Some days, I don’t even *like* my kids…

This is something of a homeschool reality check.  I am no supermom and I don’t have any supermom friends.  Homeschooling parents are just like any other parents.  We are not blessed with more patience, more virtue, or super-human teaching abilities.

In fact, yesterday, I didn’t even like my kids for about five hours.

It’s true.  Maybe some of you are shocked, but I am jut being honest.  I was hot, tired, PMSing and they had pushed my LAST button.  You know what I mean.  It was the end of the day, I had just gotten home with groceries, and I needed to unpack the cold food and head to youth with my 12 year old…back in the 100 degree weather.  Good times!

During this hot, stressful, rushed moment, my youngest was trying to get out of helping put food away.  Not only that, but she attempted to sneak on the TV (which she is grounded from because her room is a disaster).  My oldest, who was supposed to go to youth, started whining about not wanting to go.  Not because he doesn’t love youth, but because he wanted to sit on the couch watching YouTube videos about video games.  Once he is sucked in, forget about real life.  My middle daughter was actually pretty wonderful, but that was only because she had spent the earlier part of the day getting all the drama out.

It had been my intention to get them all McDonald’s for dinner on the way to youth, but as I looked around at their ungrateful, defiant little faces, I had one of those moments when I thought, ” I don’t even like these kids!  Why would I buy them dinner?”

I love my children fiercely, but there are moments when I cannot stand the attitude for one.more.second.  Like I said, I am not supermom.  I need breaks and I need the kids to know when they have pushed too far.  Yesterday wasn’t just about groceries and technology addiction, it had been a day filled with bickering between all three of them.  Add in the heat and it was a recipe for disaster.  I don’t think it’s possible to be blissed out with your family 100% of the time.

So what’s a frazzled mom to do?

I put myself in time out (in my room, with my laptop) and let them have the evening to sort out their problems – and figure out dinner – on their own.  No one died…there wasn’t even a drop of blood.  Sometimes *I* just need to get out of the way, and sometimes they need to figure out that mom does a lot for them, and they should appreciate what I do a little more.  I woke up today feeling much better (so did they).

Even with bad days, I manage to educate them.  It doesn’t take a supermom, it just takes a dedicated mom (or dad).  The good moments outweigh the bad ones.  We still have whining over math pages from time to time, and then there are days like yesterday.  It happens.  Life is messy and complicated.  But a little grace and a time out (for whoever needs it) can really help.

So ‘fess up mamas…do you ever have days when you don’t “like” your kids even though you know you love them?  Am I the only one?

Wordless Wednesday

Arthropod Lesson Plan

Learning:

Learning activities are meant to introduce the concepts to your children and explain how things happen.  You can narrate after the activities (as our family does), or choose to use quizzes or assign writing projects.  Be flexible within your children’s abilities and age levels.

This is a very informative page on arthropods.  It breaks them down in to types and explains arthropods that are beneficial to humans and those to avoid!  Globio’s Arthropods

Berkeley has a wonderful page on arthropods!  It takes you through many different aspects and it’s very interactive.  Be sure to page through all of the activities.  The Arthropod Story (Interactive)

Suggested Reading:

What is an Arthropod?  (Science of Living Things)

Dirty Rotten Bugs: Arthropods Unite to Tell Their Side of the Story

Smithsonian.com Arthropods (a multitude of fascinating articles of arthropods found on planet earth)

Reinforcement Activities:

These activities are meant to be fun and reinforce some of the concepts from the learning section.  Sometimes they introduce new concepts.  Have fun!

Arthropod Information and Coloring Sheet

Which is an Arthropod? Game

Vocab:

For vocab, you have can children learn the definitions and spellings by heart, or shoot for familiarity.  The choice is yours!

1. arachnid
2. thorax
3. cephalothorax
4. crustacean
5. exoskeleton
6. tagmata
7. segmentation
8. insect (definition)
9. bilateral symmetry
10. myriapod

Add or substitute other vocab as your studies dictate.

Experiment/Hands-on:

Kids are going to naturally choose arthropods that interest them and this will lead to many interesting activities and side studies. This lesson plan is just to create a broad overview.  Choose a hands-on-project that suits your child’s interests and abilities.

1. Consider starting an insect collection.  This is an enjoyable hobby for children of all ages.  Adults too!

2. Create an original arthropod species with Legos, K’Nex, or other building materials.  Be sure to describe the characteristic of your new arthropod, it’s natural habitat, food, and to which class it would belong (insecta, crustacea, arachnida, diploda, or chilopoda).

The HSMJ – Spring is Almost Gone!

In our homeschool this week…we are adjusting to life with screens again, but we have been so busy that we haven’t used them much.  Other than me, for blogging purposes…mostly.  It has been getting hot, too, which makes me a little grumpier than usual.  Poor kiddos!  The lovely spring weather is almost gone in Vegas and they have to deal with Mommy Dearest until late October.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we have been living at the YMCA.  We joined last week and the kids have bugged me to go DAILY.  We committed to the first 45 minutes being spent in the gym (so mama can work out) and then we swim or go rock climbing (they do, not me).  We are having a BLAST in the afternoon each day and we can’t wait for the outdoor pools and water park to open on Memorial Day weekend.

My favorite thing this week was…losing 2.5 lbs!

Things I’m working on…losing a LOT more pounds!

I’m reading…”The Truly Alive Child” (review soon) and “The Eyre Affair.”

I’m cooking…creamy pesto chicken with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes.  IN THE CROCK POT!  Oh yes.  The recipe is posted below.

I’m grateful for…my crock pot?  Does that count?  I am grateful for all the people, things, and fun in my life.

I’m praying for…lots of loved ones.  It seems like everyone is going through something these days.  :-(

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…the promised recipe.

Creamy Pesto Chicken with Artichoke Hearts and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

• 2 lbs chicken, boneless
• 1 can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup
• 1 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1 jar artichoke hearts, drained
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• Seasonings to taste (I used sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a dash of paprika because I add paprika to everything)

Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours.  I served the meat shredded, with a ladle of sauce, on a bed of rice.  Add a favorite veggie of your choice, if you life, or a nice salad.

Making them earn it!

I get asked often how I manage to get my kids to *do* their school work.  That’s not really an easy question to answer, because it’s a combination of years of habit training and expectations being set a long time ago.  However, there is a something that works really, really well for our family.  In this house, all privileges are earned by completing chores and school.

If my kids don’t walk the dog, or finish their math assignments, there are no fun privileges for the day.  Everything must be completed to use a TV, computer, or any other technology.  This rule also applies to play dates and homeschool activities.  I don’t “take” anything away, they simply fail to earn it.  It’s all about framing it under the umbrella of personal responsibility.  The real issue (for me) is consistency.  If I fail to back up my rule on any given day, I may as well forget I ever made it in the first place.  They know I mean business, and if they want their tech time/play time, they get their work done.  It has never failed me.  In the beginning I had some kids who cried in their rooms and grumbled under their breath, but eventually they realized that what I was asking was not unreasonable.

However, I should mention that our days are not a burden.  We don’t sit at a table doing workbooks and reading from textbooks.  We read lively, engaging stories and spend our time discussing interesting topics.  I alternate subjects they love (like history and science) with subjects they don’t love as much (like math).  We keep lessons as short as possible and I have a plan to keep us transitioning smoothly from one subject to the next.  I feel that frustrations arise when a parent doesn’t have a clear plan for the day.  Things fall apart if Mom or Dad has to scramble to find links or print pages.

I am not the only homeschooling parent who uses the “earn it” rule at home.  My friend Cori is trying this very idea in her homeschool this week.  Take a peek at her blog, Wonder in the Woods, and see how her boys are earning screen time for reading stories.  :-)