I started this year intent on homeschooling the kids. Never mind that it was born out of necessity instead of an epiphanic revelation about the merits of homeschooling. Along the way, I got inducted into the elite homeschooling club and wore it like a badge of honor. Ok, not exactly but the important thing was that I was determined to last the year without relying on an institution.
The first 2 months, I diligently googled homeschooling, printed out worksheets, drew alphabets by hand (surely I deserve some kind of award for this) and spent half of my designated Grey’s Anatomy time preparing lessons. Which they completely ignored, by the way. They were more interested in crumpling my lesson plans into tiny balls and trying to see how many they could fit in my shirt (23, if you must know).
Until I got smart and reinvested my time more wisely back on the far more entertaining lives of McDreamy and McSteamy. Lesson time became a game of let’s-see-what-mommy-can-find-in-the-art-box.
So you guys probably know that on top of watching the kids, I also work from home on several projects because I’m compulsively masochistic. In recent months, work started getting crazy and before I knew it, I was operating on 4-hour sleeps a night.
You know those supermoms who do everything? Turns out, I’m so not one of them.
These days, even my impromptu lesson plans have completely gone to pieces and lesson time has become a game of let’s-see-what’s-on-tv. True story.
After long discussions with the husband, I’ve finally decided to call it quits on the homeschooling thing. I’m doing the school-schooling thing instead so I can do the home-chilling out thing. Now I can really focus on the extra-curricular activities like how to burp an entire song and the proper way to hold a PS3 controller, which to be honest, I’m so much better at.
I asked them what they learnt today and they said counting, so I gave them a little test. Kirsten went “2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10!” and Tru was all “No, mei mei, it’s wrong, I teach you.” He counted right up to 17 and didn’t know when to stop but I’m giving them points for effort at least.
UPDATED: Results for the Pinnacle Wall Arts giveaway are out! Congrats to our 2 winners!
21 Comments
At least you tried! Good job gal! I confirm also cannot homeschool. Like you, i rather chill. Hehe.
Hahah hi 5 on that!
Good try Daphne! I applaud you for even taking up the challenge. Where r they schooling at btw?
It’s called Star Learners. :)
I have also decided homeschooling is not an option for me, comforting myself that having a sane mother is probably more important than what they can learn from me at home :) I also agree on the masochist part as I also do projects full time working from home!
Good point! Our sanity is much better than trying to take on more than we can handle.
I am so glad I am not alone in this! I printed them worksheets and showed it to little tot, she had fun at first, drawing on lines of the alphabet. But when I told her to do it on her own so she can practice, she insisted that I write with her. I ended up writing most of it. The next page, I put my foot down and told her to do it on her own. She did write alright. With scribbles all over it then got frustrated that she can’t cover any more white, crumpled it into a ball presented it to me with “ta-da!”
I’m am with you with the school-schooling thing. Maybe I can get some breathing space once she started pre-school.
Hahahha she’s SO CUTE! What is up with kids and crumpling paper? My kids are like hamsters when it comes to any kind of paper
Love your writing Daphne!
I would like to homeschool too, but don’t know if that’s even possible in Germany.
Thanks Pris! I’m guessing at least some mothers in Germany home school, but then again I’ve never even been there so I wouldn’t know either. :)
i wish i could homeschool, but i know my limits! i’m sure it was fun while it lasted :)
Ya man, I now have a lot of respect for homeschooling mothers. It takes a lot of patience and dedication, both of which I don’t really have a lot of.
You did great, me thinks. The time spent with them must have been so precious. Now for some good me-time (work or leisure!) while they are learning in school :)
Thanks, that’s real sweet! I’m definitely missing them but you’re right, I’m really enjoying the me-time for coffee and a decent breakfast every morning.
NOt everyone can do home schooling.It takes TONES of efforts, tender loving care and patience etc!
My boys once told me that I AM their MOTHER, not TEACHER(S), and from then on, I decided to not to teach them. I guide them instead. LIFE is so much better and my relationships with my boys are much much better.
Smart boys you got there! :)
I’ve come to realise that if I were to homeschool my kids, they’ll end up not knowing much at all =) So, they’re sent to ‘normal schools’ and I complement whatever lessons they’ve learned with casual impromptu ‘lessons’ like crafting, reading or just free play! It works well so far, and it sure leaves mommy sane and happy too =)
Leonny, I love your step-by-step craft blog posts! I’m thinking of trying some of them when the kids are a little bigger, now they will just destroy the stuff and I’ll end up doing everything myself.
Homeschooling is wonderful. If you love being with your kids 24/7. Which I don’t. So off to school they go, and I get a few hours to stare off into space and twiddle my thumbs. I think we’re all happier for it.
Hahahaha nicely put! Totally agree
[…] President, launched a business just so I could call myself The Boss and the most awesome of all, sent the kids off to school. I totally got my ass whipped by home-schooling and the best decision I made was to cut my losses […]