A Day in the Life...

This is for all my homeschool friends or other moms who read way too many blogs about families that do everything "perfect."

I get tired of reading articles about the day in a life of a homeschool family where they do everything the way "it is supposed to be done." While those moms were up at 5 a.m. working out and having quiet time before taking a shower and waking the kids, I was still in the bed trying to figure out when exactly Julia crawled in there with me. At 6:30, I hear Allan get out of the bed to get the big kids up for school, and I keep attempting to sleep.

Once I do start the day, it never begins with a shower. It always begins with a Mt. Dew while nursing Hannah and praying Juila doesn't destroy anything in that 30 minutes. All that happens while Abigail tries to find her assignment sheet that I have already printed for her each day over and over.

When Hannah is content (for about 5 minutes), I start Abigail's reading lesson. I am still praying Julia doesn't destroy the house and try to entertain her with preschool workbooks and coloring books. Once we get started, Hannah will need to be held and Julia will begin drawing on any surface she can find with a Sharpie.

I attempt to clean up the kitchen from breakfast (which happened while I was still in the bed) and maybe get laundry folded while monitoring Abigail's math and other lessons. I tell Abigail about 20 times how much longer until her break while reminding her over and over again where her assignment sheet is located.

The day progresses like this until my Superman hubby comes home and makes lunch. We eat, and Julia destroys the table... but is so cute while she does it! Abigail asks me 10 times if she has to have reading time or can she watch TV, and I answer the same each time (although it doesn't stop her from asking). I get Julia down for a nap (on a good day), have Abigail reading on a bed (any bed... just not hers because it is the same room with Juila) and dream about Hannah taking a nap.

Then, Allan picks up the big kids from school, and I spend the next hour and half going over homework, asking them four thousand times if they have done their chores the RIGHT way, and giving out snacks.

Many days, we have several different sports going on at the YMCA, and Allan and I simply shuttle back and forth all evening. We try to get dinner on the table at a reasonable time and start with chores again.

It is simply CHAOS. And, yes, Julia is still destroying the house through the process. However, at 8, we all gather up on the couches for a Bible time and prayer (most nights to be honest), and I remember why we do it all.

Now... that is a true day in the life of a homeschool mom.... and no, I never did get a shower! And, yes, I wouldn't trade it for the world.