For the past two months I've been planning for this, the first day of the 2011-2012 homeschool year.
I informed my son two nights ago that 11 pm is just too late to be staying up when school starts. During the summer staying up late and sleeping in until 9 am is a blessing. I'm able to get a lot done, and he is bright and cheery when he finally emerges from his cocoon in the morning. There isn't the usual whining and complaining of lessons to complete. He's a free bird, as am I, to do as he pleases.
But as the summer progressed he started sleeping in later and later. Suddenly I was having visions of a 20-something yr old, unemployed, dependent on me for everything, young man who didn't have the desire or drive to do anything with his life. So I put my foot down, and my son went to bed at 9 pm the few nights before our big day. He should be ready to hit the books after breakfast at 9 o'clock.
I woke up early at 6 am and after my devotions and coffee I thought to myself, "I have plenty of time to get some things done before my son wakes up."
So, I decided to start purging some of the boxes I haven't been able to get to since we moved a year and a half ago. This started a downward spiral of events that put the complete ca-bosh on my plans, because plain and simple, I am the most unorganized purger.
I had a trash bag and a box for giveaway all ready. My mind was prepared for the "handle it only once" rule, and I had my timer set for one hour. GO!
So what went wrong? Well, I worked myself into a corner and left no room for a quick get away. It would be comical if it made any sense, but the only explanation for the disaster is I have an issue with the "only handle it once" rule. I made a pile for this, a pile for that, my box for giveaway was completely empty, and the trash ended up on the opposite side of the room from the trash bag.
Disgusted I threw my hands up, waded through the piles to the door, and went to wake my son.
I entered his room all cheery and bright. Opening the curtains I then leaned over to give him a morning kiss and said with a smile on my face, "Good morning! It's time to get up sleepy head."
"Ah mom, do I haf ta?"
Lets just say my smile didn't last long, but in the end I won.
After breakfast, a shower, and quiet time, day 1 officially began. (Did I mention it was my son who got the breakfast and shower, not I?) After instructing him on what lessons needed to be done I went to grab that shower. I figured there's no reason he can't get started on his own? Right? Wrong.
Standing half unclothed in the bathroom I hear, "Mom, how do I do this?"
I roll my eyes, redress, and make my way into the other room, all the while praying I will get my shower.
We're using new curriculum this year so I tried to understand, but what could have been an easy 2 min. instruction time turned into 2 hours. My day does not seem to be going as I'd wished.
Now it's time to prepare my mother's lunch and I still hadn't had a shower. I fixed my son's lunch at the same time thinking this would enable me to take care of my needs while they ate.
They were seated, mouths were full, everything seemed ok, so I headed for the bathroom. No sooner had I shut the door when...
"Mom, grandma won't leave me alone."
I have an 8 yr old and a 68 yr old, and they both act 5 yrs old. (Love ya mom, but really?) Putting these kind of fires out seem to be a daily thing lately. Unfortunately, my presence is required in order to keep the peace.
The day pretty much progressed well after that. My son and I love his new curriculum, and we are both excited to have the freedom to dig deeper into what interests him the most.
I did finally get that shower. And what about the piles leftover from the "purge"?
Well that's another post for another day.
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:1-3
photo credit: Avolore
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