This week I am putting on my big girl pants and doing what’s needed over easy.
This school year started with me teaching Medieval History and Sign Language at a local school for homeschoolers. These are two subjects I am very passionate about teaching, so I was super excited!
My classes on Thursdays required me leaving my freshman homeschooler at home to do his school work unmonitored. At age 14 & 1/2 I never gave it a second thought! The boy has babysat his younger brother numerous times. Sadly, after 8 weeks, these have been the days he puts forth the least amount of effort to fly through his lessons in order to play XBox … for 4 hours.
I appreciate the filled in answers, I mean – hey … he ‘did’ something to appear like work. Yet somehow I deplore grading 58F assignments. Call me a stickler and a hater of deception.
To better help my son understand his choices are not helping him (grades, time, Family relationships), and in hopes of him not becoming the next unibomber – I have decided to quit my teaching job.
Needed Over Easy
I know I could be like most of his friends’ moms and just allow uninterrupted electronic time to go do what I want. Believe you me I hear constantly how strict I am compared to them. Its shocking we enforce chores before play time. The nerve! I know I’m a buzzkill, but I made a promise not to pick Easy.
Absolutely no disrespect to those moms who allow ‘all day electronics’ so they can ‘get things done’. I have my moments of weakness. I turn on the babysitter Hulu to drink coffee outside – alone! I am human. But their children might not have problems with keeping up their grades, responsibility, character, etc. we obviously still have work ahead of us.
I was really really hoping it was a one time mistake kinda thing, but Battlefront has destroyed Biology. And World History. And Honors English. Not to mention my time that is required now to check every single answer because ‘YUP’ just doesn’t cut it as a complete sentence in 9th grade.
I get my son is not grade motivated. I wasn’t either. He’s not a science nut. He is becoming disinterested in History (the horror). He is less interested in reading. He’s not really interested in the learning process. At.All.
Right now he wants to draw concept art, play guitar, hang out with friends, and sit on my couch shooting Rebel Leaders. I can’t blame him … I was a ‘latch key kid’ and slayed Tetris back in my day!
Yet, I believe he is capable of so much more! He might not see it in himself so it’s my job to continue to show him and believe in him. I am determined to Love him where he is at ~> which is probably the hardest part of parenting a teen <~
Needed Over Easy
I’m not sharing this for a pat on the back – that Homeschool Superhero podcast is outdated! I’m so over the Homeschool pressure of presenting perfection. I don’t need to give Homeschool a good name. I’m all for a glass of wine and chocolate right now. The good kind!
But I share this because 96% of my day is doubting myself, What happened? How do I reach him? Did I do something wrong? Wasn’t this supposed to get easier? We are definitely at the end of our homeschool journey. The boy goes to public school next year.
Then I flick on the news and see the hate, discontent, shootings, hurricanes, etc. and think … oh my goodness how dare I complain!!
My kid is awesome! He is doing an excellent job serving 1st grade AWANA. (Yes, I had to make him sign up, but he’s loving it!) He is creative and an amazing artist! He is talented and a budding musician. When I continue to find opportunities for him to shine – in his gifting – he shines!
We recently walked down the Phoenician Steps in Capri, Italy. It’s a stone staircase etched out of the side of a giant rock mountain. 921 uncomfortably steep curvy stairs. Super old! I realized that parenting is a lot like hiking down the Phoenician Steps.
~> each sketchy step looks terrifying.
~> each step feels unsafe and ridiculously dangerous.
~> you have to avoid the loose stones without a firm foundation or it’ll trip you up.
~> it is taxing on you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
~> if you’re not in shape you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.
~> rushing it will lead to hurt.
~> you have to be in the moment, but if you don’t look out over all of it you’ll miss the beauty!!
~> finishing is crazy rewarding !!
Crazy Rewarding!!
I’m not done parenting – I have more steps to carefully hike down. Steep steps! Choices we are making are needed over easy.