Frustration: A Universal Experience in Raising Children.

Right about now, most of you are either getting into the swing of things with your homeschooling, or you are pulling out your hair.

We, however, are on our September trip. We tend to take our outings during the standard school year. The places we travel are less busy and the weather is so much nicer if you travel in Texas.

So we are heading north on I45 and there is a group of about 5 cars and SUVs ahead of us. As the road curves ever so slightly, we notice an inflatable bat in the road. We laugh. We talk for several miles, thinking of all the scenarios that could have happened in the last SUV with children and an inflatable bat. Selah, stop and think for yourself how many ways a blow up bat could have wound up on the road.

So that had me thinking of the Mom who wrote in concerned because she was about to throw in the homeschool towel with her 5yo, 3yo, 1yo and 7 week old. Sigh. I just wanted to hug her. Several wonderful Moms did tell her that it was okay to breath, enjoy her children, get a maid or ask her husband for help. We are, after all, Moms first alhtough part of being a Mom is educating.

They are not two separate things, and sometimes we have this fantasy of what a teacher is supposed to be. You walk into the public school and everything is nice and clean and bulletin boards are all done. Well, they have a whole crew of janitors to keep it clean, and the teachers have 3 weeks of dedicated planning and get ready time before opening the doors. AND without kids!! LOL

We make plans late at night or perhaps on a Saturday when Dad has the kids with him. We do this while having kids interrupt us with their wonderful questions 24/7. And yet, did you know that public school teachers STILL don’t do every chapter in the book? Yep, they don’t finish everything that’s on their lesson plans. So breath if you think you are already behind in your lessons.

At the motorcycle rally, there was a Mom who had a 17yo, 14yo, 12yo and 8yo. She was in the throngs of the Valley of the Teens without anyone around to tell her that: "Yes, it’s okay and they will be reasonable adults one day." Even having two adult children, an almost adult child and a teen, I have days when I wonder if they will make it okay or if I have ruined their future. I wonder if I will get my sanity back when they leave, but listening to empty nesters, I know that these are indeed the golden years.

So if you have hit your stride this homeschool year, congratulations!!

If you are pulling your hair out, realize you are not alone. These are the times to go back to the Throne, ask for more Grace, continue to walk in Love toward your children, and Ask for Wisdom to show you if you need to just plow through what you are doing, or if you need to change tact.

Just know that teaching your children does have it's frustrating days.

And rememeber, you should never have an inflable bat in a car full of children.

 Jube is a completed homeschool Mom of 22 years.  She has spoken at many conferences, leadership conferences and on the radio on The Homeschooler Next Door on iTunes.

Field Trips:

With Spring here in Texas, it's time to enjoy field trips before the hybernation of the hot summer months.  There are Re-Enactments all over Texas!  The Blue Bonnets will be out soon, and of course the Spring Homeschool Days are all over the state.  This video advertises an app, however I thought it really captured the essence of the fun and learning done during field trips.  It's only 2 minutes.  Enjoy.