Thursday, September 06, 2012

getting adjusted to the school year

Getting adjusted to any big change in our lives is hard for me and a couple kids.  I like routine and predictability in my days, and having a change causes me anxiety and makes me grumpy.  So obviously, this school year with the oldest 3 girls going to school, a new baby, and Jojo starting homeschooling we had our share of temper tantrums.

Jordan's big adjustment is still happening here, as she's not used to sitting down daily and doing lessons with me that aren't mostly fun stuff.  She's not that into reading times and certain types of activities, but she's learning quickly how to tolerate it and do what she needs to do.  A big bag of tootsie rolls is helping with this one, I've been giving her one after each lesson we complete.  I plan to keep that up for a while and then slowly drop the reward.

The older girls have a completely different adjustment.  Lydia and Kimmy are NOT morning people, and they have to get on the bus at 6:45am since they are the first stop on the route.  Missa is adjusting to having to bring home homework and having to focus and sit still.  This is a hard one for her because of her ADHD.  All 3 girls obviously are adjusting to the structure of the school schedule, some of the rules at school, and not being able to just get up and go to the bathroom or grab a snack whenever they want.  It is happening though, and the girls are liking the school they are going to this year (this is always a good thing!)

As for me, I am a morning person but I personally don't like to get up early.  I snap right up when it is time, and have little problem with being tired or grouchy under normal circumstances.  The only time that I am grumpy when I get up is if I have to listen to a screeching tantrum from one of my kids who don't do mornings too well.

And now for the totally honest moment that I don't want to admit.  I am finding with the older kids at school that I'm a better mom to all my children.  I butt heads with one child because we are both very stubborn and have major independent streaks, and with another because she has a tendency to scream, whine, and can cause me one heck of a migraine in under 10 seconds flat when things aren't going her way or she's not the center of the universe.  Then there is my devious child, who is so quiet and sweet while she plots her takeover of the universe.  The three of them together is not a good thing for my sanity sometimes.  Being able to put them on the bus to go to school on weekday mornings helps me to be able to do the things that I need to do without losing my mind in the process, and gives me the opportunity to be in that place I need to be mentally for handling them after school and on weekends/holidays.  I spent 4 years teaching my children at home, and I knew that it wasn't something I can easily do long-term.  With them going to school, I find that I am almost never yelling, I have more patience to diffuse explosive tantrums from my drama queen, and my house is getting cleaned up because I don't have them undoing my work as fast as I get it cleaned up.

Yes, we are adjusting nicely to the school year and all the changes that happened this year/

1 comment:

Kat - Ruthie-dos.blogspot.com said...

There is no shame in admitting you aren't perfect. And it's one reason my kids go to a school for education, too.