Wednesday. Little Seymour Number Two had yet another tantrum. This one was over her Science homework. She point blank refused to read what was in front of her, and claimed she did not understand it. I read it and re-read it, then asked her to say it out loud. She wouldn’t. She was soon a pile of teary, red-faced mush and was in no fit state to learn about series circuits.
Thankfully, she calmed down, and was soon reprimanding her younger siblings whilst they interrupted my daily delivery of The Borrowers.
Unfortunately, it appears that we have not been doing the right thing, though, with regards to this home-schooling lark. I can read and draw and do jigsaws with my kids, I can help them with Maths and English – in fact, I am quite well-placed to tutor my kids with a lot of things. I quite enjoy it. But this new routine is taking some getting used to. And today,Thursday, I’ve had emails – multiple, dreaded emails asking where Number Two has been, owing to the fact that she has not logged in to lessons… More tears ensued.
I am trying to stay positive! We are learning what is being expected of us and our children slowly. Whilst I may think I can get away with building model villages for Borrowers and reading stories, there is a protocol to be followed – at least where secondary school is concerned. And we must try to tow the line.
But I am buggered if I am going to sit them in front of:Joe’s P.E. at 9.00, Oti prancing at 10 followed by Music with Myleene, Maths with Carol, Literacy with Walliams and then Home Ec’ with Jamie. I spend my life trying to stop the kids from sinking into the mesmerising depths of a screen! I would rather they actually used a pencil from time to time, and remembered how to write. When all of this is done, hopefully we make it out alive, and if my children still know how to have an actual conversation with a real person, I shall consider I have succeeded.
And if they know how to build a village for miniature people, that’ll also stand them in good stead, I’m sure. That right there is a life skill.
(We did have a lovely P.E. session of our own, though. That was nice.)
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