Do you have them? When you question….Should I homeschool? but to the level that you wonder if you should have ever even parented?
Moon Boy can be so sweet…but he can also be a complete brat–spoiled and demanding and non-compliant to even the simple request.
Of course, what gets to this mom’s self-confidence is the “I’d rather be dead than do schoolwork” and “You call this love…if you loved me, you wouldn’t make me do this.” (of course, know it is not true but reasoning with an eleven year old is sometimes hard)…
What do I do? Call in the principal! Dad takes over and disciplines him. Don’t get me wrong, HE NEEDS IT. By the time Dad is called…I am at my wit’s end…and I certainly do not want to raise a spoiled-rotten child who thinks he can do as he pleases.
But in my heart….self-doubt–even though I wholeheartedly believe in homeschooling. BUT also the questions…I thought this would be easier (yeah, I knew there would be rough days….) But don’t kids intrinsically want to learn?! Sure there are some drudgery facts but I do all I can to make the process of learning fun….but it is not ‘catching’…does that mean I am failing?
I know I am not. I know it is rough day and we will get through. But I hate days like this…
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I literally had years like that with my youngest. Good days were the rare exception. I tried to handle them calmly, but sadly at times my humanness came through and I botched it. This year he has suddenly matured enough to get the big picture – YAY – if he does his work he gets TONS of free time. If he wants to sit and “work” for 2 hours on math that should take 30 minutes, that is his choice and he gets less lego, computer, creation making time of his own. He is 12.5 yrs old. So, don’t question yourself or knock yourself. He is choosing his actions and all you can do is remind him of the big picture. I know the big picture includes actually getting to learn cool things, but sometimes you gotta go with what makes a kid tick.
I should imagine this problem is SO much worse when you homeschool and there’s no office to send them to. BUT I’ve had the exact same problem of late with my 6-year-old and have often been at my wit’s end because it seems everything I try is wrong and there’s no way to reach him. I’ve noticed that it seems to happen mostly on Mondays, too, when he’s back on schedule – or at least trying to be – after a more-relaxed weekend. And, yes, sometimes I botch it big-time, too, particularly when he’s looking at the clock and doing absolutely nothing he knows he needs to do to get ready for school. We even have a check list.
Monday, this week: Missed the bus. Threw Play-Doh in class.
Wednesday: Drawing praise for doing what he was supposed to during a fire drill. Behaved perfectly while playing at a friend’s house after school.
I’ve just about reconciled myself to the Manic Monday syndrome. I’m trying to keep faith that one day it all eventually will right itself – that if I keep stressing choosing to do the right thing he’ll some day learn the concept AND be able to execute it. But, yeah, it’s a rough ride.
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Ah, A..
I think you’re discovering the true condition of the human heart; to simply reach for the lowest-hanging fruit.
But, as I mentioned to you when we talked earlier about another topic, if this is what the Lord has called you to do, stick with it. He who began a good work in you IS able to complete it…