The Hard Working Homeschool Mommy (an adaptation of The Little Red Hen)
Once upon a time there was a wonderful little family. There was Mommy, Daddy, Willy Nilly, Gemma Wemma, and Aaraboo. They all lived together in a big messy house in the suburbs.
Mommy tried really hard to keep the house clean, but every time she cleaned, she would turn around and it would be messy again! This made Mommy VERY sad. Sometimes she even cried because it was so frustrating.
One day, Mommy decided that things were going to be different. She decided that any time something got messy, she was going to make sure it got cleaned up right away.
At breakfast, the family dirtied lots of dishes. “Who will help me clean up the table?” Mommy said.
“Not I,” said Daddy, who was leaving for work.
“Not I,” said Willy Nilly, who was getting ready for homeschool.
“Not I,” said Gemma Wemma, who wanted to draw a picture.
“AAAAAAA!” said Aaraboo, who couldn’t even talk or walk yet.
“Then I will do it myself,” said Mommy . And she did.
But it was time to teach homeschool. So Mommy got sidetracked. There was reading, writing, math, science, social studies, handwriting, and art to do. So the house got messier.
By the time for lunch, there was school stuff all over the school table. “Who will help me pick up this school stuff?” said Mommy.
Silence came from Daddy, because he was at work.
“Not I,” said Willy Nilly, who was finishing up some work.
“Not I,” said Gemma Wemma, who wanted to read a book.
“AAAAAAA!” said Aaraboo, who couldn’t even talk or walk yet.
“Then I will have to leave it while I make lunch,” said Mommy. And she did.
After lunch, there were more dishes to clean up, school work to be finished, and nap times to be had. So Mommy tried to do it all, but it was too much. She needed help. So Mommy said, “Who will help me clean up the dishes, finish the school work, and help the littles get to potty and nap?”
Silence came from Daddy, because he was at work.
“Not I,” said Willy Nilly, who was working hard at homeschool.
“Not I,” said Gemma Wemma, who wanted to draw a picture.
“AAAAAAA!” said Aaraboo, who couldn’t even talk or walk yet.
“Then I will do it myself,” said Mommy. And amazingly, she almost did. (Well, not the dishes. But she did take a nap!)
After a way too short nap time, Mommy looked around and saw a mess from breakfast, a mess from lunch, a mess from school, and no mess from nap time (Hooray!). She was becoming very discouraged. Plus it was time to make dinner! So Mommy asked, “Who will help me make dinner? And clean up the house before Daddy gets home?”
Silence came from Daddy, because he was at work.
“Not I,” said Willy Nilly, who was procrastinating on finishing up his homeschool work.
“Not I,” said Gemma Wemma, who wanted to watch a TV show.
“AAAAAAA!” said Aaraboo, who couldn’t even talk or walk yet.
“Then I will do it myself,” said Mommy. And she did.
When Daddy got home and it was time to eat dinner, he found a mess. But he very kindly didn’t say a word. “Who will help me eat my dinner?” Mommy said.
“I will,” said Daddy, who was happy to be home from work.
“I will,” said Willy Nilly, who came to eat, but also said the food looked like slop.
“I will,” said Gemma Wemma, who was always ready to eat.
“AAAAAAA!” said Aaraboo, who couldn’t even talk or walk yet.
“Okay,” said Mommy, as she looked around at her loving, yet messy family. And, even in the mess, in the midst of God’s blessings, she was very happy.
“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
We all have things that we have to let go. What tips do you have for letting go and living in the moment with your family?
i appreciate this – you guys are a real family – whose homeschooling struggles can be shared with and understood by so many
andi recently posted…What’s In This Sunday’s Smartsource Coupon Insert?
Great realization that time well spent with your children (believe me this time when they are young goes by way too quickly) is much better than cleaning up everything!