Morning Madness

Mornings can get pretty crazy around here.  Thursdays are even crazier as we try to leave 30 minutes or more earlier than normal.  This is because Joseph and Leah were both elected as class representatives a couple of months ago.

This morning Joseph was trying to finish homework that should have been done last night.  So his temper was precariously perched on self-destruct.  I found it funny that he would choose the LARGEST pencil in the house to do the work.  But somehow, it relieved some tension and helped him finish the task.

Sarah was a little reluctant to wake this morning and left herself very little time to wake up/dress/eat/groom before we had to leave.  So she skipped the waking and grooming part.

She had braided pigtails yesterday and thought they should still be good for today.  Considering they barely survived school yesterday, today was not going to happen.  She wasn't happy about the loss of her precious tails and refused to let me do anything more than put in a barrette...including taking a picture of her crazy mop.

As we got to school, she decided she wanted a ponytail after all.  Unfortunately, we didn't have any ponytail holders, so she was out of luck.  She walked into the school trying to tame her waves.  :)

It's seemed so quiet at home after the bedlam of the morning.

Homework Woes

I kind of expected my troubles with homework to be done when I graduated from BYU (10 years ago this August?!?!?). Alas, this was not to be since I eagerly began having children eight years ago and then sent them off to school.

You may remember this post about Daniel and his reading homework. Chad and I were reminded of Daniel's reading wiggles when Nathan was reading a little book last week and ended up with his feet touching the floor and his head down where his little behind originally sat.

*insert narration* Since sitting here to type this post, 3 kids have come to me with "serious problems." Where can I find a potion to make me invisible for just 15 minutes? I'll sell an organ to pay for it if necessary.

And then yesterday, while I was preparing fake french fries, Nathan was reading his little homework book to me...while spinning in place. I'm amazed he could make out the words. So now I know it's a (mutated?) gene we possess in our family. I'll have to wait another 2 years to find out if affects the girls, too.

Daniel is currently at the kitchen table doing his math homework. That's part of the reason why I'm in the computer room. I was in there cleaning up and had to keep reminding him to work on homework.

Me: "Daniel, Focus!"
Daniel: "Focus! FOCUS! Focus on cheetahs and zebras."

I did mention that he was doing MATH homework, right?

Then I began a repeated, circular path from the kitchen counters to the table. I first gathered a ripped up spelling test and threw it away. Next I rescued the letter opener. My next trip was for one tiny scrap of paper that I missed the first time, but was found by Daniel. I returned again for a spare pencil. Still, he found ways to play.

I want to say that I was NOT yelling, and he was not complaining. He was happy in his little distracted world.

*insert more narration* Since typing that last period, I did end up yelling and taking care of two different offenders over two different squabbles. I'm amazed that Joseph continues to sleep. I love that swing.

Just before I left the homework scene to save my sanity, I told Daniel that he had started out on his homework so well and then things just kind of fell apart. That's when he semi-seriously began searching his homework page for the exact moment that happened. He found it (about a third of the way down) and said something like, "Oh. Here it is." I rolled my eyes...either mentally or physically - I can't remember...and retreated to the computer.

*last inserted narration* Since starting this post, Daniel has finished his math homework, picked out a coloring book, gotten into a fight with Nathan, made up and gone outside in 46 degree weather with only gloves to ward off the chill. (Nathan was smarter and wore gloves, plus a coat - skipped the zip.) I have listened to countless whining, broken up 3 or 4 fights, "sternly" spoken to 3 little people, tied 4 shoes, put on 2 gloves, zipped Rebekah's coat and rubbed my forehead repeatedly. I think it took 20 minutes to write this.

Reading Homework

When Daniel came home from school yesterday, I was trying to use time efficiently and get his reading homework done right away. Just my luck...the book was 16 pages long. A mere pamphlet for established readers, but equivalent to the Old Testament for a first grader! It took almost 30 minutes to read through it the first time. Ugh.

I don't remember the ugly details of the days I was learning to read. I know Dick and Jane saw Spot run a lot. Now the kids are reading words like admitted, whimpered, hamburger and Barbara (yes, all of those words were in his homework this week). So it's a sneaky form of torture for the reader and the readee (try finding that word in your dictionary).

It's probably really entertaining to watch Daniel when he's doing his homework. I admit that I've surpressed a few giggles myself. My favorite is the time he actually wriggled, twisted, and slid his way into an upside-down-standing-on-his-head position. (I am NOT exaggerating.) At that point I had to stop the insanity and get him upright before I let him continue. Half the time he's sideways and still moving. Is this a boy thing? Do they have seatbelts in first grade? I haven't actually seen any but maybe the teachers only pull them out in extreme emergencies.

How long before he's so still at his desk you wonder if he's even awake (and then discover that he isn't after all)?