Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all of your household and homeschooling responsibilities? Are you over-run and/or outsmarted by one or more of your children? That's what I'm going through right now and it's driving me crazy. On top of it all, I have a terrible headache that I can't get rid of.
I do have a chiropractic appointment this afternoon, so that part will be taken care of. The others are the bigger problems though. I decided to just do this rambling post in hopes that a) It will help me see things more clearly, b) you might have some suggestions for me, and c) I'll feel better. So here goes.
My entire house is a mess, covered with piles of clean and dirty laundry, stacks of bills to be paid and account statements, shoes and more shoes, and just plain dirt. The windows are dirty, the floors are filthy and my sheets need to be washed. We have accomplished much of our homeschooling duties today thus far and supper is on the stove, so the whole day has not been a wash.
My two oldest children are doing a remarkable job at their school work this year, and are huge helpers to me around the house. I can leave them a messy kitchen and come home to a perfectly clean one, I can completely neglect the dogs and the chickens and they'll take care of things for me. They are just amazing!
It's children number 3 and 4 that I'm struggling with - mainly child 3 - 9 year old boy. Since his birth I have often wondered if I should take him in for psychiatric examination, or if not him then me. He was my early walker and thumbsucker. He has always seemed to need constant attention from me. He doesn't eat much and that's been a struggle because I've wondered if his moods are a result of nutritional deficiency. Did I mention that he is extremely active?!
He can be such a sweetie and a charmer and turn around to become a demon and a bear. He's incredibly smart, but I have so much trouble teaching him. He's a super-advanced reader who could stay up all night reading. He's got great leadership skills that make the rest of us depend on him in times of crisis or need. But he's so stubborn and when he gets an idea in his head it is just so tough to change his mind. If you try to make him do something that he doesn't want to do or stop doing something he's doing, he cries, whines, screams, throws things, hits, bangs his head on the wall, and/or cries so more.
His charm has been a good thing and a bad one, because it makes us all forget his terrible behavior and thus let him get by with things that no other child in the house can. His brothers, even those he is regularly nasty to, just love playing with him and constantly seek him out as a companion.
Wow, I feel better already just writing this out. Got to go now, but I'll write more later. Thanks so much dear readers for being there. Prayers, suggestion and words of support are welcome! Happy Tuesday.
Oh, and here's a photo of him, in disguise to protect his identity.
Oh I have had many days like that! Sometimes it helps me to take a day off to just get caught up on the house! It is hard job to homeschool and keep up with the house and everything! That is great your older two help so much-older kids are great!
Regarding the tantrums, check out the site, raising godly tomatoes! It is a wonderful book-which you can read at the website!
Posted by: Lynn | October 14, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Oh I'm so sorry! :( I hope today is going better [and that your headache is gone!]. You know I have long struggled with the house being a mess, and I don't have any answers for you there [let me know if you find the answer!]. I know that my house is MUCH cleaner now that I'm not able to homeschool and have the kids in public school, BUT, I'd go back to the messy house in order to homeschool in a second if our situation was different, so that's not an answer.
I have a couple of very *intense* children like you are describing - it IS so hard. I guess I don't have an answer for that really, other than prayer and love [by that I mean I make special effort to be loving to them when they AREN'T acting out to encourage that more0] and holding on by your fingernails on the bad days... and not shooting him. I've found it is good not to shoot them, even on days when they need shootin'. :)
God bless you Vicki - you are in my prayers today. Hope it is a better day.
Posted by: Kelly | October 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM
I agree that taking a break is the answer. Sometimes I find that just skipping one or two lessons is enough, other times I take a whole day off. Everyone benefits from this. I also like the philosophy of flylady for housekeeping. Set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on one room. Stay focused and get to work. When the timer goes off, that's it. You are done. I was amazed at how much just 15 minutes of focused work will improve the appearance of any room.
Posted by: Jessica | October 14, 2009 at 01:47 PM