Last week I made a very profound discovery!  Maybe moms through the centuries have known this truth but have never passed it on. Maybe it's one of those taboo subjects that, as believers in Jesus we just aren't supposed to talk about. (Personally, I think there's very little we should NOT talk about.) But you know what? I've always been a little bit rebellious and a little bit of a radical (in a good way of course!).

The truth I learned???

Pre-menopausal moms and hormonal pre-teen boys simply do not go well together!  Now, maybe I'm toally alone in this belief but I'm willing to bet that I'm not.  If you want to learn the grace and mercy of God, take a few days and hang out at our house during the "wrong time" of the month (or week, or two months or however long it takes for this aging body to come to terms with the fact that it is aging). Little to no schoolwork was accomplished. Words were spoken... okay, words were actually yelled... not a common occurance with me. 

But we both learned a very valuable lesson.  Love goes on. It doesn't stop when you get mad. As my daughter used to put it "Love goes past the bumps".  

A lesson my son learned that can't be taught on school:  Mom has her limits and it's better not to push too hard when she's standing on the edge. She's not going to jump off. She's going to lunge for the closest thing ... so if you're standing too close when you push, watch out because you don't want to be dragged over the edge with her!

I knew it was all okay when we went to the bookstore to pick up more schoolwork.  I had to use the restroom so he grabbed a shopping basket and said he would start shopping.  As I exited, there he was, holding the basket.

"Mom", he said. "Look. I got my school work. 7th grade science and 8th grade math.  You said I could skip 7th grade math so I got 8th grade. Oh, and I got 2 books I want to read."  From the looks on the faces of the other customers and the few whispers I overheard, I knew I was doing okay.  We will definitely make it.

I really love being a mom - well, most of the time!

And I'm still up. It's almost 10:30 PM. The male offspring is in the shower but still hasn't finished his schoolwork. Most of it he finds pointless because he'll have absolutely no need for Algebra and Physics as a Video Game Creator.  I just about spit out my coffee with that one! Like it's never been said before. In my graduating class in the mid 70's we had approximately 800 students ... that was in my class alone.  My daughter was quite popular in school so you can just about guess how many times I've heard that before!

But I'm a mean mom!!! I make him do his algebra. I read quantum physics to him all the time. (And he remembers what I read!!!).  I'm suprised social services hasn't been contacted with the horrible, awful abuse this poor child suffers at the hands of his homeschooling mom. *Sigh*  It's tough being 12.

After my daughter turned 21, I was feeling pretty good! Both my kids once again thought I knew a thing or two. But now, with the young one having reached  the ripe old age of 12, I've been informed, once again, that I don't know quite everything yet.  It's a good thing I have my 12 year old around to teach me.  He asked me what draught meant. I told him to look it up (yeah, I force him to use a dictionary too ... oh, and I don't let him use a calculator for math!) He laughed and said, "You don't know what it means either." Then he saw the little smirk on my face and quickly got out his dictionary. (It means "draft").

Yes, life is good... and if I could get him out of the shower I could get some sleep. But I'm not complaining. He's 12 and he's taking a shower!!!

Today the male offspring is ill. He insists on calling me "Mother". I hate being called mother. It just sounds way too formal. So I call him "Male Offspring". He gets a kick out of it.

I digress, as always. Darn ADD!! Not really but it sure sounds like a good excuse today!

One of the best things about homeschooling is there really are no sick days unless he's too sick to get out of bed.  And today is "Self Test" day.  Makes it easier for me because I sure don't feel like doing much other than conversing on the computer.  But we're getting through, making our way, inch by inch, day by day (hmmm, that sounds like a good song!).  This year we're focusing more on learning in every area of life. Education is constant from the time we begin breathing until the time we stop. It should be fun, exciting, exillerating.  That's my goal.

Sometimes it's hard to walk through this homeschool decision. Especially since I do it alone. But, ultimately, his educational outcome depends on me. I just wish there were some way to shut off my bad habits so they're not passed on to him.

Another good thing is I pray much more than I used to! And I really see how God is with us when we are disobedient and rebelious. He's hurt, but loves us beyond infinity!

Thankfully, tomorrow is another day.  Maybe I'll have more random thoughts. Maybe I'll be motivated and dig into the schoolbooks with him. Or maybe it'll be just a regular day like today.

And it was not pretty!  For some reason my son feels he doesn't need to do his work. I've gotten so burnt out so I'm trying something new.  I have his DSL.  Yes, I had to take the hard road! No DSL until the weekend and ONLY if his work is done for that week. And no MySpace until everything is done for the day!

I'm such a mean mom!

Good thing they're cute and cuddly as babies. That way, you hold out with the hope that someday those beautiful fun loving children will return!!!

Well, here we are again. Not quite as behind. I can't seem to get a grip on all these science experiments though. Some I'd rather do outside but that's not quite feesible here in the Minnesota snow. Typically it's pretty cold this time of year. This year, however, is a little different. We've actually had less time outside because it keeps raining!

Anyway, I digress. My son had a revelation today. He said "Mom, I don't know why I wait to do my work until later because it will still need to be done." I completely undersood his comment. Procrastination!

I digress again.  Back to Mom magic. Almost all of us mothers possess this but we're not even aware of it. One day a family member comes in and says "Hmmm. That's really strange. There's no liner in the trash can." I replied "Well, did  you put one in there." The response was. "No, I usually don't. There's just always one there."  Mom Magic! Another time it was. "Well, that's funny. I don't have any clean underwear". (This was when I was working 2 parttime jobs at Christmas). So I asked "Did anyone do the laundry?" The response was "No, it's just always done".  Mom magic.  Mom magic puts food in the cupboard after it magically appears from the grocery stores, clean clothes in the closet, makes new clothes appear from the store, puts clean dishes in the cupboard after the food for dinner magically appears on them to mess them up. 

Now Mom magic is teaching the 11 year old things he should know. There seems to be countless instances where my decision to teach my son has been questioned. Of course the socialization is ALWAYS the big question.  I usually tell people to go spend 5 minutes with my son and tell me if they see a problem. Usually the response is "He sure is smart!".  I actually had a lady ask me how hard it was to teach a child who was smarter than I was! I just stood there staring at her for a moment wondering how anyone could be so stupid to ask such a question. Well, there were numersous other things running through my mind but God held me back! Fortunately a friend came to the rescue and explained to her that I did, in fact, possess a genius level IQ, was very well versed in child development and psychology and was fully capable of teaching my young son. For some reason, people think women who choose to stay home with their children are too unintelligent to do anything else. To me this is a tragedy! We're told to teach our children everything they need to know but in the same breath we are to be out conquering the world.

For now, it's back to physics. Mom magic is teaching the son about black holes!

Quantum anyone!!!

I was going to call it Day Two but that just seemed non-creative. Not that I'm creative but I do like to pretend that I am.

Hmmm, Cliffs of Insanity?  Not sure how far that is but some days I do enter the Castle of Continuous Chaotic Crying. Like the other day. The 6th month old in my childcare is teething. Her 3 year old brother is making an effort to establish his place here (they've only been here for 2 months) and the other 3 year old trying to maintain his place (he's been here since he was about 10 weeks old). Then the 11 year old takes advantage of my diverted attention and does what any healthy 11 year old homeschooled boy does. Nothing!!!! So we got behind! Are we going to catch up? Ketchup actually sounds better right now, I think that's a little more feesable than catch up. Seriously, there is a reason we call it "Homeschooling". It takes place in this little building we call "home".  And guess what? HE LIVES HERE!! So, needless to say, much to his dismay, homeschool IS 24/7!  (I love the power!!!!).

I need a nap.

Okay, I already messed up and lost my whole first blog. Modern technology!  Well, this is my first attempt at blogging.  My teenage nieces are already well versed at this. Yesterday my daughter came over to visit. My 11 year old son immediately picked up her IPod (which he tried to hide in the picture I took of him because, of course, it has a pink cover. Not cool for pre-teen boys!) and started running through her list of songs and movies (did you know you can download ... or is it upload?? ... the enitre season of LOST on this thing?) Anyway, I took a look at it and couldn't figure it out.  My mom told me I was 3 weeks overdue and I've been behind ever since!  More for me to learn, and I'M supposed to be the teacher! But I'm living proof that you can teach old dogs new trick!

Well, can't think of much more to say right now. Maybe I should just write as if I'm speaking. Those who know me best know I've definitely been blessed with the gift of gab!  But for now, I'll just post this and see how dorky it looks. I'm sure my children will be embarrassed!

5:30PM 

Well, I guess it was pretty dorky because I found quite a few spelling errors. Isn't there spellcheck on this thing??? That's what happens when you leave the work force for a few years!  But my daughter liked it and my son thinks it's pretty cool that his old mom is blogging now. He should know by now that I'm cool!! After Boom Boom Huck Jam and Switchfoot this summer he should know!  He just thinks he's going to learn all of my deep dark secrest.  Sorry to disappoint you, Young Son. My life is pretty dull and boring!  Well, okay, with 2 kids and a spare (my very loving term for my step-daughter, love you so much Liz!!), daycare and a part time job (I HAVE to get out of here once in a while!!!!) life really isn't dull. Boring sometimes, but never dull. Oh do I have stories. But another time. For now, I'm just going to try to stay sane ... okay not too sane because a little insanity is fun... and keep my head above the water.  so, until next time ... keep looking up.