How To Mother and Homeschool Your Children

     Trying to be a kind and loving mother (Mama) while homeschooling can be an enormous struggle! Raise of hands?? ✋✋

    Finding the balance between home life and home school is something I continue to struggle with daily. I am just as easily distracted as my children most days. We sit down at our "allotted time" (whenever we get to the table most days) and begin work. I do not allow snacks at the table only water bottles (With lids!! That's very important). I must sit at the table to ensure certain children continue working. I also grade each child's Pace (ACE School of Tomorrow) as they finish them so they may correct the mistakes before we end the school day. 

    Yet, there are so many things I see from my seat at the table that need doing. The laundry machine beeps finished, and I hop up to swap it only to return to my position and find someone coloring or creating a carving out of their pencil. Correction ensues and another child asks for a snack. Since we've only been working 15 minutes, I make them wait. 

I notice a few flies that have snuck in the house while the door was left open, and I set off with my swatter to end them. Now everyone is watching my feeble attempts at murdering these disgusting insects instead of attending to their schoolwork. One child dares to ask me for help while I'm in the middle of my crusade! Frustrated but knowing I should help the child, I put down the swatter and head back to my station. 

Forgetting all about the flies while I begin to grade the Paces, I feel the need to use the restroom after downing my 40 ounces of flavored water from my Pink Stanley cup. Of course, I take my phone with me and get lost in the Instagram reels that my husband sent me the night before. Sending replies and then realizing I've been in the restroom way too long when I hear fighting coming from the table. I swiftly return and regain control of the class. 

Everyone is starving at this point, it's been 45 minutes since breakfast, and begging for a snack. I once again defer until later and continue to scroll Instagram while awaiting Pace's to grade. I of course have my headphones in one ear so as not to disturb the students. 

After 30 more minutes go by and one child has completed her (I mean their) whole day's work while the others are still on the first subject, I decide I should find something productive to do while I continue to sit and wait. I put her to work doing chores, and then she has the option to play outside. I pull up my Canva app and begin to work on things for the church. 

Once again, I'm disturbed by a child needing help, but don't they realize I'm working on things for the church! I can't be bothered in this moment, or I'll lose all concentration and so I make them go on to something else until I finish. 

Now it's lunch time, but first I must grade the finished Pace's and help the one who I, unfortunately, put off before. I am internally very frustrated with myself for not being more focused on the task at hand and regret looking for other tasks to pass the time. (Even though the tasks needed doing.)

We break for lunch and spend 30-45 minutes away from school before we trudge back towards the table to finish. Usually another is finished by now, but 9 times out of 10 there will still be 2 more solemn students working at what seems a snail's pace to complete the day's work. 

My house is a mess, I'm still not fully dressed, and my hair is in some wacky bun or hairclip. I'm also freezing from sitting here for so long, so I've added a hoodie and socks to my already lovely outfit. Thankfully, I remembered to set the meat out to thaw for supper tonight. Then I realize, it's a church night, so we all have to find nice clothes, do our hair and have supper early. 

***NOT EVERYDAY IS LIKE THIS BUT MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT***

How do we keep this from happening? How do we keep up with household cleaning, cooking, bills (all the church work I do on top of that), and homeschooling? 

1. Have a Schedule
1. Realize that you must be flexible: life happens, give yourself grace.
2. Realize that you must be firm: life happens, toughen up! 
2. Have a Plan
1. Each week will be different, plan accordingly.
2. Each day may need a different plan of attack. Trial and Error.
3. Practice makes Perfect
1. You're not perfect, but you can work on it. If you fall, get up and try again. 
2. Your kids aren't perfect, but they can try. Routine and consistency will help. 

I hope my "day in the life" gave you a smile or made you feel better about yourself. It's just an honest glimpse into my mind and my imperfection. I love my children and I do try and they try and that's all we can ask. Just keep trying and working towards being better every day. ✌💕