Tuesday, October 12, 2010

I just didn't have it in me...

Yesterday, we were supposed to go on a field trip to a local honey farm. But after last week - Domino's Pizza field trip, the park, Jr. Readers book club at the library, wildlife show at the botanical gardens, and the pumpkin patch - I just didn't think I had it in me.

And in the midst of all that, I taught five children's dance classes, helped Abby ride her bike for the first time in the culdesac WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS (super exciting!!!), had a youth activity on Weds. night, and did homeschool stuff. Now, of course, a lot of those activities count as school time, but I was exhausted. I actually wasn't planning on the pumpkin patch on Saturday, but Pat wasn't going to be able to go with us on Monday with the homeschool group so the kids wanted to go on Saturday with Daddy instead. And it was HOT! Record highs for this time of year, in fact. Not that I am complaining about warm weather, as we all know I am not a fan of the cold, but the sun was just beating down. No shade anywhere.

I guess I looked pretty rough towards the end (I felt it too!) because a lady who worked there actually came up to me and asked if I was okay. I guess she thought I was going to faint or something so she insisted on giving me an ice cold water out of her cooler. We had just finished our last water bottle so she was a lifesaver!

So, with all that, the thought of driving back out to the honey farm on Monday (in record high temps) was not all that appealing. Luckily, when I asked Abby about it, she started freaking out a little about the thought of seeing all the bees anyway. Not that I want her to be afraid, but I figured I could use her fear to my advantage this one time, and we'd skip it - which we did. Phew!

As much as I want to do these extra activities and such with the kids, sometimes it's good just to relax a bit and do things at home. I guess I worry that if I don't do these more exciting things outside of the house that Abby will get bored with homeschool or won't think it's as fun as being in the classroom. I have this terrible fear that she is going to say, "Mom, I miss school. I don't want to do homeschool anymore." Not that we are planning to do this for good. We don't know yet, but I do want to at least try it for this one year, see how it pans out, and take advantage of this extra time together. But I also want this year to be a good experience for her and for Noah too. And despite my secret fears and second-guessing myself every five seconds, it has been going pretty well...I think.

So this week, we are taking it easy - making paper boats, doing candy corn math, playing with pizza fractions, reading stories, and just going to the library club and Daisy Scouts this week. And if we need some extra excitement, I can always turn the bath water BLUE again.

4 comments:

Kat said...

Good grief, yes! You deserve a little break. The kids don't have to constantly go, go, go. Especially in record breaking temps. ;)
Hope you are able to slow down a bit!

Liz Mays said...

You'll probably find the right mix, but I can see how it would all add up to be a bit much!

That being said, you come up with some great field trip ideas!

Jenny Ramsey said...

i think taking a break is an excellent idea! part of the draw (for me anyway) of homeschooling is that it allows for a little less stress and strain on the everyone.

amanda said...

taking it easy is key!! enjoy it friend!