We haven’t even started our new homeschool year, and I have to admit to you all that today just kicked my trash can. I wrote in the last post about being willing to drive my kids so many places…well, today was just too much for me. I met The Captain for lunch (that part was nice and relaxed) and then took Daughter the younger to buy some shoes and pants- it really needed to be done, her shoes were looking pretty bad! From there we had a music lesson, and then the kids had been begging me to take them somewhere, so I took them swimming at the grandparents (they live in the neighborhood, so I figured it was the least time commitment option) from there it was 2 more music lessons, and then another lesson in another city. We were running late and I was out of gas. sigh.
I am so fried.
the kind of fried when you should be doing constructive things on the computer, or laundry…but you just want to sit down with a bowl of ice cream and watch mindless girl t.v.
(which is what I will be doing next…!)
I am re-considering the “driven” thing. I don’t want another day like today.
How about you? Do you feel driven to let your kids experience classes and opportunities you didn’t have?
- I kid you not, my kids are on their way to bed right now, and one of them just asked me “so, what are we going to do tomorrow?”
ayyyyyy!!!!
Genevieve, homeschool mom who has found her secret place. Confession is supposed to be good for the soul. That, or just entertaining. Grab a drink, and I'll spill.
I tell you, what is it about us mothers {and fathers} who just refuse to believe that anyone else goes through the same stuff as we do? At least that’s how I am! I sat here, reading your post, thinking, “Man, it’s like looking in a virtual mirror!” While I only have one, the desire to give her more experiences and opportunities than I had is overwhelming.
In a few short months during last year’s school year, I quickly realized we were being overrun by field trips and extras, and it had to stop. Yet here I sit, having “limited” our activities, and we’re still at two Girl Scout meetings a month, a co-op meeting a month, a music lesson a month, twice a week soccer plus a game, etc. Well, if nothing else, our workboxes are working for us…
)
Anyway, great post! Love your blog!
Visiting from the HOP. I do have those moments! Right now we have theater on Wed am, soccer practice Wed pm, co-op Thu am, co-op PE Thu pm and we watch a homeschooling friend on Fridays. THAT is my limit. Luckily, my boys are interested in percussion and my hubby is percussionist extraordinaire so he takes care of that at home – no driving for me. We do have field trips that come up but I try to limit them. And I use the file system and thank goodness for them or we’d never get anything done.
)
I hate driving. It doesn’t take much driving to leave me with a migraine. and long driving trips= panic attacks.
My 17 yr old is taking a class at a local college. He rides his bike.
The 13,15 yr olds take a Wed class in town. I had them ride their bikes today and it was AWESOME to not have to drive them!!!
I do drive Ki to a cooking class a few times a month (35 minute drive) and every other Saturday I drive the boys to an outdoor activity (Amtgard) it’s 35 minutes away, too.
I’m glad we don’t do the co-op anymore , I miss the people, but not the driving (most of the people all moved out of state anyway)
Rest Up!!!
(hipHomeschoolHop)
We used to travel a lot in the summers with my dad’s business. Mind you there were four of us so I can not even imagine how much work that was for my mom. But she did it because she wanted us to have something she had not had as a kid. And one time she came to tell us about another trip that was coming up that she thought we would be excited about. And one of us asked if we could just stay home and ride our bikes. To which the rest of us quickly agreed.
I think there is a limit to how much you really need to do. Find your limit and go with it. At least that is what I do.
I am so glad to read this! I know so many people like what you posted in your first post about being driven. They drive their kids everywhere, they want them to get out and experience everything! The thought of it wears me out! We don’t drive a lot of places, but we do a ton of stuff as a family, and they play with the neighborhood kids. They play with kids at church and Bible study, but I am stretched so thin already. I can’t imagine trying to get through a day like you described!
(visiting from the HipHomeschoolHop)
Stopping by from Hop!
No way! I found another mom who hasn’t started school yet! woohoo, i’m not all alone!! And as far as the driving, it’s ridiculous with my five! We live in the car, eat in the car, do school in the car. You could eat and dress yourself for 4 days from all the stuff in my suburban right now.
So glad to have found you!
We had a crazy year last year, we were in the car way too much. I said no to everything this year and it has been good, so very, very good. I found you through the Hop!
Genevieve, first let me thank you for the kind words my blog! Second let me say ‘what a beautiful blog you have here!’
… and third, I’m with you on the whole driving the kids around thing. I’m grateful for the once a week Co-Op days! My daughter was a public school girl (who is grown now) with all those extra things; band, cheerleading, track, etc… and it wore me out! I’ll be praying for you! Lord bless!
Tiffany,
I think we must be twins!! I have before, gone through and limited our activities, but they just seem to creep back in!!
this year is by far the worst. I don’t know if I’ll survive.
I emailed you
Robinella & Kimberly,
thanks for visiting from the hop! I hear you!
Andrea,
yes, agreed- there is a limit. I’m just not sure where it is most days. Thank you for your story, it does paint a picture of seeing it from another side…
Harter,
thanks for visiting from the Hop! I emailed you!
Krista
hee-hee, I’m thinking of all the goldfish and cheerios rolling around my van..we could live for weeks on it if ever stranded.
Jen,
thank you so much for your comment on my post about driving my kids around
way too much…
your plan of staying home sounds divine to me!
This year is looking like the craziest yet- I waffle back and forth in my
mind about cutting way back, or just riding it out. My oldest will be
driving next year, I keep thinking that will help in a big way.
enjoy your simpler school year,
I will be by to visit your blog-
Rose,
thank you for your lovely comment. You make my heart swell.
Classic problem. I’m just too old for it anymore.
But seriously, I have four kids ages: 26, 22, 16, and 8. I’m now in my 21st year of home-schooling. I am almost 49 years OLD! I just don’t have the energy to run my 8 year old around like I did with my older ones. Surprisingly he does not seem to care. I believe the lesson is that our child will not miss what they don’t have. It’s more important that I survive another 10 years to raise him.
I hear about how home-school parents run their kids around everywhere while they’re trying to squeeze in all the schoolwork they have to do (probably doing too much of that too) – and I just quietly smile and shake my head cuz…until you figure it out for yourself, you probably aren’t going to get off that treadmill.
Good luck with your year. I came over from the Hip Homeschool Hop. Would love to have you stop by my website and let me know what you think!
Just stopping by from the Homeschool Hop – and I can definitely relate. I’ve had my kids ask – on our way home after being out the entire day – “So where are we going now?” LOL! I’m trying to figure out if they naturally like being on the go or if it’s something they’ve picked up from me.