So...last week was not boring after all
Before I go into my regularly scheduled programming of what things are going on in our little square of the world, I feel the need to make a disclaimer. I am sarcastic. I mean, I think most people pick up on that fairy quickly, but...you know...some people are a little slow on the dry, sarcastic humor. Also, I don't ever intend to come off as ungrateful as I tick off the little interruptions that are actually my real life. I wake up every single morning and think to myself "how in the world is this my life?" And I mean that in a good way! At any given moment I am simultaneously incredibly thankful for my dishwasher that washes my dishes, irritated that I have so many dishes that need to be cleaned AGAIN, overwhelmed by the list of other things that I really need to get done, thankful that I have the opportunity to do the things I need to do instead of focusing on survival every waking moment, and stressed that I need to be across town at rush hour. If you don't know how one person can think all of those things plus 10 more that are too personal share at the same time, then you must be a man. This is my reality all. the. time. And now to recap last week...
Last Monday I pleaded to God and the world of Facebook for a normal, boring week. God hears all of our prayers, but he is not a genie, and God had different things in mind for my week. Wednesday night, Tommy broke his finger at church. THANKYOUVERYMUCH, JESUS. We were at church like good Christians. But whatever. Gah. It's almost like being a Christian doesn't equal a free pass through life. (See? That's sarcasm if you're worried about my theological leanings.) Anyway. That made Thursday our day to see all the doctors. Tommy will be fine in 6 to 12 weeks. After spending all day in my car and only being home long enough to drop off and pick up people and visit my own bathroom for private time, Tommy and I made our way to West Ashley for a parent meeting for Tommy to play JV basketball. Basically, here's how it went: "Blah,blah, blah, write a check for this much, and here's your life schedule from October to March. All other things take a backseat."
Okay, okay. I might have exaggerated a little. A LITTLE. By Friday, I was so done with the week. I haven't even gotten into the fact that my eleven year old daughter made last week the WEEK OF ALL THE HORMONES. Poor baby girl. It is hard to be an eleven year old girl. Seriously. I don't want to ever do that again. You know what else is hard? Being a MOTHER to an eleven year old girl whose hormones have skyrocketed and are throwing a week long rager inside of my daughter. That's when I had my very first bathroom hideout of the year. I was proud of myself for making to the end of September before resorting to locking myself in the bathroom for a 15 minute moment of silence. It looked like this.
Coffee? Check. Messy bathroom? Check. Mixed look of fatigue, defeat, and all the I Can't Evens? Check Check Check.
But the week ended. Tommy's swelling went down. Charlotte returned to my sweet little girl instead of Hulk Charlotte. Ooh, that's what I'm calling it now when she's in a "moment". She'll be Hulk Charlotte. Don't ever tell that to her face, or she will be triggered.
As I was saying, the week ended. A new week began. It has been normal and calm which is good because I have been wiped out. School is happening which is good. I even feel like this year is going well so far. I don't feel like I'm about to slip into the pit of homeschooling despair that is called October. I even had a good conversation with my friend (That we had to schedule 2 days in advance and bump once because we both have big kids that have absorbed all of our time). After having the annual math conversation where I talk about how Tommy doesn't want to do math so I'm having to make him do it, I had a realization. Tommy doesn't have to do Saxon Advanced Math. First, we're already behind because I accidentally got math resources for two different editions. I have all the things, but the things don't play well together so I need to order more things.
As I was thinking about the need to order the new things I realized that Tommy has worn me down. I admit defeat. I don't want to make him do the math that he is capable of anymore. He doesn't want to do all the extra math. He has absolutely zero interest in any college major or career that involves calculus. So why am I making him do the hardest math ever for high school? I don't even know. And if the best I can come up with is "Well...I mean...you can do it...and you're really smart...and it's the next thing..." then that's not good enough anymore to put myself through another year of math battles. And so now I need to find a geometry curriculum. He has to do geometry. I do insist on at that. Next year he'll do probability and statistics. Basically, he'll start math in October this year. It will be fine. We will all be happier for it.
And that's it. There's our week. September is almost over, and this year I am ready for October. I will not be taken down by the doldrums of homeschooling known as October this year. I will paddle through the month until the winds of November can push us to the end of the semester.
Last Monday I pleaded to God and the world of Facebook for a normal, boring week. God hears all of our prayers, but he is not a genie, and God had different things in mind for my week. Wednesday night, Tommy broke his finger at church. THANKYOUVERYMUCH, JESUS. We were at church like good Christians. But whatever. Gah. It's almost like being a Christian doesn't equal a free pass through life. (See? That's sarcasm if you're worried about my theological leanings.) Anyway. That made Thursday our day to see all the doctors. Tommy will be fine in 6 to 12 weeks. After spending all day in my car and only being home long enough to drop off and pick up people and visit my own bathroom for private time, Tommy and I made our way to West Ashley for a parent meeting for Tommy to play JV basketball. Basically, here's how it went: "Blah,blah, blah, write a check for this much, and here's your life schedule from October to March. All other things take a backseat."
Okay, okay. I might have exaggerated a little. A LITTLE. By Friday, I was so done with the week. I haven't even gotten into the fact that my eleven year old daughter made last week the WEEK OF ALL THE HORMONES. Poor baby girl. It is hard to be an eleven year old girl. Seriously. I don't want to ever do that again. You know what else is hard? Being a MOTHER to an eleven year old girl whose hormones have skyrocketed and are throwing a week long rager inside of my daughter. That's when I had my very first bathroom hideout of the year. I was proud of myself for making to the end of September before resorting to locking myself in the bathroom for a 15 minute moment of silence. It looked like this.
Coffee? Check. Messy bathroom? Check. Mixed look of fatigue, defeat, and all the I Can't Evens? Check Check Check.
But the week ended. Tommy's swelling went down. Charlotte returned to my sweet little girl instead of Hulk Charlotte. Ooh, that's what I'm calling it now when she's in a "moment". She'll be Hulk Charlotte. Don't ever tell that to her face, or she will be triggered.
As I was saying, the week ended. A new week began. It has been normal and calm which is good because I have been wiped out. School is happening which is good. I even feel like this year is going well so far. I don't feel like I'm about to slip into the pit of homeschooling despair that is called October. I even had a good conversation with my friend (That we had to schedule 2 days in advance and bump once because we both have big kids that have absorbed all of our time). After having the annual math conversation where I talk about how Tommy doesn't want to do math so I'm having to make him do it, I had a realization. Tommy doesn't have to do Saxon Advanced Math. First, we're already behind because I accidentally got math resources for two different editions. I have all the things, but the things don't play well together so I need to order more things.
As I was thinking about the need to order the new things I realized that Tommy has worn me down. I admit defeat. I don't want to make him do the math that he is capable of anymore. He doesn't want to do all the extra math. He has absolutely zero interest in any college major or career that involves calculus. So why am I making him do the hardest math ever for high school? I don't even know. And if the best I can come up with is "Well...I mean...you can do it...and you're really smart...and it's the next thing..." then that's not good enough anymore to put myself through another year of math battles. And so now I need to find a geometry curriculum. He has to do geometry. I do insist on at that. Next year he'll do probability and statistics. Basically, he'll start math in October this year. It will be fine. We will all be happier for it.
And that's it. There's our week. September is almost over, and this year I am ready for October. I will not be taken down by the doldrums of homeschooling known as October this year. I will paddle through the month until the winds of November can push us to the end of the semester.
Hello Mindy. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. It was interesting to go through your last week adventure.I am also blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you as a christian and about your interest. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 38 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have your young grown up
ReplyDeletekids come to Mumbai with their friends or you and your family to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends.