Tuesday, September 29, 2009

God Bless Danielle Bean!

As a homeschooling mom who often compares herself to what (she thinks) others are doing and accomplishing, I THANK GOD for moms like Danielle Bean who are putting their days out there (warts and all) for all to see.

THANK GOD, I'm not alone!

So often I am asked (with great amazement), "How do you DO it? How do you manage everything at home with SEVEN KIDS?"

Just like this article shows, real life is rarely glamorous and is often downright messy. I homeschool while holding a fussy two-year old who can't understand why I won't drop everything and get her all her little heart desires, and why I can't manage to put the (2 INCH long) doll shoes on her feet so she could go outside (no joke. That was a major, ugly battle. Whew.)

The house is often messy.

My children STILL forget to put their plates away after meals.

"Empty the dishwasher" is sure to elicit groans from the peanut gallery.

I spend my days cleaning, straightening up, mopping, bustling about, then returning to the kitchen and wondering why on earth the floor is sticky again.

Math makes one of my girls cry.

My children still think, after all these years of being told otherwise, that somehow TODAY is the day I will let them play a video game before homeschooling is over. If only they ask. Repeatedly.



Is it worth it, in spite of all the hassles? Of course it is. I wouldn't trade my life and put them into school for anything. I love all the time we spend together, and I KNOW that these episodes are being used for my benefit. I think that through all the "trials and tribulations" of everyday life we ALL are made holier as we learn to cooperate with God's grace... but my goodness, what an ugly and bumpy ride it often is!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

As usual, Ouiz, you're a fount of wisdom with a lot of wit to go with it. I needed that chuckle and encouragement today. Especially as I know full well that a certain someone will be begging me for computer time ad infinitum today, even though computer day was yesterday.

Ouiz said...

I didn't get to talk to you this afternoon... did you get those computer requests, too?

See, you just amaze me that you limit computer time to just one day a week. I don't know how you do it.

Amber said...

I too find it fascinating how children have an endless hope that TODAY will be the day they get to do some fun thing before chores/school/whatever. The fact that this has never happened before is not a deterrent to asking (or just trying, and seeing if mom notices). I'm so glad that my kids aren't the only ones who have this crazy hope!