Beyond Bringing Up Boys

When I began seeking the advice of "veteran" home schooling moms, two words kept being repeated. "Be flexible." Sounds so easy. But naturally, flexibility and I do not go hand-in-hand. I love schedules. I like to make schedules. I like to cross out things that have been accomplished---you get the idea. So, my Friday "schedule" goes something like this. Get up by 5:30 and make and eat breakfast with David. Shower, get dressed, put on make-up (thank goodness for that, it hides a multitude of imperfections). If the boys are not up by 7Am, wake them, they make their beds, shower, and then they have breakfast. Then we do piano before I take Zachary to His Masters Voice (HMV), a 70 voice concert choir that consists of other home-schooled children grades 6-12. While Zach is at HMV I run to Kroger to pick up any sale items. Then I come home fix lunch and do the rest of my grocery shopping at Wal-Mart after lunch. Are you tired yet? Maybe bored, I don...

It was 6:50 this morning when I heard the distinctive footsteps of my middle son ambling down the hallway. Distinctive steps—kind of like a duck without the quacking—thank goodness-- because he is flat-footed; A trait, he says he likes because his “feet stick to the floor!” I was seated at my desk/dining room table reviewing the day's lessons. “Mom,” his eyes lit up, “Can we start school now? I could be done by noon.” Not wanting to quench a desire to learn—no matter the motive—I agreed. He quickly clutched his pencil box in one hand and grabbed his journal in the other and sat down to begin his “Do Now.” I sat beside him still looking over lessons—Math to be exact—when a sound escaped that I thought best to ignore but I looked to him, hoping to at least hear an “excuse me, please.” Instead he smiled sheepishly, and said with his lisp, “Oopths, that alwayths happenths thith time of the morning.” “Good to know,” I replied, again looking at the Math lesson. It was quiet a fe...