Ever had one of those days where your foot has to come down as nothing else is actually happening? You know, the work from home or home ed or ‘weekend project’ days where NOTHING seems to actually happen?
Well three days into Term 3 we have had one of those days. The context, briefly, is that my two delightful children have ‘told me to teach them’ directly. They want more challenging work and they want it now! The life of this home educating mother has never fitted a mould. One day is all hands in the air natural, rebellious free for all learning, next it’s watching children sit mindlessly in front of Youtube while they only really say “mum can you get me a sandwich etc” and then have a MEGA melt down when it’s… shock horror…. bed time! “But I’m just watching this one last one!”
THEN they had the nerve to say “we only sit watching Youtube because YOU don’t make us work!”…. hahaha problem fixed, easy peasy.. I’ve got a degree in Teaching (aka how to order around children until they learn dem numbers and fancy letter things!) “ok, off the computers then, let’s ‘learn’”…. can you IMAGINE the moans and tantrums? I shudder at the memory!
We’ve taken 2 weeks ‘off’ between Terms 2 and 3, just like every other schooled child in NSW. During that time they had a blast! Not only mucking about but really enjoying their actual holiday. They knew, from my very polite sit downs that ‘work is a comin’! True to my word we sat down on day 1 and they took in my little “Term 3 we’ll be doing this that and the other BRILLIANTLY! They were prepared, excited, I’d put in ALL of my free time (my whole 24 hours off from childcare) into planning out the most interesting, purposeful and fun Term EVER… it’s got excursions, bike rides, self directed learning, puzzles, designing, science classes etc etc. Day 2…. yeah mmm ok not to bad…. Day 3…… TODAY WAS DAY 3! and BAM!!! down comes the excuses off the top shelf! What they didn’t know is that I’m outta juice! I’m running on empty! I’m not about to put up with this nonsense! I let that delightful boy of mine have it and GUESS WHAT? The rascal did his work plus extra without anymore moaning…. he was even smiling!
I put them to bed with stern words and a promise that if they pull anymore crapsicles on me tomorrow I’m going into strict mode! And if they can’t get work done in those conditions it’s off to the factory for them! Not something either of them want.
Once we are in a flow all this will be forgotten though, so I thought I’d pen this down in the hope that anyone who has experienced the same “throw something at the child then throw the towel into the ring” feeling will know, that even this mild mannered Montessorian mum sometimes, just sometimes, feels EXACTLY the same way!
As THOUSANDS of children head off to school today, it’s a great time to remember what that institution is… it’s ONE of the venues your child attends where they learn. Your home, the world, their friend’s house, the shops… the park, the beach, the *insert here* is another. LEARNING happens regardless, no matter where they are.
