Oh, the drama!
My DD is really struggling with school this year (already). She's being asked to do more, to work harder, to spend a little more time. It's junior high -- that's the way it is, and it's not going to get any easier (... let me tell you about college, little girl...)
But yesterday was FULL of drama. You see, my DH has Fridays off. He works almost 50 miles away, so his commute is horrendous (never mind the miles, he also hits pretty major traffic, so spends anywhere from an hour to three hours one way on the road). His boss has opted to let him work four day work weeks (LONG days ... I pretty much don't see him M - Th) to help with the burn-out.
Last year, we took Fridays off of school. It's just hard to do school with DH home because he seems to think that because HE is off work, we are, too. This year, we're doing every other Friday because her Tuesdays are going to be pretty much shot (she has an art class and a standing "play date" with a friend) -- she'll be able to do about half her day's work, so Friday will be her day to catch up.
Yesterday, she seemed to think that since I was doing fun chores (cooking, mostly) or taking walks with the neighbor and her dog, that SHE should be able to, too. DH was home, and it adds an odd dynamic where our routine is hard to keep to (he also asks me to do odd errands, etc., and DD always wants to go -- and is distraught if she has to stay home).
Drama, drama, drama.
Yesterday, if I'd heard "I HATE SCHOOL." one more time, I was going to lose my mind.
So, for those of you (not YOU, you.... cuz I know the "you" who read regularly don't think this) who think homeschooling is easy, think again.
OH -- and to the employee at the post office who, when we were discussing all the numerous school vacations public school has, turned to my daughter and said, "Yeah, but you have EVERY day off." -- let me see you deal with motivating your child to work every single day. Because, instead of having "every day off", she has nearly every day ON.
:::::breathes deep::::::
I have a feeling this is going to be a VERY long school year.
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Your Brain is Young |
 No matter what your actual age is, you've done a good job keeping your brain young. You know that the key to a healthy brain is exercising it, and that's something you just do naturally. You're the type of person who is curious about everything, and your curiosity makes your brain healthy. Keep reading, learning, and engaging with the world. You've figured out the secrets to being mentally sharp. |
...You've figured out the secrets to being mentally sharp ....
Then why do I STILL walk into a room and forget why I'm there?
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11 comments:
DD's a smart kid. I'm sure she'll get used to it.
Ref: DH's commute
I used to have a drive like that in Dallas rush hour traffic. Horrible! It made me hate my job. That's the biggest reason I retired early.
Good luck with School. I hope she gives in soon. she is as stubborn as some one else I know.
Good luck with school. I do recall that I worked harder in junior high school than I did in high school. It will get better and hopefully DD'll see how fun junior high school classes will be.
re quiz: My brain is young too.
Have a good Saturday.
Hugs. I feel your pain. Last year trying to teach 6th grade, the first year of middle school, was so trying. Lots of drama. And she's a really great kid. This year we enrolled her in an ALE program (Alternative Learning Experience) with a public school district. She goes there two days a week. They do a list of set subjects. She's home with me to learn the other subjects. It's a nice clean split of classes. I'm hoping this will help. She would also like to go to high school so needs to learn accountability to someone other than mom! I just knew I couldn't go through another year like last year. I was so impressed when i spoke to the principal a couple of weeks ago at a new parent orientation, I enrolled the other two. Still have mixed feelings about the two days they'll be gone since I've never not had someone at home with me but if it doesn't work, I can always pull them.
6th-8th grade = Hell on Hormones. When Funsocksgirl was 12, a (usually) very mature and well-mannered 12 at that, she took drama to new and amazing levels by throwing herself on the kitchen floor, kicking her legs and screaming (and I do mean SCREAMING) like someone was trying to murder her. Why? Because I wanted her to wash the dishes and she was sure it was Scout's turn.
I took 2 deep, deep breaths and then said, "I am leaving this room or I will oh-so hurt you!"
It was ug.ly.
Do your best to stay on an even keel and be consistant. It WILL be OK in the end. It really will. Funsocksgirl is 27 now and she hardly ever has dramatic fits anymore.
(Never mind the incensed email she just sent me about wanting to kill, kill, kill her employer for not keeping a promise...)
I can't believe that idiot at the post office. Well, yes, I can. Do they think she learns by osmosis or something? What an utterly asinine thing to say.
The perceptions of some people about homeschoolers is horrible. I have a 9th grader and 4th grader this year. There have been some sighing and whining lately, but I chalk it up to first two weeks. I'm sure your DD will settle into her new school year soon. How did the homeschool group meeting go?
Best wishes for a nice weekend!
(Commenting via Droid internet)
Maria, his commute is what makes it as unbearable as it is -- though he doesn't love his job to start with.
Mom, I resemble that remark (but I also loved school).
Dru, I think junior high is a tough place. She'll get used to it, but I hope she does that SOON.
Melissa, I think our schools offer something similar, but I don't like our schools here (which is the biggest reason I homeschool). I hope your kids do fabulously!
Groovy, yeah ... I know hormones are playing a role in this. It's getting to be close to "that" time, so it's making everything just a little bit worse.
Thankfully she hasn't had any complete meltdowns. Yet.
Tori, the postal employee is lucky I didn't reach over and smack her. I'm still annoyed.
Brandy, I know a lot of the problem IS that we've just started, and getting back into a routine is tough. But OY. And, the homeschool group didn't work out at all. Long story... but, yeah, not for us. I enrolled her in art classes again instead for now.
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