Sunday, August 29, 2010

From Where Does My Help Come?


I'm home this Lord's Day morning. Little Bit has a runny nose, a cough, and the worst case of "the runs" she's experienced to date. I am thankful for a washing machine, a bathtub, fresh running water, soap, and comet. Despite her not feeling well, it's been a quiet morning. It's been nice.


Last week marked the first full week of homeschooling. I wish I could tell you it was wonderful! Well, it was. The homeschool part was wonderful. But, by Friday evening, I had melted to tears. I'd been trying to get my floors swept/vacuumed since Monday. They'd gotten so nasty I didn't want to go barefoot. I'd been in bed by nine most nights and risen between 5:15 and 6 all but one morning, and still, there weren't enough hours in the day to accomplish my responsibilities. Upstairs was a wreck. My ironing pile had grown to massive heights. I felt like my house was out of control. And I was physically exhausted. And easily aggravated.


And it hit me. Roughly 12-15 hours of my week is now consumed with homeschooling. And my other responsibilities haven't lightened up an ounce. How do you recover that many hours? How do you make it work? The investment in our children is completely worth it. And it is hard.


One experienced homeschooling mama told me until my children are a little older, and more able to help with household responsibilities, I need to either hire help, or just let it go. I'm not hiring help. I don't want to let it go.

I am in the process of training our children to help. They make their beds, clean the guest bathroom, Sister puts her clothes away and Little Man carries his to his room, and Monday afternoons find us dusting the house - I put The Engineer's socks on their hands/arms and they dust the bottoms of the furniture. And right now, that takes more time than doing it myself. But, I know it will pay off in the near future, as they learn and develop the necessary skills and eye...

So...the first week was good. The time spent homeschooling was wonderful. But I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's been really hard to strike a balance. {And a good cry Friday night did help.}


But as hard as striking that balance is proving to be, the sacrifices are completely worth it. I wish you could hear Sister laugh. She has the most beautiful laugh and I am hearing it so much more. It's like a little wall around her heart has come down. It is good.


A friend of mine shared in her blog, regarding homeschooling her two boys, that it's as if homeschooling takes everything you want to make a priority and forces it to become a priority. I don't think I can put it any better than that.


It is hard. It is a sacrifice. And it is rich. And good. And wonderful. I wouldn't trade the time I am getting with our children for ANYTHING. God clearly called us on this path. His grace is sufficient. God forbid I drop my eyes and keep them on my floors.

15 comments:

  1. Jennifer,

    I know that you have mentioned before what an honor it is for you to work with young women and I know from my time at church with you that investing in them is important to you. Maybe you could find a "mother's helper" to come in, even just one day a week, to do some domestic tasks and help out with chores you just can't get to. It might not cost much since most tween/teen-aged girls will be will probably be glad for any extra spending money and the chance to earn credibility for future jobs. I know I would have loved this kind of "job" when I was 14ish. This might a compromise between not hiring someone and not letting it go.

    Also - I love Downy Wrinkle Reducer spray when I don't have time to iron. And Sister can even do it herself for her clothes the night before. Maybe you can find a "recipe" for it online to reduce the cost of buying it.

    Just some thoughts...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is hard! I think you are right. Training your children is the key. There is NO WAY I could homeschool and do what I was doing before if I was doing all the housework myself. I would be a jibbering idiot!

    Also, sometimes I take a day every now and then to catch up. Instead of homeschooling we do some of the chores that have been lacking. I have also compiled a list of "extras" for each day of the week in case a child tells me they are bored, or I might have some extra time during the day. We work on this manageable list and we manage to get a lot done. You are doing good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just ran onto your blog from Confessions. You just keep your eyes off the floor and on the prize, Girl! Your children are so very precious and I'm amazed at your diligence with them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hang in there J!!! Really, do hang in there....it is ALL worth it!! AND your floors will be seen again...not too much longer...you are almost there. You are right...keep your eyes on the LORD and off the floor and you will be just fine! Actually...you will be doing just GREAT!

    Gotta run at the moment!
    Just know I am sending love your way...and praying for you! :)

    With Love,
    Camille
    Hebrews 12:1-3

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have to tell you how blessed and encouraged my heart has been lately catching up on your blog. As a full time social working mom, I sometimes bring too much of my stress home to my boys. Your blog has reminded me how far my patience will go with these 2 precious ones...and their daddy, too. I know how hard it is to find time to keep the house up to par..I often take 15 minute breaks from work just to come home and rotate the laundry! It is important to remember that what God calls you to do, He will 'fit' you for..trust Him to do just that!
    APRIL

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this post. It just.... speaks my language :) We haven't begun yet but homeschool days are just around the corner. We're spending this VERY hot week pool hopping. Reading about your first week helps me to be ready for that experience that I always know is coming but am rarely truly prepared for how it hits. Have a good second week!

    Looove the pics of your daughter! I "right-cicked" because I like to scroll down to "properties" to see if the photographer has kept the exposure info in tact. I laughed out loud when yours said, "You know you shouldn't be doing that". Oh, so funny! Good one. Although I have no use of printing anyone's pics, I felt conspicuous! How did you set that up?
    I'm so busy shrinking my pics but that would work much better.

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sweet J,
    Your honesty always touches my heart. While I'm not glad MC was sick, I am glad that you got a morning to be quiet and still. I'm praying for you. You are investing in what's important and, happily, the one you love most doesn't notice the floors either ;)
    Also, since Heather mentioned it, I had to click on the pictures. That is hilarious. Love the piggies. She is too cute.
    Love you,
    cjc

    ReplyDelete
  8. Back again to say...sorry I was in a rush earlier and couldn't fully comment. I think your little one is VERY sweet and adorable and all that! :) So sorry she is not well and that you had the need of a good cry on Friday night...although I *do* understand!

    Blessings to you my friend!
    Love,
    Camille

    ReplyDelete
  9. Are you familiar with a blog called the Pleasant View Schoolhouse? It was written by a homeschooling Mom from down South who had a lot of really great insights. She no longer blogs, but the whole archive is up and online. Though her kids are older than yours, I think you'd enjoy it!

    I completely understand the power of a good cry. I think God made most women to do it every now and then, and then life is a bit better afterwards.

    ReplyDelete
  10. She's adorable even when sick. This past year I took some post graduate classes, and felt the same way. My house was being completely neglected. I didn't realize I was literally doing the bare minimum. Keeping things picked up and the laundry done. I know now because now that my classes are over and kids are back in school, I'm deep cleaning, and it's horrible! I didn't realize how bad my house got while I was just keeping up with the bare minimum.

    I know that is not what you wanted to hear, just sharing my experience! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  11. She's adorable even when sick. This past year I took some post graduate classes, and felt the same way. My house was being completely neglected. I didn't realize I was literally doing the bare minimum. Keeping things picked up and the laundry done. I know now because now that my classes are over and kids are back in school, I'm deep cleaning, and it's horrible! I didn't realize how bad my house got while I was just keeping up with the bare minimum.

    I know that is not what you wanted to hear, just sharing my experience! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ah, yes. So, so hard. And with the littles? Even harder.

    But your perspective is spot on. Eyes on Him, right?

    (ps-those eyes are killing me!!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are so sweet! I am right there with you! I can't hire someone and I am NOT going to let it go- for long:) It's so easy to get priorities out of whack when you're walking on a sticky floor and there is no where to put dirty dishes because the sink is already full of them. That's where I am today and this post was such an encouragement to me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am so glad that I decided to check on you via the blog tonight. Sorry about the sicknesses in the next few posts. I just prayed about homeschooling. You are doing a wonderful job and you are inspiring me. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great pics of Little Bit, J!!! I just want to put her in my pocket!
    And J, hang in there. I've watched my precious mama go through SO MUCH with homeschooling us, and I know she doesn't regret a minute of it! Just keep on focusing on your priorities and you'll find the balance in His timing! Love you, dear friend! Your family is precious!

    ReplyDelete