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Homeschooling is Ruining my Home

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Fairly Odd Mother

Frantically waving my magic wand to make wishes come true.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Homeschooling is Ruining my Home

We've been homeschooling for a whopping seven months, but my home looks like we've been doing it for much longer.

I really enjoy having Belly home; after being in preschool five days/week last year, I like not having to keep to a school schedule. Plus, she's in kindergarten, which means that things are pretty relaxed here (contrary to what some may think, I am not trying to rush her through her lessons so that she graduates from high school at 12; my God, I know what I did in college, I don't want her going until she is 25!).

If there could be one 'negative' to homeschooling, though, is how 'lived in' my house is every day of the week. I never get a block of time in the day to just clean up my house (I realize that most people don't but I dare to dream). There is evidence of children everywhere. I've been in some homes where the children's things are tucked out of site in their basement playroom. They must have a coronary when they enter my house.

For instance:

I want the kids to have their own space to call their 'school space', where they can display their projects and have access to their crafts, manipulatives, workbooks. Fortunately, I have the space to do this. Unfortunately, it is in my dining room, the first room people see when they enter my front door and glance to the left:


And then look over to the next corner:



Finally, enter the room and look at the other wall:


I'm not a huge 'decorator', nor do I subscribe to any home magazines, but I suspect that my decor would not be featured as the "look for the month".

But I wouldn't change things. After all, with this to look at, who cares what shape my house is in:


Labels: ,

posted by Fairly Odd Mother @ 11:21 AM 

9 Comments:

Blogger Blog Antagonist said...

I have considered homeschooling many times, but have realized that neither one of us has the proper temperment to deal with one another all day long. (my child has several behavior issues). People who can do this have my deepest respect and admiration. Who cares what your house look like? Your kids are benefitting and that's all that matters.

3:44 PM  
Blogger Robin said...

I think it looks like a house with very loved children and very caring parents. Who cares whether it meets some artificial standard for design. No one actually lives in those glossy magazines full of perfectly staged rooms.

5:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Frankly I'd be a bit concerned if you were homeschooling and your house DIDN'T look lived in.

BTW, I've been to your house and never gave it a moment of thought Your house looks great.

What's my excuse for the kiddie clutter?

8:14 AM  
Blogger Namito said...

Looks like how I imagine my home (wherever that will be) will look in about two years.

But it depends on whether I can find a Montessori school.

How did you prepare to home school? I've been considering this myself.

10:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think your house looks wonderful! So comfortable and welcoming.

But yes - my house looks very lived-in, too. The kid-caused clutter is a good sign that they are having fun! (and learning...)

12:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your house looks lived-in and loved-in. Which it is. Your children will remember making cookies on Grandma's old kitchen table, learning about Denmark in the dining room, having dance parties in the living room and jumping in the bounce house on the porch. While having every toy scattered across the kitchen floor gives me hives, the little man thinks it looks better this way. And when I think to what our home was like before he was here, I have to agree.

(P.S. Remember, we all feel this way come March in New England. Stir crazy + house-bound + spring fever = FRIGGIN' CLEAN UP THIS HOUSE! I've painted and rearranged two rooms in the past 30 days.)

1:30 PM  
Blogger Chicky Chicky Baby said...

You have my sincerest respect. I could never home school since I lack the discipline. I can barely keep my house clean. And your line about having a piece of time each day to just clean cracked me up. People do that?

1:33 PM  
Blogger N. said...

We're thinking about homeschooling once the kids hit about age 10. In my opinion the junior and senior high school system is an artificial construct designed to increase teen angst and anger.

Your house looks great. I love what you've done with your 'space'!

I did my meme homework. I got all keen cos I was tagged twice so I did double the amount - I hope I get extra credit for my effort!

12:12 AM  
Blogger Whirlwind said...

Wow, your dining room is clean!

We like to hang pictures in our playroom and in the kitchen. Our playroom has a collection of flowers (much bigger than what is seen here http://tinyurl.com/35k55u and of course the solar system in a corner http://365randompics.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-63.html .

We also have plenty of posters yet to hang up in there and dino bone puzzles to display, but I think we are going to repaint it first, the orange just hasn't grown on us!

Kudos for homeschooling, we talked about it when we weren't sure if we could afford private school, but I just don't think I could handle it. We are all much calmer (and saneer) with Einey going to school out of the house. We do continue to teach the girls every chance we can!

11:41 AM  

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