My
arch nemesis is homework. Why on earth can’t elementary age children complete
everything necessary while they are seated in a desk for most of their 6 +
hours at school? I am considering the purchase a few cows and goats and a
smattering of chickens and dogs so that our kids can use the 1920’s excuse that
free labor for the family chores is a necessity for our survival and,
therefore, all school work must be completed in six hours, at school. I could
use some goats and cows. Our lawn is unruly.
Since
my bovine purchases probably are not likely to come to fruition, I have devised
a plan to get the most out of our easily distracted children.
Choose their favorite
atmosphere. While I need
complete silence and zero disruption while I am working, my husband desires a
drone of noise projecting from his computer tuned to a talk radio program. Kids
are similarly different. While one of ours goes to the desk in his room and
prefers background music, the other likes to be near me, in the kitchen, amidst
the bustle of clanging dinner making dishes, television news playing in the
background, dogs barking at the UPS truck, and a glass of iced water within
reach. Another prefers coffee store ambiance and black coffee.
Choose the worst first. The statement that always follows, “Do
you have any homework?” is typically, “Do the hardest thing first.” Evidently
most of our children were graced with my non-math gene. Doing math is like
solving a puzzle. I hate puzzles, and our children don’t exactly have a love affair
with math either. When kids begin homework with the hardest subject, and
finish, they attack the subject when they are most alert and focused. For the
easier subjects a cell phone alert disruption or a sudden urge to pet the dog
has little negative impact.
Have the backpack locked
and loaded. One of my
biggest frustrations is going through all the work of completing homework only
to leave everything at home. Putting all completed work, signed papers, and
supplies in their backpack the night before, next to the door, assures me that
all things school related will arrive safely. If needed, I will leave sticky
note reminders on the stairs, bathroom mirror, and front door. “Lunch?” stuck
to the doorknob is a simple reminder for our biggest boy and “water” written on
a bright note goes on the front of their lunch bags. If that isn’t enough, I
don’t pull out of the driveway until they convince that they have everything
necessary; however, I don’t always drive to school.
Homework
is here to stay. Thankfully there is black coffee, background music, a pad of
sticky notes, and ice water. And when dinner is done and homework is completed,
a stuffed backpack waits, near the door, stuck in repeat mode for the next 180
school days.
Comments