"Ahh ... this is the way it's supposed to be!" moments
1. Seeing my children eagerly reading to themselves.
2. Science diagrams voluntarily made and hanging on my kitchen wall.
3. A new reader reading to her little brothers.
4. "I'm so glad we homeschool, Mom."
5. "Thanks for homeschooling us, Mom."
6. Five children gathered at the kitchen tables, absorbed in art projects.
7. Overhearing my children acting out the book I just read to them.
8. "This is my favorite book!"
9. Extra children gathering as I read to one or two for their unit study.
10. Six kids snuggled happily on the couch while Mom reads aloud.
11. "Can we do spelling, Mom? I love spelling!"
12. Older siblings helping younger siblings.
13. Children writing books together.
14. Children voluntarily listening to books on tape in their bedrooms.
15. Chores that get done quickly, cheerfully, without reminding.
16. "Mom, we need another baby."
17. Siblings loving on each other.
18. "Daddy, Daddy! Look what we did!"
19. "Can you read this to me?"
20. "Can we go to the library?"
21. "Yeah! We're learning about the knights (or samurai, or Egypt) next!"
22. "Look, we got new school books in the mail!"
23. "Mom, is my chart for the week ready yet?"
24. "Cool! We've got worksheets this week!"
25. Hugs from my children in the middle of the day.
"Hey! This isn't the way it's supposed to be!" moments
1. Leaving the library with more videos than books.
2. Children fighting over who gets to pick the THIRD movie of the day.
3. "I hate school!"'
4. Six kids pushing and shoving and saying "I can't see" while I try to read aloud.
5. "I hate math!"
6. "I don't wanna ..."
7. "I can't!"
8. "This book is boring."
9. Fighting and bickering of any kind.
10. Chores dragged out for hours amid great whining and bickering.
11. "I don't want to touch that ... it's his."
12. "Just be glad you homeschool! If you went to public school, you'd have already been doing seatwork for 2 hours. So quit complaining and get busy!"
13. "Are we done yet?"
14. Children sneaking off to play every time I turn my back.
15. Siblings teasing each other about their weak areas in school.
At least I can think of more "Aah" moments than "Hey!" moments.
Blessings,
April
