Before shutting off the laptop this evening, I was wandering around in my sieve-like mind trying to think of something I had energy to write about and found this fill-in-the blank from Carmen. Perfect. I have exactly that much energy this evening.
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Bullet Points of Randomness
Tomorrow: Another day of homeschool. Sigh. Some days I just want to PLAY and not be the responsible (ie: thinking-about-standardized testing/college/gainful employment-for-my-progeny) parent.
Feeling: Very tired. Dealt with a kid today who tried the old ‘you’re not the boss of me’ line. (Deluded child.)
Happy Because: I survived the day. And kid did too.
Today I:
–homeschooled 9 children
–weathered one major kid-fit
–sent Eldest back to college (boohoo)
–did 4 loads of laundry
–took one kid to swimming lessons and another kid to karate while 7 other kids swam for fun
–spent $53 (ack) on two ‘family-pack’ meals from Panda Express. (remind me not to do that again)
Laundry: Nearly caught up. I am still head over heels in love with my new Whirlpool.
Something I know: Tomorrow’s lunch (leftover Panda Express)
Currently reading: UnPlugged Play (great book– no wonder I want to play tomorrow)
Wanting: to find time in the midst of schooling to play more with my little kids. (Hmm. sensing a theme. Would it be too terrible to just ditch school tomorrow? oh yeah. gainful employment. probably dependent on kids’ ability to read and do multiplication. sigh.)
Favorite gadget: washing machine
Thankful that: the school year is at least half over. Also I have a DAY OFF on Saturday, which I plan to spend at the coffee shop drinking Mexican Mochas and writing my lil’ heart out.
Wondering why: Saturday seems so far away.
Care to fill in any of these with your own (hopefully more cheery) answers?
I sense a need for a field trip somewhere fun…just sayin’!
Thank goodness for that washing machine! π
Oh Mary…PLAY!!! Sometimes all those non-math-and-literature areas of the brain really need exercise too. ;o)
January is just plain long and boring. I’ve been longing to turn my calendar page…
((((HUGS)))) Hope tomorrow (today) is better for you.
I love this meme. Sounds like a good family tournament of some kind is needed. I’m going to check out the book, thanks for the recommendation. Enjoy your day!
We’re having a snow day from school here, and the white stuff is still coming down.
Husband couldn’t ride his bicycle to work, so he asked for a ride in the car (boohoo, had to shovel out early afterall) so we had breakfast at McDs (love their coffee).
You should find some good reason to ditch school, field trip = nice educational experience.
Memorizing the multiplication tables is greatly over-emphasized. I rarely use the knowledge since I quit being a waitress.
I had to take a much needed day off last week. Called it record’s day. No guilt.
Do yourself some good and take a day off. Kids in public school do not do their curriculum every day. They have special events and field trips. And a big secret, some of my teaching friends shared with me; they NEVER finish all of their curriculum. Gasp! While I am not suggesting you call it quits for the year, a day off seriously will not be detrimental to your children’s “gainful employment.”
Have a blessed day!
I’m voting for the day off tomorrow.
My answers wouldn’t be any cheerier today, believe me.
I don’t know about you, but we have to fully document 180 complete school days. For the next three weeks, I am just doing and counting 4 days of school work across each 5 day week, just for a little breathing room. And then we are going on vacation, which is a different kind of work, but much needed. I knew I had to do something when, for about 4 days, I actually let a big pile of damp swimsuits and towels sit on my kitchen floor (I had to step over it), left 2 baskets of unfolded laundry in the living room, and let the hamper overflow. Among other things. Normally, I would push, push, push late into the night to get these things done, but I think you call this impending BURNOUT!
Oh, PLAY! Plenty of learning happens when children (and adults) are playing. Plus, I’ve noticed that sometimes book-work stuff is learned better and easier with breaks every now and then. It’s as if the brain needs some time to file away everything its learned already in order to make room for more. …kind of like my desk!
Mary, I love reading your blog. I am a homeschooling mom of 5 and hope to adopt someday (soon) – I agree with everyone else – PLAY!!! One day won’t make any difference (unfortunately, I subscribe to that theory a little too much, but my kids still seem to be surviving). Maybe you could make it a reading day – read a couple of books to the little ones and let everyone else curl up somewhere for a while with a good story – then PLAY π
I think that I may steal this and do it on my blog.
I have to say though, I don’t think it would hurt if you took a day off from school to play! And how your kids would love you for it. Public schools take days and half days off so you can too!
Oh but see, that $53 dollar meal became two meals (leftovers count as a meal right?) so it was only a 26.50 meal. For a large family that is good. π
I have a kid with the “your not the boss of me” attitude too. Eventually he will learn that I know all and I have eyes in the back of my head too. He is choosing to learn this the hard way but I have been through this before.
Hang in there.
Hi Mary,
I love reading your blog. I had a day a bit like that yesterday too. I have a 5 year old daughter who would love to be the CEO of the household! Some days I wonder how she has survived!!
I really admire you, that you can cope at all with 10 children, my four keep me going!
Hugs from New Zealand,
Rachael.
I am relating to the love off all things new washers! Mine was broken for a month, now fixed! Thank you Jesus!
I don’t know how cheery my answers are, but I did the meme over at my blog
Oh Mary, you always seem to have so much joy- it is actually good to hear that you have down days too. Not that I want you to have down days, but I feel that if you do, maybe I’m normal and I can get through too. (I’m in my own homeschooling slump, right at the beginning!) I think you should declare a day off and just do whatever you all want to do.