a long time.
I
bought some DriGlo hand towels on a clearance table at Myer 23 years
ago. I am sad to say that today after many years of good use that one
of them has torn when I was stretching it out to straighten the
decorative stitching section.
These hand towels are still thick
and fluffy after 23 years and I am quite happy to know that I got my
money's worth all those years ago.
I even emailed the company to say so.
Best wishes
Jen
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Decisions, Responsibility and Burnout
I wonder if part of the reason homeschool mums get burnt out is due to the constant pressure. I know it isn't huge, but it does take a lot more personal strength to go against the flow of society around us.
As a homeschool mother I have a lot more freedom but with that freedom also comes more responsibility. As a homeschool mother I choose what we do each day, I choose how our time is spent for every moment. There are constant decisions to be made and the occasional overload and stress from all that responsibility that goes with the decisions can drag me under.
We are different to the rest of the population in more ways than how we spend our days. In a big generalisation a "normal" person doesn't have to make as many decisions as we do. They choose their job, but their boss chooses their hours, their workplace and the way and materials for doing their job. And at the end of the day if something goes wrong the boss has to figure out a solution or wear the cost. This way of living starts in school, where again, all the decisions are premade by others.
If we fit into the school system well as a child and got trained by it well then we are more used to the concept of not having so many decisions or so much responsibility. To then become a mother and a homeschooling mother we have to change. We rebel against the norm and we take responsibility for all the decisions.
It can be draining, not only because we may find ourselves feeling very isolated but also because we have the same responsibility as a boss for our children. Only with us the responsibility covers a lot more areas of life and the repercussions of those decisions are ours and our childrens. We can't hire and fire different employees to help our "business" run better. We are It.
Some days I just want someone else to make the decisions. But by putting my kids in school and maybe getting a part time job I am still making decisions, aren't I? I still have to decide what is the best way to do things according to my values.
You know what!? I just want to do a huge dummy spit! Is it okay for a 40 something year old woman with 4 children to throw a tanty and say I don't wanna?
Ahh well, back to the grindstone.
Best wishes
Jen
As a homeschool mother I have a lot more freedom but with that freedom also comes more responsibility. As a homeschool mother I choose what we do each day, I choose how our time is spent for every moment. There are constant decisions to be made and the occasional overload and stress from all that responsibility that goes with the decisions can drag me under.
We are different to the rest of the population in more ways than how we spend our days. In a big generalisation a "normal" person doesn't have to make as many decisions as we do. They choose their job, but their boss chooses their hours, their workplace and the way and materials for doing their job. And at the end of the day if something goes wrong the boss has to figure out a solution or wear the cost. This way of living starts in school, where again, all the decisions are premade by others.
If we fit into the school system well as a child and got trained by it well then we are more used to the concept of not having so many decisions or so much responsibility. To then become a mother and a homeschooling mother we have to change. We rebel against the norm and we take responsibility for all the decisions.
It can be draining, not only because we may find ourselves feeling very isolated but also because we have the same responsibility as a boss for our children. Only with us the responsibility covers a lot more areas of life and the repercussions of those decisions are ours and our childrens. We can't hire and fire different employees to help our "business" run better. We are It.
Some days I just want someone else to make the decisions. But by putting my kids in school and maybe getting a part time job I am still making decisions, aren't I? I still have to decide what is the best way to do things according to my values.
You know what!? I just want to do a huge dummy spit! Is it okay for a 40 something year old woman with 4 children to throw a tanty and say I don't wanna?
Ahh well, back to the grindstone.
Best wishes
Jen
Monday, March 11, 2013
How to Annoy Your Kids
There are some things that are just fun to do to your kids. One of mine is to chant in cheerleader fashion the quietest kid's name and dance around too. He blushes and smiles indulgently at his silly mum. Another way is to give squeezy hugs. The bad bit there is that they are starting to return them. :-)
Recently my school kids have been leaving lunches uneaten and don't seem to be even drinking much water while at school. I have threatened them with a CD of me educating (nagging?) them about all the good things that are in their lunch boxes and why they need to eat them. I figure I can play it on the way to and from school.
This morning the older of the 2 school going kids checked out if I could really do it. I proved I could by telling him the process I would use to get my talking onto a CD. He was a bit concerned. :-) Good!
Jo, over at All the Blue Day, posted this link about big family rules in the last few days. I think this mother could be a mum after my own heart. Very funny!
I really do think "annoying" our kids is one very good way to release tension yet still have a good laugh. Creative parenting maybe?!
Best wishes
Jen
Recently my school kids have been leaving lunches uneaten and don't seem to be even drinking much water while at school. I have threatened them with a CD of me educating (nagging?) them about all the good things that are in their lunch boxes and why they need to eat them. I figure I can play it on the way to and from school.
This morning the older of the 2 school going kids checked out if I could really do it. I proved I could by telling him the process I would use to get my talking onto a CD. He was a bit concerned. :-) Good!
Jo, over at All the Blue Day, posted this link about big family rules in the last few days. I think this mother could be a mum after my own heart. Very funny!
I really do think "annoying" our kids is one very good way to release tension yet still have a good laugh. Creative parenting maybe?!
Best wishes
Jen
Friday, March 1, 2013
Public School Update after Week 5
I am having to learn a whole new language it seems with school. Even though the kids started back midweek the weeks are counted as 5 even though it was really only 4 and 2 days.
Jack, the almost 11 year old, still doesn't like going to school. It isn't tears, more just a question asked in a hopeful tone, "Can I be homeschooled again?". I know this year will be "hard" for him but as long as I see him learning how to cope and not collapsing into a heap of tears or other symptoms of stress, he will be continuing on with this year of school.
His teacher says that he has troubles organising himself and doesn't cope well when he doesn't understand what needs to be done. I have also noticed that papers tend to get lost in his bag and things missed. I have purchased a ring binder with two pockets to put in it, one for "Things to go Home" and one for "Things to go to School". I have also included a calendar for the rest of term and a homework checklist. I am hoping that by working with his teacher on this that we may be able to help him be more organised.
The teacher has been quite good. At first I didn't think he would be approachable but he is easy to talk to and we are commiserating together and also talking about solutions. The other day in the school yard when picking the boys up he commented on some of the troubles that Jack has been having, sounding quite concerned, and I told him that I have bad allergies to grass and have basically been laid out for 2 weeks with infected sinuses. I said that a bad day at school was better than nothing done at home due to me being sick. He smiled. He is an older gentleman, sort of serious most of the time, so that surprised me.
Harry, the now 8 year old (sob!), is going well. At least it appears that way. He gets to talk to me a lot at home, explaining his thought processes. He doesn't get to do that at school and I wonder if it is making him a little sad. It is hard to tell as he is a quiet introvert type. I think I need to catch up with his teacher soon, even if only by email.
I volunteered at the canteen/tuck shop today. (Why does each state in Australia call it something different?) I got asked for my Anzac biscuit recipe. It was busy but I thought I did well. I will probably never "fit in" but I was like that anyway even before I became a homeschooler. I just have to be myself. If I say so myself I am not too hard to get along with, I just don't cope well with big groups. Apparently they don't "fire" anyone so even if I make mistakes I will still be back for another Friday morning in 2 weeks time. :-)
Well, off to do my junk mail job. Photos of the birthday boy to come! (Yes Mum, I will do it this weekend!)
Best wishes
Jen
Jack, the almost 11 year old, still doesn't like going to school. It isn't tears, more just a question asked in a hopeful tone, "Can I be homeschooled again?". I know this year will be "hard" for him but as long as I see him learning how to cope and not collapsing into a heap of tears or other symptoms of stress, he will be continuing on with this year of school.
His teacher says that he has troubles organising himself and doesn't cope well when he doesn't understand what needs to be done. I have also noticed that papers tend to get lost in his bag and things missed. I have purchased a ring binder with two pockets to put in it, one for "Things to go Home" and one for "Things to go to School". I have also included a calendar for the rest of term and a homework checklist. I am hoping that by working with his teacher on this that we may be able to help him be more organised.
The teacher has been quite good. At first I didn't think he would be approachable but he is easy to talk to and we are commiserating together and also talking about solutions. The other day in the school yard when picking the boys up he commented on some of the troubles that Jack has been having, sounding quite concerned, and I told him that I have bad allergies to grass and have basically been laid out for 2 weeks with infected sinuses. I said that a bad day at school was better than nothing done at home due to me being sick. He smiled. He is an older gentleman, sort of serious most of the time, so that surprised me.
Harry, the now 8 year old (sob!), is going well. At least it appears that way. He gets to talk to me a lot at home, explaining his thought processes. He doesn't get to do that at school and I wonder if it is making him a little sad. It is hard to tell as he is a quiet introvert type. I think I need to catch up with his teacher soon, even if only by email.
I volunteered at the canteen/tuck shop today. (Why does each state in Australia call it something different?) I got asked for my Anzac biscuit recipe. It was busy but I thought I did well. I will probably never "fit in" but I was like that anyway even before I became a homeschooler. I just have to be myself. If I say so myself I am not too hard to get along with, I just don't cope well with big groups. Apparently they don't "fire" anyone so even if I make mistakes I will still be back for another Friday morning in 2 weeks time. :-)
Well, off to do my junk mail job. Photos of the birthday boy to come! (Yes Mum, I will do it this weekend!)
Best wishes
Jen
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