Diary of a Homeschool Mom #6

Well, it’s been a hot minute since I wrote one of these blogs. Finding time to write when I have kids is more difficult than I had imagined. Especially when you are homeschooling the kiddos, working to keep a house at least livable, and trying to find time for yourself so you don’t lose your mind. It’s been a pretty busy time needless to say, but let’s dive into what has happened this past month, as I have neglected my writing.

We have gotten a flow down finally, though I do not expect this to last. Without the science course that my child hates, and my middle child finally taking off with her reading, things are much smoother, and there are far fewer arguments. There are still a few, though. If you thought homeschool looked like sunshine and rainbows all the time, you’d be very wrong. If I have to hear one more “BUT MOM I don’t WANNA do school,” I may just lose my mind. Like, kid, I’m sorry, but it’s either this or public school, but either way, you have to do school. I simply don’t make the laws.

We have dealt with some family stuff as well, which we handled quite well. Our van also shakes a lot, and I’m not going anywhere while it does more out of stubbornness but also a little bit of fear. 2 flat tires later, and I called it quits on driving for now. I didn’t like to drive anyway, but I have been homebound while we figure out what tires we want to get and make the appointments to realign a van that probably shouldn’t still be chugging around. But are we really homeschooling if we aren’t using a van that is as old as Kia?

I have been reminding myself to be more grateful in my daily life as well, worked hard to implement better daily habits like reading my bible, praying more, drinking water (not flavored water either, the real stuff. Shocker, I know), and adding daily core healing excercise to, my mornings in an effort to heal up and regain strength postpartmum. HIIT really kicks my butt. I much prefer pilates day. I am also reminded that men get actual difficult workouts to bulk up, while women get these sneaky toning exercises that trick us into thinking it’s going to be easy, and then we are on the floor panting because pilates is actually far more intensive than anyone wants to let on. Toning your body is work.

We went trick or treating and hung out for Halloween, but naturally, the girls decided halfway into my fun that it was time to whine, I mean, go home. Once again, I am humbled that this season of life looks a lot like giving-as I give the girls my time and myself to raise them. One day, I will be able to do more things for myself, but for now, I relish the smiles I get from the girls and the small breaks I get for writing.

I have also started my own personal bullet journal so that I can remember my days and look back at snapshots of my years and months. I have also gotten back into reading, devouring book after book now. Which is a refreshing change from my daily TV habits. I downloaded StoryGraph once more, but I do prefer my bullet journal method for a reading log.

Our chickens also went on strike, and we weren’t getting eggs for a hot minute. Now they are laying just enough, but I had to buy eggs these past two weeks, and I am very unhappy with them. 3-4 eggs a day is basically what I eat for breakfast, so they really aren’t earning their keep right now. Homesteading is fun, but not always rewarding.

That is basically what has happened this past month. October is a bit of a tough time for me since last year I lost one of my best friends unexpectedly in October. I’ve found that grief is not always linear, and some days I am fine and some days I am like HOLY COW I can’t pick up my phone and contact my bestie anymore. I am no stranger to grief, though, despite the looming winter (we like our sunshine in this house), I am enjoying my life to the fullest I can every day. Working to be grateful and make good memories. To appreciate every day that I am blessed with my beautiful girls.

You know, on those days when I am not arguing with a 6-year-old, that YES you do actually have to do your school work because it’s the law.