  not understand everything the first time. Well, now they understand. They complete page 6, 7, and 8. Now, it's time for a spelling test. Did I hear them groan? As I call out the second word, I hear John's voice from the bathroom, Mom, I need help!!! So I tell Steven and Meagan to read a story in their reader, wanting them to stay occupied until I get back. As I walk to the bathroom, I see Sarah standing there crying, saying I need to go potty. Her being in the potty training stage, she really means Help, I'm all wet. Please put a diaper on me! I look at her and say Sarah, I'll be right back. Wait, what do you have on your face?
I don't know, she says.
Sarah, where did you get that paint? Who left out the watercolors? Sarah, stay right there. John, I'm coming!

So, now, John is settled and asking for a snack. Just a minute please.

As I pick Sarah up to take her downstairs to get changed, I tell Steven and Meagan to stop talking and get out their tablets to practice writing their alphabet. After Sarah is clean and dry again, we go to the kitchen. I notice that the washer has stopped so we reload the washer and dryer, get a snack, and head back upstairs.

John and Sarah are happy again. Back in the schoolroom, I wonder what Steve and Meagan have been doing. They are only on the letter M. One doesn't want to get ahead of the other so they write slowly so they can stay together.

Now, where were we? Oh yeah, a spelling test. We finish the test without any more distractions. We even get through another subject!

The lessons are going well. Who's coming through the door? John Z. and Sarah are saying We're hungry. I look at the clock, it's lunch time.

I tell Steven and Meagan to help John Z. and Sarah Ann clean the playroom while I fix lunch. While walking through the playroom, I step over dolls, tinkertoys, toy cars, crayons, and books. They sure did have a good time. After the room is clean, they can come downstairs to eat. If you don't work, you don't eat.

That is a typical day before lunch. Of course, I left out some things. School is easier after lunch, because John Z. and Sarah Ann still take afternoon naps. Praise the Lord!

If you are thinking about homeschooling, don't let this discourage you! We have good and bad days. Everyone has those anyway.

Homeschooling is worth it when you see your child sitting there reading a library books and you are the one that taught them. You get to hear the oldest child teaching his younger brother how to count.You get to see excitement in their eyes when they learn something new and can't wait to tell Dad when he gets home.

It's a challenge, but there is a feeling of accomplishment when you put away the books at the end of the school year.

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to homeschool.  
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5 comments:

  1. I can just see it! I hope many of your readers can relate!!! <3

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  2. Sounds a lot like my life, without the specific homeschooling. I admire your mother for providing your education. That takes A LOT of patience and discipline! :)

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  3. I homeschooled my oldest for his last two years of HS and it was the best thing we ever did. He flourished. We now have a 4-year old and we made the decision to save money on preschool and have me teach him at home. I am praying that I will be able to continue this next year when he is ready for kindergarten.

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  4. I will pray you are able to keep homeschooling! It is such a blessing.

    thank you for stopping by!

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  5. What a sweet memory. I, too, enjoyed watching my children learn to read and knowing that I was their teacher. God is good. Thank you for sharing at WJIM this week.

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